Unterengstringen and Kloster FahrThe Agri-Urban Zone: Changing Land Use to Enable Opportunities for Biodiversity and HousingYufei Li and Jonas Zimmermann

A stroll through Unterenstringen will take you from the settlement characterised by urban sprawl, to industrial buildings sitting right next to a forest, and to a golf course at its border. But what stands out the most, is a sizable green island taking up almost a third of the commune’s area. What are the factors contributing to such an unusual oasis of biodiversity amidst the bustling urban environment?

Fahr Monastery and its agriculture have a history of almost 1000 years. Over the millennia many changes happened of which some contributed to the creation of a special zone in which the monastery is located today. Thanks to the special zone, a new strategic plan has been implemented, which provides for a modern form of agriculture and community living.

Agriculture is not known as a business field where you can make a lot of profit. Investments in residential construction, on the other hand, do. Hansjörg Vogler owns a piece of land that is designated as a building zone, but on which he farms. What are his motivations, his values and the challenges he faces?

The Federal Act on Spatial Planning (Raumplanungsgesetz) was set in motion to stop urban sprawl and to protect the disappearance of agricultural land and natural landscapes. It strictly draws the line between building zones and agricultural zones, between urban and rural. What if instead of such a strict division of city and agriculture, a mesh of both is allowed? How would an agri-urban zone look like?