Erlenbach: Redesign of the Schifflände and revitalisation of the village stream

As part of the redevelopment of the Schifflände area in Erlenbach, the space between Seestrasse and Lake Zurich was upgraded: The speed limit was reduced from 30 to 20 and a pedestrian zone was created. At the same time, the village stream underwent comprehensive revitalisation, with the bank wall on the right-hand side being replaced by a near-natural embankment and the channel bed being structured to improve longitudinal connectivity for aquatic fauna.

Seating steps now form a flowing transition from the Roads and square area to the village stream and the lake, creating a valuable recreational space by the water. Particular attention was paid to high-quality materialization with natural stone and permeable surface structures. Rainwater can seep away or evaporate on site via the embankment shoulders and the open surfaces. In this way, the local water cycle is closed in accordance with the sponge city principle.

The project is rounded off by the replacement of the inlet channel from the rainwater basin and Schifflände wastewater pumping station using microtunnelling and the removal of the wastewater channel in the bottom of the village stream. These measures created an attractive and accessible body of water with numerous ecological structures for those seeking recreation.