Hipsters were hippies before it was cool to be a hippie.

Reitschule, Bern.

Unfortunately I might have to agree that Zurich just doesn't have much of an "alternative" scene in the same sense and scale as say, San Francisco. The aforementioned places may have a bit more variety of people, but I haven't seen a scene of scale that supports a true organic culture...!

This place at the opposite end of Im Viadukt to the Market Hall seems to be the home of 'alternative culture'

I visited SFO in 1976 for two days. I loved the city, really. The most impressive experience was a visit to a about 77 years old exCH who had lived in the US since 1935 and in WWII was quartermaster with the army corps which invaded the Maghreb and Italy. And with his command of both French and Italian made his way.

But while everybody in those days spoke about hippies in SFO, none of the whole group saw anything thelike

The China Garten area in Seefeld by the lake usually has some alternatives. People doing tightrope walking between trees, people playing the guitar on the grass, the stone pile artists etc etc. That area has a nice mixed vibe with everyone doing there own thing on sunny days.
Also there's a commune squat somewhere in central Binz. You can't miss the colouful building off the main street near the Denner / Post Office area.

Retired in Marakech

I always though hippies were phased out circa 1972/73?

They always used to come out at raves. Fire-twirlers etc