Masterplan Solothurn

Using the overall master plan as the basis for the urban development concept, the scopes for action and flexibility in spatial urban development are identified, and planning-conceptual proposals are designed to achieve the city’s development goals. The Aare River is valued as an important identity marker and as the backbone of the green space system: while the urban appearance and accessibility to the water are prioritized in the old town area, sports and recreational functions with a natural and ecological design are of great importance in the rest of the city.

The urban counterpart to the Aare is formed by the main axis Biel-/Luzernerstrasse as the “Corso.” It represents an urban new beginning and integrates the train stations with urban hotspots into city life. A high density with strong development dynamics arises through a mixed urban use of offices, housing, commerce, and neighborhood services. The “Corso” is lined by public urban spaces and complemented by a fine-meshed local public transport network connecting the neighborhoods. Furthermore, the “Corso” links all modes of transport and consolidates bus lines.

As a subproject, planning “hotspots” have been selected which require significant planning and interdisciplinary coordination. For these areas, all framework conditions are to be clarified in the short to medium term, enabling individual construction projects to be accompanied and approved independently. Urban planning principles clearly and integrally illustrate the approach to each “hotspot.” For modular and process-oriented urban development, the dependencies of individual areas have also been depicted and the coordination needs highlighted.