Wanderyn
poi · CH

City Lounge

Getting around: City Lounge is in central St. Gallen, a 10-15 minute walk from the train station, near the Raiffeisen headquarters.
Hours: Open at all times as an outdoor public installation.

City Lounge is an unusual piece of urban design in central St. Gallen — an entire plaza, including the street surfaces, benches and even parked cars, coated in a rubber-like grey material by artists Pipilotti Rist and Carlos Martinez, creating a surreal, uniformly textured outdoor "living room" in the middle of the city. It functions as a genuine public space (people sit on the rubberized furniture and walk through it as a normal thoroughfare) while also being a piece of public art in its own right.

It's a quick, offbeat stop that stands out precisely because it's so different from anything else in St. Gallen's otherwise historic old town — worth the short detour for anyone curious about contemporary public art.

City Lounge FAQs

Can I actually sit on the furniture?

Yes, the rubberized benches and surfaces are functional public seating, not just decorative art.

How long does a visit take?

10-15 minutes, since it's a small plaza rather than an extensive site.

Is there an entrance fee?

No, it's a free outdoor public space.

Who created it?

Artists Pipilotti Rist and Carlos Martinez.

Is it near other St. Gallen sights?

Yes, it's within easy walking distance of the old town and abbey district.

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