Save the unique natural and cultural area north of the Goetheanum (Switzerland)

Nature conservation concerns on the area "Schwinbach Süd"
The Schwinbach area with its extensive hedgerow and tree population as well as a wetland in the south of the area is home to a great variety of partly endangered and protected species according to the Red List, such as fire salamander, european toad and grass snake. A wide variety of birds can also be observed, including national priority species and Red List species. The Schwinbachareal, being located in the middle of an ecologically valuable green belt between Goetheanumpark and Ermitage (another protected nature and cultural heritage site in Arlesheim), forms an important link between different habitats and is thus of great importance for the biodiversity of the entire area of Dornach and Arlesheim.

Unfortunately, serious procedural mistakes were made during the process of land use planning on the Schwinbach South site. For example, the legally required survey of natural values during the land-use planning process was neglected twice. This represents a twofold violation of the Nature and Landscape Protection Act of the Canton of Baselland, which prescribes the survey of natural values as the basis for a subsequent assessment whether or not the site is worthy of protection (NLG Art. 11). In addition, the endangered amphibians and reptiles and their habitats are protected by the Federal Act on the Protection of Nature and Cultural Heritage and its Ordinance (Art. 18 NHG, Art. 20 NHV).

Landscape and architectural heritage conservation issues on the areas "Schwinbach Süd" and "Uf der Höchi II"
Due to their uniform architecture and compared to the surrounding single-family house quarter excessive size, both building projects represent a severe intervention in the landscape. It is to be assumed that the realisation of the 14 planned residential blocks would result in the loss of the unique impression of the Goetheanum site with its plastic-organic buildings from the north. At the same time, an irreversible destruction of the unique landscape of Arlesheim towards the Ermitage and Birseck Castle as a cantonally protected cultural monument is to be feared. The beauty of the area which can be savoured on the much frequented pathways "Auf der Höhe" and along the Schwinbach stream would be severly damaged.

For good reason that these pathways are part of the architectural trail signposted by the municipalities of Arlesheim and Dornach (see https://www.architekturpfad.ch)..) The trail includes significant plastic-organic buildings and runs in parts directly along the planned new building projects.

From the point of view of heritage protection, the two construction projects violate the ambient protection of the Goetheanum site, which is protected at the highest possible level by the federal government of Switzerland. This ambient protection is an integral part of an effective, contemporary protection of cultural monuments. For example, the southernmost buildings of the planned "La Colline" complex are to be located directly next to the following buildings designed by Rudolf Steiner: the Glashaus (1914), the Verlagshaus (1924) and the Heizhaus (1914) with its expressionistic chimney, visible from afar.

Thus, serious procedural mistakes were also made with regard to cultural heritage protection issues in the context of both quarter plannings (Quartierpläne). Despite an international cultural heritage in the immediate vicinity, the Solothurn Heritage Protection Society as the authority responsible for the Goetheanum had no knowledge of these building projects and was therefore not involved in their planning, which cannot be accepted.

Application by Helvetia Nostra to the Government Council
In view of these procedural errors in the planning process of both construction projects in the middle of a sensitive natural and cultural area, Helvetia Nostra submitted an application for appropriate protection measures to the Government Council on December 27, 2019.

The application calls for the quarter plannings (Quartierpläne) to be declared invalid due to violation of nature, landscape and heritage protection. In addition, the application demands the inclusion of the natural objects worthy of protection, "Schwinbach Süd" and "Uf der Höchi II", in the inventory of protected natural objects. The provisional prohibition of changes to vegetation and terrain, which had also been demanded, has already been issued by the Government Council.

Helvetia Nostra's application is currently being considered by the Basel-Landschaft cantonal government. It is therefore of great importance that as many people as possible interested in nature and culture support Helvetia Nostra's application with their vote.