As part of a study commission, BHSF was commissioned to develop an overall urban development concept for the Ahornpark area in Zug.
In contrast to and in addition to the rapidly changing surroundings, we see Ahornpark as a place of slow and careful growth. In Ahornpark, the journey is the goal, at the level of urban development, landscape, architecture and use.
In view of the course of the stream and the existing tree population, the Ahornpark urban building block already has a very good starting point for sustainable and value-enhancing development. At the same time, the question arises as to how the identity of the area can plausibly develop over a very long period of time. We bring these two aspects together in our concept for the Ahornpark area. We see gradual development as an opportunity to think about urban development from the perspective of the tree, which is also growing slowly but carefully.
Due to the historical development of the perimeter, a strong north-south direction of the buildings can still be seen today. Only along the stream were buildings built in the second row, otherwise all buildings are oriented towards the streets. Different owners and development intentions have resulted in buildings from different decades on the site, which have retained their form and expression due to their location. We want to retain this logic and the resulting homogeneity.
The heart of the future park is the existing course of the river with its vegetation, as well as the municipal site of the fire station and the commercial yard, which together make up a significant part of Ahornpark. Green accents are set here from the outset, anticipating the future state and making an acceptable park with large trees possible in 20 or 30 years’ time.
In terms of urban design, the theme of natural growth also acts as a motif to link the existing and future conditions of the next 30 years: We use the existing course of the river as a starting point, which is understood as a kind of root strand that gradually spreads out into the surrounding area. With ever smaller ramifications and increasing strength, this green strand gradually penetrates the Ahornpark area, and in some cases grows up the façades as greenery. This influences the pathways, the routing of infiltration elements and the way in which plants are planted. The individual building plots are surrounded by vegetation and can thus retain their independence and individuality. This means that an idea is present across the entire site, while at the same time allowing the landowners a high degree of autonomy.
