Recreation in “public parks” Josefwiese. This chief public green space in the working-class housing estate, which was built at the end of the 19th century, was facilitated by the sale of the northern part of the Stadthaus site for a new building for Schweizerische Nationalbank. Half of the profits were used by the city to set up the “fund for the purchase of woodland and the creation of parks”. The first project was the Josefwiese in 1918, implementing proposals by the inspector for gardens Gottlieb Friedrich Rothpletz. Existing fruit trees were incorporated into the plan. The town master builder Hermann Herter designed a building of rural character, which served as a sales stall for milk. During the 1950s the first play equipment was installed, followed by a paddling pool in the 1960s. The park, designed for multi-functionality and variety, embraces the concept of the “Volkspark” (public park) that had emerged at the end of the 19th century. Large geometric lawns framed by avenues and small, sheltered zones on the edge are typical design elements. For the last two years Josefwiese has been restored according to the needs of the local population. Josefwiese is a typical example of a Volkspark, the public parks created at the end of the 19th century.
Bäckeranlage. In 1893 extensive immigration made increasingly apparent the lack of public green space in the newly suburbanised workers’ district of Aussersihl. The initial concept was intended as a people’s public park and designed by Evariste Mertens in 1901. It featured large macadam squares and paths that occupied most of the area. However, it failed to meet the needs of the population and fell derelict within a short period of time. In 1938 the Bäckeranlage, which had become a favourite spot for marginalised people, was completely redesigned by Mertens’s sons, Walter and Oskar. The overgrown grounds were extensively cleared. Paths and squares with existing planting borders were converted into one large, continuous piece of lawn, which was – an exception at the time – accessible and designed for play. With the addition of a paddling pool this was far more suited to the needs of the population. During the 1970s the park was once again taken over by homeless people. After the closure of the open drug scene at Platzspitz in the late 1990s, drug users came in and local residents again stayed away. A competition for a new neighbourhood centre in 2004 produced a simple three-storey building designed by EM2N. Now it is mainly young families that dominate the picture. Many people working in the area use the space in their lunch hours.
The 1938 redevelopment with sunny lawns and shade under clumps of trees still shapes the character of the Bäckeranlage.
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