From the metal factory to the mixed neighborhood
The Wydeneck area was used for metal processing for a century. Over the next few years, a neighborhood with short distances will be created here under the management of Hiag.
The Wydeneck was a closed area for over 100 years and was used exclusively by the "Schweizerische Metallwerke AG Dornach" for metal processing. Swissmetal still produces today and uses around half of the area. Small craft businesses and manufacturing SMEs also work.
In 2015, Hiag acquired the area in Dornach and began planning its future use. In close cooperation with the canton and municipality, the owner developed a coherent basis for the transformation of Wydeneck. The leading office for the test planning process was the Zurich urban planning office Feddersen & Klostermann in collaboration with Brühlmann Loetscher. 90 interested residents brought their wishes and suggestions into the planning process during a two-day participation process. On this basis, the master plan was drawn up and approved by the municipal council in 2018. In this context, the new name was also announced: Wydeneck – Metalli im Wandel.
The area-specific sub-zone plan revision and the development of a sustainable mobility concept are currently on the agenda. Central topics are the development of the quarter with a bus line, its own S-Bahn stop and the integration of the feeder to the A18 motorway. Building land is to be re-zoned along the Birs and the river basin is to be revitalized.
The opening of the aeral will initially take place through transitional uses. This creates space for business, leisure and culture. The offers are intended to attract customers and visitors. With the start of the first construction phase, these uses will be successively replaced or relocated. Several hundred apartments as well as commercial and service-oriented offers will be built in the next 20 to 25 years. Some of the existing historical buildings will be renovated and will remain as a contemporary witness of industrial history.
The Wydeneck is to become a lively, mixed and urban district. Around 1,800 residents and a wide range of commercial and service offerings with up to 400 jobs are planned. The publicly accessible riverside park and the preservation of the historical substance also ensure the special flair.
