Berne: Ideas competition for the Gaswerk site begins
A new quarter with urban mixed use is to be built on the former Gaswerk site in Bern. The city of Bern has now launched an urban planning competition for this purpose.
The development of the Gaswerkareal is concrete: At the beginning of the year, the city of Bern took over the site from Energie Wasser Bern (ewb). The industrial wasteland, which is located close to the city center and directly on the banks of the Aare River, is to be turned into a diverse urban quarter.
On January 20, 2021, the city launched an urban planning competition for the "Development of the Gaswerkareal and the Brückenkopf West". Planning teams with a broad range of expertise are to propose a variety of innovative urban development concepts for the Gaswerk area and the neighboring bridgehead of the Monbijou Bridge, writes the city of Bern in a statement. The most suitable urban development concept for the implementation of the site and use strategy is to be selected in the competition procedure.
The existing youth and cultural center Gaskessel is to be integrated into the planning of the new quarter. According to the city of Bern, "innovative urban planning concepts for the coexistence of commerce, nightlife, culture, leisure and housing" are required. The first-ranked team will receive the follow-up contract for the preparation of the framework plan as well as for the monitoring of further development and will thus assume a key role in the design of the new Aarequartier. (ah)
