Westside (Bern)

Westside is an urban shopping and experience center in Bern-Brünnen. The versatile offer in the areas of shopping, food, cinema, hotel business as well as wellness and fitness, embedded in the fascinating architecture by Daniel Libeskind, creates a unique, inspiring and colorful experience for visitors of all ages.

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Architecture

Westside is similar to a naturally grown neighborhood that is bustling by day and by night. The facade of the large structures is framed in black locust wood, connecting the building complex in a simple way to the landscape that opens to the west. The right angles of the ground grid contrast with the sloping building walls. The crystals as vertical access spaces of the shopping center pierce the right-angled system of the building volumes like large boulders and bring daylight into the interior of the buildings.

Statements on Westside by architect Daniel Libeskind:

There is nothing like this anywhere else in the world. This seamless juxtaposition of shopping center, retirement home, hotel and leisure facilities in conjunction with nature, the new Brünnen residential development and the built fabric of the nearby old town of Bern is unique. Westside is an urban marketplace and a stimulating experience destination with international flair.

Westside is much more than a mere shell for a shopping center. It is a space to live in. People feel good here, spend a good time. That was my vision. Everyday things like shopping take on a whole new quality, and Westside is a destination to linger in.

Westside is undoubtedly a big hit. This is intentional, because fashion and trends should be able to change at will without the physical form of the place having to adapt to them. Westside complements the existing urban structure and creates a new architectural landmark, a gateway into Bern from the west. It is a deliberately designed counterpoint and an excellent complement to Bern's beautiful old town.

History

It took about 42 years from the first thoughts of urban expansion in Bern-Brünnen to the opening of the Westside leisure and shopping center. A first project from 1972 became a victim of the "oil crisis", a second one with 6'000 apartments and about 4'000 jobs was rejected by the people at the ballot box in 1978. After a number of other projects, the people of Bern said "YES" to the mature large-scale project in Bern-Brünnen in 2000.

Shortly thereafter, the Migros Aare Cooperative founded Neue Brünnen AG to realize a leisure and shopping center. In the same year, the company commissioned the star architect Daniel Libeskind to realize the current project as part of an invited international architectural competition. His independent, visionary architecture and perfect integration into the surroundings were well received by experts and the public.

In August 2003, the government governor granted the building permit for the Westside leisure and shopping center, followed about eight months later by the cantonal building, transport and energy directorate, and in December it was also confirmed by the cantonal administrative court. However, the decision of the Administrative Court was appealed to the Federal Court. The Federal Supreme Court dismissed the appeal in June 2005.

With the groundbreaking ceremony in the fall of 2005, the largest private construction site in Switzerland took shape. After construction work on the freeway overpass was completed in spring 2006, Neue Brünnen AG, together with Daniel Libeskind, laid the foundation stone for the Westside leisure and shopping center as early as April 28, 2006. In September 2007, the shell of the building was completed, and in February 2008, practically all contracts with tenants were signed. Work on the interior began in April 2008. On October 8, 2008, the Westside leisure and shopping center was ceremoniously handed over to the public.

The Westside in facts and figures.

• Opening year:** 2008
• Last renovation: 2021
• Retail and leisure area:** 42,000 m2
• Number of stores:** 69
• Number of sales levels:** 4
• Center Services and Leisure Offerings: Shopping, cinema, hotel, adventure pool & spa.
• Number of parking spaces:** 1'275
• Connection to public transport:** Train, streetcar, bus

We are looking forward to your visit at Westside Bern Brünnen.