Invited urban study, Pratteln, 2025
Landscapet: META Landschaftsarchitektur
The proposal for the Bahnhofstrasse / St. Jakobsstrasse area in Pratteln establishes a new urban quarter that mediates between the large-scale development along Bahnhofstrasse and the finer grain of the surrounding residential neighbourhoods. The aim is to create a sustainable, vibrant, and adaptable urban district with a high spatial quality.
The masterplan coordinates the development of the three plots owned by the parish, the canton, and the post office. Street-facing buildings reinforce the urban character of Bahnhofstrasse and St. Jakobsstrasse, while lower-scale buildings and a network of open spaces provide a transition to the adjacent residential areas. Public and commercial uses at ground level activate the streetscape and enrich urban life.
On the parish site, a mixed ensemble combines senior housing, family maisonettes, community facilities, commercial spaces, and a new parish square. For the cantonal KIGA building, a sustainable strategy of extension and adaptive reuse is proposed. The post office site complements the development with apartments, studios, a post office branch, and a generous garden courtyard.
While each project can be realised independently, the greatest benefits emerge through their coordinated implementation. Sustainability is promoted through urban densification in a central location, flexible building structures, resource-efficient construction, extensive greenery, and sponge-city principles. Together, these measures create a diverse neighbourhood offering new places to live, work, and meet, while enhancing the wider urban environment.
