Ground floor use

Initial situation 2005

The urban landscape of Schlieren is characterised by local small businesses, which are found mainly in the town centre but also on main roads and in residential areas. Ground floor use includes shops, petrol stations, snack bars and restaurants. The type, style and layout of shop displays and advertising hoardings provide clues to the lifestyle of different population groups living and working in Schlieren.

A sequence of examples of ground floor use throughout the urban area was photographed in 2005. In 2010 the concept began to focus on precise locations. Since then, ground floor use has been photographed along Zürcherstrasse/Badenerstrasse as the major east-west axis and along Bahnhofstrasse/Uitikonerstrasse as the major north-south axis. Ground floor use also forms part of the close-ups taken in the following areas: town centre, Rietbach, Schlieren West, Wagi area and around the hospital.

Goals 2005

A wide range of small shops and restaurants is essential for a thriving urban and residential lifestyle. In addition to their importance for sustenance, they are also important meeting places. The objective is to retain local small businesses in the town centre and along Zürcherstrasse/Badenerstrasse and to create conditions designed to encourage a range of ground floor uses in the emerging building projects and residential areas.

Summary of the development 2005–2020

Local retailers and restaurants have maintained their diverse offerings, although some long-established businesses have disappeared during the observation period. Instead, new ground-floor uses have been added in the new development areas and in the center, especially in the gastronomy and beauty sectors. Lifestyle trends such as Asian cuisine, the furnishing of outdoor areas with lounge furniture or, in the beauty sector, tattoo, piercing and nail studios are evident here. Despite the population growth, there are still no branches of international chain stores in Schlieren due to its proximity to Zurich and to Spreitenbach.

A comprehensive final evaluation of Schlieren's urban development will be published in the book "Stadtwerdung im Zeitraffer," published by Scheidegger & Spiess, Zurich, in 2023.

www.scheidegger-spiess.ch