The Vitus site is not a blank slate. As early as the Middle Ages, a Dominican convent shaped the area. Later, Rieter's textile machinery production made the location famous far beyond Winterthur. Today, these historical layers form the basis for the next stage of development.

The transformation follows the guiding principle of "preserve, expand, supplement": existing buildings remain part of the whole, new uses are carefully created, and selective additions create space for the future. In this way, history remains tangible while a new chapter is opened.

The goal of the development goes beyond classic site revitalization: the Vitus site is to become a productive innovation location. Research, education, culture, and craftsmanship are not random neighbors here, but have been deliberately brought together.

The mix makes the difference: start-ups benefit from the proximity to established companies, students from the practical environment, and the city from a place where new ideas are born in real spaces. The industrial heritage creates the resonance space – it offers the authenticity that modern innovation parks often lack.

The transformation of the Vitus site is a process with foresight. Under the guiding principle "The future needs origins," the existing buildings will not be replaced, but rather reimagined. Existing buildings, open spaces, and infrastructure form the basis on which something new can be created—with an approach that combines preservation and innovation.

In the future, the site will be divided into two areas: Vitus West, with a focus on upgrading and revitalizing the existing buildings, and Vitus East, which will be gradually redeveloped starting in 2030. This will create space for growth without losing the identity of the place.

The further development follows clear principles: the existing buildings remain the bearers of history, while new buildings carefully complement them and create additional production and work space. Flexible usage concepts, sustainable densification, and integrated green spaces ensure continuous adaptation to new needs.

In the future, the Vitus Promenade will run through the area as a green axis, connecting the Töss river with the neighborhood – a public space that encourages movement, encounters, and recreation.

The development scenarios – from S to XL – show how flexibly the Vitus site can respond: from an industrial location to a productive innovation campus to a mixed-use urban quarter. In this way, the Vitus site remains a place in motion – open to ideas, companies, and people who want to shape the future.

A visible sign of this development is the arrival of a traditional Swiss company: in spring 2026, LANDI will open its first store in Winterthur – in the middle of the Vitus site.

This will transform the site into not only a place of work and culture, but also an everyday meeting place for people from the surrounding neighborhood. Shopping, socializing, and inspiration will merge into a new experience.

With Kulturwehr, the Vitus site has created a space that combines creativity, exchange, and encounter. The former hall, where Rieter's own fire brigade once stationed its fire trucks, has been transformed into a versatile event location. The name was chosen deliberately: a play on words combining "culture" and "fire brigade" – symbolizing the transition from industrial use to cultural life.

Today, the Kulturwehr offers space for exhibitions, workshops, corporate events, and all kinds of other events. Its robust architecture, open-plan design, and industrial atmosphere give it a distinctive character – authentic, flexible, and inspiring at the same time.

As part of the Vitus site, Kulturwehr symbolizes the transformation of the entire location: a place where business, culture, and urban society come together. It opens up the site to the outside world and brings it to life – as a stage for new ideas, a meeting place for the region, and a source of inspiration for Winterthur.
 

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