Ronquoz, Sion

The Ronquoz 21 district, situated between the railway tracks, the Rhône River, and the highway, benefits from excellent transport connections. This heterogeneous, industrially influenced neighborhood lies directly south of Sion’s train station and is undergoing transformation with the establishment of various educational institutions (EPFL, FH) and corporate headquarters. The long-term goal is to develop it into a mixed-use, dense urban area between the station and the river.

Building on existing structures (plots, architecture, railway embankment, old irrigation canals, and the current “disorder”) as well as the surrounding context, the project creates robust yet flexible frameworks to guide a qualitative transformation of the district. To this end, the Grand Parc de Ronquoz is conceived, linking existing gardens and open spaces. Like beads on a string, the park’s different parts are connected to form a vibrant and prestigious address that will be developed step by step.

The park serves as a bioclimatic urban space, offering balance and orientation, while enabling pedestrian and bicycle routes to schools and the swimming pool. Traverses run through the park, creating strong connections between the neighborhood and its surroundings, linking Sion with the Rhône.

Key focal points in the district include the Place de l’Ours, a mineral space shaped using inclined planes, and the Esplanade du Rhône, a shaded place to linger overlooking the river. As a counterpart to this predominantly car-free green heart, the main access roads run along the highway, providing entry to the district via a loop system. The parking and silo facilities located in the southern part of the district also enable access to the northern areas.

Ronquoz is currently diverse and aims to remain so: a mix of crafts, industry, commerce, offices, housing, and schools, blending old and new. The district grows through the interaction of its different quarters, each with its own typology and density.