Swiss Review 3/2020

Swiss Review / June 2020 / No.3 A summer like no other “Down with the Alps – we want to see the sea!” The 1980s youth movement used this slogan to protest against Switzerland’s so-called culture of narrow-mindedness. The country has cer- tainly taken a peep over the mountains and broadened its outlook since then. Now the Mediterranean is inch- ing nearer to Switzer- land, at least in climato- logical terms. Scorching hot days and balmy nights are no longer confined to southern Europe. And, like ourMediterraneanneighbours, we have lived our lives increasingly outdoors in recent summers. Cities have enhanced the al- fresco vibe by filling their public spaces with all manner of furniture. Entire streets have turned into open-air bars, parks into open-air cinemas, river- and lakesides into barbecue and hang-out areas. Thousands embrace the summery feel; others bemoan the noise and stink. Things are very different this year. The corona- virus epidemic has confined people to their homes in recent months – a lockdown that puts everything into perspective. Howwill our expe- rience of social distancing change the everyday life of towns and cities? Sociologists and cultural experts will surely study this question one day. At best, the emergency will soon be over with community togetherness stronger than ever. Ur- ban areas will not only be more Mediterranean, they will also be more people-friendly. The cli- mate crisis and the challenges facing overheat- ing cities are, on the other hand, far from over. THEODORA PETER, EDITOR SWISS REVIEW to sustainable principles, the new neighbourhood also has a spacious park and other notable areas of green- ery. Vegetation and water Meanwhile, the focus in Geneva is on increasing local vegetation. Last sum- mer, officials approved a strategy that underpins the planting of greenery as part of an urban master plan, while the Urbanature project has already seen Geneva’s municipal gardeners plant around 1,200 trees and 1.7 mil- lion plants around the city. The Ge- neva government also believes that there has to be a fundamental shift away from the use of personal motor- ised transport. Residential court- yards that serve as car parks could then be transformed into green oases. Trees not only provide the city with fresh air, but their leaves also filter out particulate matter from the at- mosphere. The city of Berne is also applying a range of measures. For example, the authorities will only permit paved surfaces if these are necessary for traf- fic or disabled access. Rainwater be- gins to dry immediatelywhen it lands on asphalt, whereas it will seep into gravel and evaporate later. “We need to rethink our approach to water,” says Christoph Schärer, director of parks and green space in Berne. Rain should no longer be drained directly into the sewers but remain where it falls, because evaporation has a cool- ing effect. It will also water the vege- tation. “There is no benefit to cover- ing everything in asphalt,” he says. Berne’s numerous fountains and wa- tercourses also help to freshen the air. For example, the Stadtbach stream has been partially ‘daylighted’ along its route through the old town. More ‘exotic’ trees are being planted in the Swiss capital. These can withstand climate change, whereas many native trees such as the large- leaved lime and the sycamore are par- ticularly sensitive to heat and drought. The Turkey oak is one of the new tree species being used in Berne. Native to south-east Europe, this deciduous tree is resistant to cold winters and hot summers. It can also copewith the late spring frosts that have become a frequent occurrence in recent years. As far as Schärer is concerned, plant- ing palm trees is certainly not the answer. Europaallee in Zurich – shadeless urban canyons and concrete surfaces heat the city air like a furnace. Photo: Keystone 9