Schönenwerd: Industrial site to become the "Aaregarten" district

An industrial site in Schönenwerd (SO) is being converted into the "Aaregarten" district. The location is the three-hectare site formerly occupied by Bally and the Karbacher brewery. The two landowners, Ecoreal and Burckhardt Entwicklungen, are reportedly planning apartments for different stages of life in several phases, supplemented by restaurants, businesses and meeting places. Around 180 residential units are planned, with construction due to start in 2028.

For the front area, the planners have designed an area under the project name "Aarebalkon" - an urban space with restaurants, stores and the existing brewhouse. The Coop petrol station there will remain in operation until 2048 and is to be replaced by a new building in the long term. A six-storey point building includes restaurants, shops and apartments, a workshop is planned in the existing "Pergola" and restaurants, shops and apartments are planned in the brewhouse and basement building. A further eight-storey point building will house restaurants, businesses and apartments.

In the central area, the "residential garden" is being created along the Aare and Gösgerstrasse with slightly offset buildings of different heights. Two of these are to be designed as stepped terraces, while two others are planned as six-storey buildings. The northern part of the site is to be developed at a later date. (aw)