The area between Aesch BL and Dornach is a place of constant change: the river Birs has been shaping the landscape for thousands of years, crossings and the first settlements have emerged and over time industrial and infrastructure buildings have been added. A further transformation has been gradually taking place here for a few years now. This development is transforming the previously forgotten space behind the car and railroad into a diverse area of opportunity for living, working and experiencing.
Starting from the River Birs, a planning process was launched that takes an integral view of the future habitat. This means that the landscape space, the movement space and the settlement space are always considered equally and thought of together.
An intensive exchange with 20 residents from both sides of the Birs, experts and representatives from both municipalities and cantons and other stakeholders resulted in a common understanding of the site:
- The Birs is given more space. This is crucial for the sustainable, climate-adaptive development of the entire Birs region.
- New spacious landscaped areas are being created along the Birs. They complement the existing green spaces, are connected to each other via the banks of the Birs and link up with the surrounding landscape areas. The open spaces are programmed accordingly: from intensively used sports facilities to sunbathing lawns by the water to a renaturalized floodplain landscape.
- The Birs crossings set the rhythm of the future Birs area. A string of pearls of places is created at the transitions, connecting not only the two banks, but also the neighborhoods and surrounding landscapes. The crossings will become important public spaces where the life of the future Birs area will take place.
- The Birs region is being developed further from its multi-layered history. Existing elements are to be upgraded and reused, while new elements complement and improve the site and enable new spatial relationships in the Birs region.
- The Birs region is well connected in all directions. There are numerous local connections across and along the Birs, with a focus on sustainable mobility adapted to the location. The immediate location on the railroad line with three stations, two streetcar lines, the A18 highway and regional cycle routes will be an advantage if the spatial and functional integration into the Birs area is holistic.
- The Birs area is designed together. The involvement of residents, experts, representatives of the public sector and other stakeholders is the hallmark of the Birsraum.
More about the project: zukunft-birsraum.ch
