Station District and Town Centre, Menziken

The neighborhood between the Wyna River and the train station forms an important part of the center and, due to its central location, is a strategic development area. However, the small-scale parcel structure complicates qualitative development. With the urban design framework concept, as part of the building and land-use regulations, a new tool was developed to enable the area to transform into a vibrant center.

The concept aims to strengthen the existing traffic axes, Hauptstrasse and Bahnhofstrasse, as the backbone of the center. The intersection of these two streets is redesigned into an attractive village square and central meeting point. An important principle in the spatial development of the neighborhood is the urban strengthening and accentuation of its edges. This accentuation creates a clearer spatial definition of the street spaces and improves the legibility of the street network. The small-scale structure within the interior of the neighborhood is gradually developed, supporting a step-by-step densification and upgrading. Thanks to the limitation of building heights, four building depths are possible, enabling an efficient and space-saving access system.