Rietbach
Initial Situation 2005
Rietbach is an area of approx. 30 hectares, or approx. 74 acres, located between Bernstrasse and the railroad line. The land is primarily used for industrial and business purposes. Schlieren’s first industrial company, the glue factory Geistlich, established itself in this area as early as 1868. Other companies followed after the turn of the century, but many parts remain undeveloped to this day. Of the old industrial companies only Geistlich and Schlatter (welding technology) remain. Nowadays service companies and offices dominate in this area. In addition, there are also some vacant and temporarily used lots in the vicinity. The land between the Brandstrasse and the railroad property is currently zoned for industry.
Goals 2005
In order to secure and develop Schlieren economically, individual areas must be promoted and developed in cooperation with the location and business promoters and the owners. A main goal of the town of Schlieren is to attract future-oriented organizations (clustering), which would bring about an increase in tax yields. One can also take scenarios into consideration which would at first result in alternative or interim uses of the existing industrial area or vacant office buildings. Projects with an initiating function could come from the areas of art/culture/leisure/nightlife, which could change the reputation and the image of the area. Because of the low demand from the office and service sector, a development similar to that of the industrial area of Zurich West is conceivable. Aside from this, a higher density and a definition for the existing properties is a main goal. In the case of an image upgrade parts of the unused industrial zone and expanses of the Center North can be zoned for mixed-use. Securing a residential use of 20-50% must be looked into. It must be taken into consideration that residential development is only practical in an attractive living environment. A vertical mix between dwelling and business is also conceivable. Currently the Brandstrasse is being promoted as a „car mile.“ Plans already exist for a mixed use of the Färbi property and in the medium-term mixed use should also be a goal for the Geistlich property/Tennis-hall, as well as for the Center North.
Summary of the development 2005–2020
The new residential quarter "Am Rietpark" has been created on the wasteland of the Färbi site and the Geistlich glue factory. The connecting element is a central, spacious public park around which the individual buildings are grouped. The park was defined in the private layout plan for the two sites. At the western end, the neighborhood is closed off by Goldschlägiplatz, and to the east by Eduard-Geistlich-Platz. In addition to residential use, the ground floors are occupied by commercial, office, store and restaurant space. Most of the new residents are younger professionals and senior citizens living in the Tertianum retirement home. Around the new residential quarter, the Rietbach area continues to be used for commercial purposes.
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
