evealing the stream, reconnecting the city: the impact of Zürich’s bachkonzept on pedestrian networks and active living

Abstract

The burial and culverting of urban streams during twentieth-century urbanization severed the relationship between natural hydrological systems and the built environment, resulting in the loss of critical ecosystem services. While urban waterways are often perceived as barriers to movement, their reinstatement at ground level through ‘stream daylighting’ presents an opportunity to reconfigure urban form in ways that support both ecological and social resilience. This study investigates the impact of stream daylighting on pedestrian network connectivity in Zurich, Switzerland. Using a comparative spatial analysis of pre-and post-daylighting conditions, the study employs a configurational approach based on metric reach within a GIS environment. Historic georeferenced maps from 1984 were digitized and compared with 2020 open-access spatial data to assess changes in route network connectivity. These quantitative findings are complemented by photographic documentation to evaluate the urban design interventions accompanying daylighting projects. Contrary to the assumption that reinstating streams at ground level disrupts connectivity, the results reveal that daylighting in Zurich often enhances pedestrian accessibility. This is achieved through integrated urban design strategies, such as the inclusion of footbridges and the creation of new public spaces, which maintain or improve existing route networks. These findings underscore the potential of stream daylighting not only as a nature-based solution for stormwater management and climate adaptation, but also as a contributor to cultural ecosystem services – supporting active mobility, place-making, and the reintegration of nature into the urban fabric. The study highlights the importance of morphological analysis in understanding how ecological restoration can be harmonized with urban connectivity and resilience.