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 (PDF).
