Transformation Münchrüti-Chlifeld, Sursee

The large Münchrüti-Chlifeld industrial area in Sursee is part of the cantonal development priority area Sursee-Nord and is set to undergo a process of transformation. Despite its central location and excellent connections (close to Sursee railway station and the motorway), the area is underused. The challenges lie not only in the fragmented plot structure, the very narrow public road plots and the largely unstructured development to date, but above all in its unusual interweaving with a neighbourhood of single-family houses. This leads to numerous conflicts (emissions, traffic load) and strong resistance to any growth of the area.

The urban design concept proposes linking development to the upgrading and widening of the road plots. The new mandatory building lines along the two collector roads, Zeughausstrasse and Industriestrasse, combine additional height and additional uses with wider front zones along the street. Through this “urban development with leverage”, the streets become attractive, green urban spaces for everyone. In addition, uses are matched to the inherent qualities of each space: commercial and mixed uses along the streets, public-facing uses at the busiest junctions. The rear areas are traffic-calmed and greened, and housing is also conceivable there. As a result, the isolated single-family neighbourhood is better integrated and land-use conflicts are avoided. Finally, a minor adjustment to the junctions of the Ringstrasse enables a new traffic routing that substantially relieves the inner parts of the area, creates a network of green spaces and connects the area more closely with the town centre and the station district.

Only through this new, integrated, multi-scale approach, with respect for the existing fabric, was this study able to end a long-standing development deadlock (“We’re facing a pile of rubble”) and an unsuccessful planning process (with countless variants and proposals).