Städtebau beginnt an der Strasse

Towns and cities have developed along roads. In recent decades, the constant expansion of motorised private transport and the structural response to its noise have strongly influenced the spatial structure along roads and, in many places, together with a lack of amenity quality, have led to inhospitable urban spaces. Städtebau beginnt an der Straße (Urban Planning Begins on the Street) examines this finding and attempts to remedy the situation. The book, which is the result of many years of research by the Urban Landscape Institute at the ZHAW in Winterthur, shows ways in which streets can be transformed from a problem into the backbone of urban development. The current qualities and challenges are discussed on the basis of analyses and photographic documentation. With concrete examples from Switzerland, Germany and Austria, the book shows strategies for integrally considering the challenges of climate adaptation, mobility, noise and the relationship to the neighbourhood structure and how streets can once again become high-quality public spaces.