Business District Langacker, Baden

The Langacker-Esp Industrial Area is one of the most important employment zones in the city of Baden. However, gradual densification has led to a decline in the quality of the working environment. The increased focus on service industries also threatens to displace existing commercial uses.

The concept aims to achieve enhancement not through a change of use (e.g., mixing with residential uses) but through urban design qualities. The area is divided into sub-areas connected by green corridors. The central sub-area is transformed into a central district. The Mellingerstrasse, the main access axis, is redesigned as a boulevard. At the junction with the village of Dättwil, a new plaza is created. A new high-rise building marks the center architecturally. In the other sub-areas, the focus is on integration with the landscape. Views to the forest and fields are preserved. Pocket parks create local recreational spaces.

A key issue is coordinating land uses with traffic volumes. Therefore, an important part of the concept is restricting uses that generate high traffic volumes. The relocation of bus stops and the creation of attractive pedestrian and bicycle paths also improve conditions for slow and public transport.