tion Switzerland. And they are also yielding results. “The authorities are now more aware of the issue,” says Jenny Leuba of Pedestrian Mobility Switzerland. The outdoor living room As seating around stations has been removed or made less comfortable in recent years to discourage people from lingering too long, some Swiss cities have developed a trend by bringing a living-room atmosphere to public spaces. This is done by blocking off sections of road or converting carparks. In Berne, for example, part of Waisenhausplatz has had a stage, seating, play areas and green islands during the summer since 2018. As it’s just a temporary arrangement (during summer), there was no need for a long and involved approval process and the project was implemented quickly, says Claudia Luder, project manager for Design and Utilisation at Berne Directorate of Civil Engineering. She also manages the Kompetenzzentrum öffentlicher Raum (centre of competence for public areas), which promotes cooperation between the different departments in Berne and the locals – a prime example of coordination and participation. Temporary installations also reduce concerns about noise and littering, says Luder, referring to the conflicting uses of an area with facilities on offer. These issues are mitigated either through positive experiences with provisional arrangements, as in Berne, or through some technical tricks, something Jenny Leuba knows about. Two benches facing each other appeal to big groups, as do well-lit places. Niches are also popular. The city of Chur also has a good approach to public seating: shop owners place brightly coloured benches outside during the day and take them in at night, says Leuba. In conclusion, some Swiss cities and municipalities are on the way – each at their own pace – to organising public areas similar to what Sabina Ruff discovered to her delight in Ljubljana during the summer. That is where Slovenian architect and urbanist Jože Plečnik hailed from. Plečnik celebrated the city as a stage for life, and public areas as a venue for community and democracy, says Ruff. That is what is needed: town planning that focuses on the needs of the people. As Ruff puts it: “We need urban areas with something to offer, so people will enjoy spending time there.” bankkultur.ch Running the gamut – from clean benches and graffitied benches, to weather-worn benches and pristine red benches in Alpine forests. Photos: Keystone “We need urban areas with something to offer, so people will enjoy spending time there.” Sabina Ruff 12 Society
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