The Winterthur 2025 issue explores the question of how growth and sustainability can be reconciled with intelligent spatial development. Why is it so difficult to realise the densification that everyone is calling for? Does this also have to do with the fact that urban density has negative cultural connotations in Switzerland? Is the latter in particular a mental brake on so-called inner densification? Another issue is the constant densification of public space. Whereas not so long ago, squares and streets were reserved for cars, today the utilisation requirements are more diverse and therefore more complex.
Since the overall review of the structure plan in the canton of Zurich in 2014, inner-city densification has been the trump card. Forecasts predict that the population of the canton of Zurich will grow from 1.6 million people today to around two million people by 2050. The cantonal structure plan and the spatial planning concept stipulate that 80 per cent of this population growth should take place in urban areas. This is intended to increase the density of existing urban areas and protect rural areas from urban sprawl.
Urban sprawl in Switzerland has been one of the country's top political issues for decades. In 2013, voters approved a so-called Landscape Initiative, which calls on the cantons to densify existing settlement areas and plan new developments along existing transport routes.
The urban sprawl of Switzerland's identity-forming landscapes is a reflection and bone of contention of the constant population growth, which is fuelled by highly qualified immigration from Europe. Tax and location competition, environmental protection, xenophobia and the so-called "density stress", a Zurich "invention", combine to create a complex mixture. In addition, Switzerland historically has no large cities and the density of the largest cities, apart from Geneva, is moderate by international standards. Growth in recent decades has mainly taken place in the so-called agglomerations. As has often been described, these are faceless hermaphrodites between urban and rural areas in which most of the Swiss population now lives. A world away from postcard landscapes or picturesque old towns.
The past, present and future of urban sustainability will be comprehensively analysed. Decision-makers from the worlds of politics, administration and lobby groups of three cities will all exchange views. The workshops will be enriched by input from artists, scientists and members of the public. By invitation only.
The Winterthur/Canton of Zurich team presents the location/situation of three selected planning examples and discusses the history and current planning situation, presents the problems and the selected or proposed Winterthur solutions, which are based on the laws and the Canton of Zurich. Colleagues from Berlin and Vienna then take the floor to analyse the Winterthur situation from their perspective and present ad-hoc "Berlin" and "Viennese" solutions.
Programme: coming soon.
Introductory speech by the Berlin based German bestselling author David Wagner.
Discussion chaired by Laura Weissmüller, editor of the feature section of the Munich based Süddeutsche Zeitung, in the Blauer Saal (Campus Stadt-Mitte ZHAW) with decision-makers from politics, city administration and interest groups from Berlin, Vienna and Winterthur.
Registration: coming soon.
