Masterplan Luzernerstrasse Sempach

The Luzernerstrasse is an important arterial road (10’000 vehicles per day). Due to its proximity to the town center, good accessibility, and prominent location on Lake Sempach, the adjacent neighborhood has been designated as a densification area in the spatial development concept (REK).

The masterplan focuses, on one hand, on highlighting the area’s unique location by the lake. The goal is to improve lake views through densification, even for buildings in the second row. The open building typology and fine-grained structure along the street front are preserved. Densification is achieved through building height and depth perpendicular to the street. Representative gable façades face the road, and pitched roofs enhance visibility toward the rear neighborhood.

Preserving the green character is essential. The generous front gardens along the street become a defining spatial feature through lush planting. At the same time, the buildings are oriented toward the street and the lake while maintaining a sense of privacy. In the second row, moderate densification is possible, combined with the preservation of pedestrian connections. This ensures improved accessibility between the residential neighborhoods to the east and the Lake Sempach shoreline.

On the other hand, the positive attributes of traffic are harnessed for high-quality development. At the junctions of the internal access courtyards—linked to pedestrian cross-connections—commercial uses are introduced. These benefit from strong accessibility, concentrated footfall, and high visibility.

By designing the road as a core carriageway, highlighting pedestrian crossings, and reducing the target speed, the interaction between traffic flows and adjacent uses is enhanced. Thanks to this compact traffic solution, the protected area along the shore of Lake Sempach can even be expanded.

The masterplan was developed through a participatory process involving local residents and landowners. Clear, straightforward visualizations and precise information about the impacts were essential throughout the process.