Is there public debate on the quality of the place?

During the heyday of the St. Gallen textile industry, workers bleached cloth in the so-called Bleicheli quarter. After the demise of this industry, the place was used for commerce and cheap housing – until the Raiffeisenbank relocated its headquarters here. Four new office buildings were built for this purpose in the district. After finishing the work, the new banking quarter remained quiet and empty. A growing number of people demanded revitalisation of the area. City authorities and the bank invited selected artists and architects to propose solutions for the revitalisation of the district in a competition.

Does the place serve its purpose?

After the public voiced strong criticism of the banking district, urban repair was sought. The project by architect Carlos Martinez and artist Pipilotti Rist emerged as the winner of the competition. The two authors of the design envisaged a red carpet that would cover an area of 4,600 square metres and visually tie the different areas together. Benches and tables as well as a car, a large vase and a fountain grow out of the carpet and form seating niches and lounges here and there in the outdoor space. The Stadtlounge enjoys wide popularity: bank employees use it during their lunch break, young people gather here, and tourists come to take photos.

Is the place distinguished by durable construction and little need for maintenance?

The civil engineering authority worked out how the carpet was to be made, tested it, and the material was applied in several layers. The paving consists of a soft rubber granulate – comparable to synthetic surfacing for sports. The coating, which has been in place since 2005, is cleaned with a special machine and repaired when necessary.

Have public and private resources been used responsibly?

The parliament authorised implementation of the urban art installation. It cost 3.9 million Swiss francs – two thirds of which were paid by the Raiffeisenbank and one third by the city. The Stadtlounge, commonly referred to as the Red Square, is a publicly accessible sculpture with a private sponsor. As such, it is a typical project of a public-private partnership, where the public sector and a private company work together for a specific purpose and share the tasks.

Does the place bring different people together?

The Stadtlounge reverses the definition of inside and outside. In the outdoor space, red furniture and large amorphous light fixtures serve as furnishings for a living room. The façades of the new buildings become its walls. The supple rubber surfacing is reminiscent of a deep pile carpet. This exterior spatial design is a public living room and art installation rolled into one that is dissected by crossing car traffic.

Does present-day design improve the quality of the existing?

In the words of the designers: “It is not least by using the stylistic device of irony that the concept intends to call itself into question to a certain extent.” The striking art installation is an unusual intervention in a public space. It makes no reference to the existing. This is something we normally marvel at in a museum, but here we encounter it as we stroll through the city. It is an unsettling experience. But it is equally pleasing, because art should be accessible to everyone and should raise questions, like the one here about what kind of public space we want.

Does the place contribute to social cohesion?

In the past, a lack of building culture and the dubious quality of several new buildings in St. Gallen triggered vehement discussions. The red carpet symbolises the prelude to a city that is friendlier in its urban development. After public life in the Bleicheli quarter had diminished considerably following the arrival of the banks, the red carpet is bringing people back into the neighbourhood. In addition to the locals, tourists are also roaming the red streets. Last but not least, the place is doing well on Instagram.

Does the place’s beauty contribute to people’s well-being?

The soft synthetic surface not only muffles the tread of one’s own footsteps, but also absorbs the everyday sounds of the city. The Stadtlounge is a kind of island, a red wonderland in which one moves in amazement, almost as if within a backdrop. Your perception changes.