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Events - 26.02.2017 - 00:00 

The fate of public space in St.Gallen

"Density stress" and "Switzerland being concreted over" – when these notions are uttered, the demand for more public space is not far away. The ways in which the function and significance of public space in St.Gallen have changed will be revealed by the former curator of monuments Martin Schregenberger in a public lecture course starting on 6 March.

27 February 2017. "Flatten the Alps for a clear view of the Med!" This was the provocative battle cry with which the Swiss punk scene of the 1980s called for free space for their own purposes. However, the slogan is generally also an expression of new demands on public space at a time when notions like "internal compression", "density stress" and "Switzerland being concreted over" are being bandied about.

The evolution of streets, squares and parks is part of settlement history. However, the function and significance of public space change from epoch to epoch. In his lecture course, Martin Schregenberger, architect and former curator of monuments of the City of St.Gallen, will focus on the history of public space in St.Gallen. He will start with St.Gallen being turned into a town after the Hungarian raid of 926 and describe the consequences of the town fire of 1418. The new creation of the abbey square in the 17th century and the spirit of optimism in the era of embroidery will be dealt with in lectures three and four. In addition, Schregenberger will home in on the controversies and projects of the post-war years to the present day, among them the design of the Market Square, the North and St.Fiden Railway Stations, as well as the Sömmerliwiese park.

Dates:

The lectures will take place in Room 01-014 of the University of St.Gallen on Mondays at 6.15 p.m.

  • 6 March:
    Did the Hungarians found the town of St.Gallen?
  • 13 March:
    The town fire of 1418 forces citizens to think ahead
  • 20 March:
    The first town map in the 16th century, the new creation of the Abbey Square in the 18th century
  • 27 March:
    Around 1900: public spaces in the era of embroidery, a touch of metropolis
  • 3 April:
    Clear view of the Mediterranean: public space in the post-war years
  • 10 April:
    Density stress, the call for more public space and the preservation of free surfaces. New projects and controversies

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