Historically and to this day, Zollstrasse has been one of the most important connecting routes
between Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Once characterized by magnificent tree-lined avenues
and fruit trees accompanying the road, this spatial quality is reinterpreted and re-established
through the project, creating a distinctive and multifaceted gateway to the town.
Immediately after crossing the Rhine bridge, a dense hardwood floodplain forest forms a
powerful green portal. The flanking grass vegetation reinforces this spatial effect. Beyond this
threshold, the forest gradually opens into a pine–oak landscape, revealing Schaan’s impressive
entrance, defined by its cultural tree avenue. This avenue is framed by vibrant bands of
flowering perennials, adding seasonal richness and visual diversity.
In remembrance of the Rhine disaster of 1927, the Rhine memorial is given a prominent
and dignified setting. Located within a clearing in the floodplain forest, the monument is
surrounded by water, referencing the devastating flooding of the past. Sculptural floodplain
species such as birch and black alder shape the undulating terrain, evoking the immense force
of the river. An interpretive path communicates the scale and impact of the catastrophe, which
inundated large parts of the Principality nearly a century ago.
Through the redesign of Zollstrasse, Schaan gains a distinctive tree-lined avenue that
not only impresses with its seasonal color and spatial identity, but also provides valuable
ecological functions as habitat and refuge for diverse species. The design reflects the historical
evolution of the site while expressing a contemporary vision, making the transformation of the
Zollstrasse a living narrative of continuity and change.
Project Credits
Client: Municipality of Schaan, Liechtenstein
Photography: Julian Conrad
47.169506, 9.494196
