Growing Cities, New Agglomerations: how Change Succeeds

Ten municipalities in Switzerland now have more than 10,000 inhabitants. This means that 172 municipalities have the status of a city. What does this mean for their quality of life, and what for their surrounding agglomerations? Five fields of action from the users’ point of view.

Municipalities Develop in a Change of Perspective

The municipalities face diverse challenges. These are often characterized by the need to fulfill many different demands. This is well illustrated in usage concepts for parks or squares. Not only should the infrastructure be well maintained, but conflicts in usage must also be adapted. In addition to legal requirements, there is another point that is critical due to the dynamics of social and technological changes: time. Therefore, it makes sense to realize large developments in smaller stages. Otherwise, even a simple bicycle path could take a good ten years to be realized – a painful experience that every municipality would gladly avoid.