New district takes shape

A new neighbourhood will be built to the west of the City of Zug. It’s now clear how and when it will be continued into the outer Lorzenallmend.
 
At the moment, a gravel track leads from Choller to the Sumpf along the old Lorze. The construction of a new district will soon to be started in the outer Lorzenallmend, however, with residential, commercial and office buildings being created along a new road. The corporation spoke of a city within the city when introducing the project studies in 2007.
 
Top photo:
A new district with numerous high-rise buildings, a continuous Chollerstrasse and a park will established In the outer Lorzenallmend. About 5,000 people will work here one day. Housing for 3,000 people will also be created. (Visualisation PD)
 
Lower photo:
This visualisation shows the planned new district from the central park on the old Lorze river, which will create the link to the Riedmatt district. (PD)
 
The plans of the Biel architecture office "mlzd” prevailed over the projects from offices in Cologne, Zurich and Rotterdam. The core of the concept is the integration of a centre into the district, with a park linking the two sides of the old Lorze river, and thereby connect the new district to the Riedmatt district. The areas between the buildings will be open to the public, and communal rooms, sports fields and playgrounds, as well boulevards, will be possible. Shops, restaurants and other service companies will occupy the ground floors, ensuring that all areas of the district will always be lively.
 
The project will take a big step forward this year, according to information provided to the landowners by the City (see time scale below). The layout plan will be finalised by the city council in May, and will be resolved in August. The City Council will submit requests for individual development plans as early as the autumn of 2015.
 
The landowners and investors will be provided with basic building blocks, whereby the same few elements can be combined as desired. According to the rough plans of the Corporation, the area should be approximately 50 % residential and 25 % percent services and special use, resulting in a mixed zone of initially 100,000 square metres. But the district could extend up to the Steinhauserstrasse, adding a further 200,000 square metres.
 
Space for about 3,000 residents and about 5,000 jobs will be be created, says city planner Harald Klein and adds, "With regard to its external appearance, the project has only changed slightly in recent years." The original two basement levels, for example, have now definitively become three. This will make the construction with the obligatory arcades more economical and more flexible. "A 60-metre-high building on the Chamerstrasse will also no longer be considered," said Klein. Two 30-metre buildings are now planned here, with heights up to 40 metres in the northern part and more moderate heights towards the Steinhauserstrasse. Everything will therefore be balanced, and will fit in well with the surrounding area.
 
The new district will not be built in one fell swoop, however. "The focus will certainly first be on the undeveloped part. Alfred Müller AG plans a rapid overbuilding of its site in the north. The old building on the Steinhauserstrasse has already been demolished, and the company is now waiting for the overall development concept.
 
The new, continuous Chollerstrasse and its building line will be an important factor. All the buildings will align to it, and will have arcades. "We don’t want purely commercial buildings, as can be seen all over Switzerland, but rather an urban appearance thanks to the adjoining park." In around 30 years, this new district will probably be the most urban part of the city."
 
Time schedule for Outer Lorzenallmend
2015
April: Revision work
May: Determination of the district development plan by the City Council
June: Involvement of the general public
July: Adjustments
August: City Council decision
Autumn: Application development plan goes to the City Council
2016
Spring: Start of the legislative process
From autumn: consulting development plan to the Zug city council
2017
Summer: approval of the development plan by the Canton