Sonnenhof Rapperswil, Shopping center in Rapperswil, Switzerland
Sonnenhof is a shopping center in Rapperswil that spreads across three and a half floors, housing about 38 retail stores, service providers, and restaurants. The building combines different commercial uses in one location and functions as a major retail destination for the town.
The center opened in 1978 and ranked among the first shopping centers in the St. Gallen region. It rose on former fortification grounds at the edge of the old town and marked a shift in how Swiss retail was developing at that time.
The name reflected the center's role as a new retail hub for the town, showing how American shopping malls influenced Swiss commerce in that era. Visitors today experience a place where routine shopping and local services merge into daily life.
The center sits directly next to Rapperswil train station and is easily reached by bus or train. Visitors find everything they need for daily shopping as well as various dining options to spend time.
The building sits on the grounds of a former city fortification and displays sandblasted concrete and colored metal panels in its design. This construction reflects the modern design approach for Swiss shopping centers during the 1970s.
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