High-rise Building Strategy, City of Fribourg

The high-rise concept of the City of Fribourg is an urban design refinement of the densification strategy. One of the guiding ideas of this strategy is the upgrading of the main access roads into an urban backbone through targeted densification. High-rises and tall buildings mark important roads and intersections, responding to the large scale of broad traffic spaces. Investment in a high-rise is used as a catalyst to transform often difficult traffic nodes into attractive public spaces. As hubs, these are also high-traffic areas and centers of activity for surrounding neighborhoods. The high-rises, with their concentrated density, are intended to reinforce these centers.

They feature active, open, and extra-high ground floors, and advance investment in neighborhood parking garages is encouraged. Finally, due to their prominent locations, the high-rises become important landmarks. With quality architecture, they can become identity carriers for the neighborhoods.

A key issue is the relationship with the historic townscape. Due to its elevated position in a bend of the Sarine River, the old town shapes the city panorama from all directions. It is therefore essential that the high-rises do not disturb the city silhouette. A designated “Old Town View Zone” has been defined to take into account all visual connections and perspectives.