The good life in Schöngrün

On former prison grounds in Biberist, a new residential development has been built with housing for over 300 people and a focus on togetherness and community spirit.

Today, where the cantonal correctional facility was once located, now stands a horseshoe-shaped complex of two new buildings containing 160 apartments. The Schöngrün neighborhood, which is located in Biberist directly on the city limits of Solothurn, is not only special because of its external appearance. The sense of togetherness among the residents is also unique.

Shopping and daycare all within reach

As its name implies, Schöngrün (beautifully green) is surrounded by greenery and offers a wonderful view of the alps. Despite this, it is only ten minutes from the Solothurn main station. It therefore comes as no surprise that it didn't take long for the development to be filled with tenants following its completion around three years ago.  “Thanks to the attractive location and many other special features of the development, the 160 apartments were quickly snapped up,” says Anna Lisa Tallero, asset manager at AXA Investment Managers. In addition to a small organic food store, a fitness trail, a bouldering hall, garden beds for everyone to use, and an inner courtyard with fruit trees, Schöngrün also has a daycare center. If you fancy a day out, you can borrow the development’s own electric car or one of the bicycles. Schöngrün also offers numerous communal areas and a multi-generational building directly on the neighborhood square.

Multi-generational housing: Young and old under one roof

The multi-generational house in Schöngrün comprises a total of 11 apartments, and the age of the residents ranges from under 30 to 70 years old. The aim was to achieve the best possible mix of all age groups. Residents come together on the first floor of the building. This is because there is a large living room with two cooking islands, numerous tables and a TV corner, which is available to all tenants. “The purpose of this common room was to bring people closer together. That’s why it was important for us to pay particular attention to the design,” explains Anna Lisa Tallero. People meet here to cook together, for example. Togetherness is very important at Schöngrün: Decisions are made together and the residents check the applications of potential new residents themselves, for example. 

What is needed for a functioning residential development

Anna Lisa Tallero knows that the owner AXA put a great deal of heart and soul into the planning of the development, in particular the multi-generation building: “To ensure that the numerous offerings in Schöngrün are also used, we have put a lot of thought into them and obtained support from ITOBA.” ITOBA provides development, advisory and mediation services focused on the promotion of togetherness in a residential development. “A well-designed community identity creates a sense of unity. It makes residents a community and buildings a home,” says Ivo Richner, Community Coach at ITOBA. This is important as the tenants develop a sense of togetherness and make more use of the common areas. In Schöngrün, for example, the potential uses of the communal areas were developed together with the residents, resulting in the creation of a hobby room, among other things. By involving the tenants and encouraging their ideas, various interest groups, such as a knitting group, have also been formed. A development association has been founded to ensure the continuous development of Schöngrün in the future as well.