Ortenberg core area | Ortenberg (Hesse)
2nd Prize | New urban spaces for Ortenberg
Ortenberg (Hesse)
In collaboration with Thomas Schüler Architekten und Stadtplaner
The new town centre
Wilhelm-Leuschner-Straße has always been the lifeblood of Ortenberg. This central thoroughfare will be further strengthened in future and enhanced through a new design. In the heart of the town, Ortenberg is being given a new look along Wilhelm-Leuschner-Straße.
A new central square is being created as a clearly laid-out hub that connects key functions and areas of the town whilst also serving as a new calling card for the town. This square forms the gateway to the historic old town. At the same time, the market square with the community centre and the new town hall are being integrated into the urban and open-space planning.
The result is a spacious, multi-purpose town centre in a central location, which, as a space that fosters a sense of identity, creates a representative and communicative urban space. The new buildings complement the existing ensemble of buildings and enliven the square through their diverse uses.
Living in the village centre
New buildings may be constructed in stages on the plots currently still occupied by existing structures along Philipp-Glenz-Straße. These will blend harmoniously into the existing streetscape in terms of their volume and roof shape.
The plans envisage mixed-use buildings comprising residential units and commercial premises on the ground floor. In future, these will form the gateway to the old town and give Wilhelm-Leuschner-Straße a modern look. In the rear areas along Philipp-Glenz-Straße, additional courtyard houses are being built, intended primarily for residential use and creating a quiet, inner residential environment. Green courtyard gardens complement these residential areas and create high-quality, sheltered open spaces offering a pleasant environment in which to spend time.
Transport
A new mobility hub is being built on the market square, bringing together all aspects of ‘soft mobility’. This includes car-sharing bays, bike-share stations and charging points for electric vehicles. The ‘Ortenberg Mitte / Rathaus’ bus stop will also be integrated into this hub.
The parking concept provides for a balanced distribution of parking spaces across the town centre: 60 spaces will be located in the market square area, 40 spaces will be created in the underground car park of the new town hall, and a further 50 spaces in the Herrngarten area. This will ensure that parking facilities are organised in a decentralised manner and integrated sensibly into the respective areas of use.
Philipp-Glenz-Straße will be made a traffic-calmed zone and will in future be accessible only to residents and delivery vehicles. This will reduce through traffic and significantly enhance the quality of life in the neighbourhood.
Materiality
The materiality of the new town centre deliberately draws on Ortenberg’s historical identity. The central square is being paved with high-quality, non-directional natural stone, which lends the new urban space a durable, robust and, at the same time, prestigious appearance. The use of long-lasting, low-maintenance and resource-efficient materials also makes a sustainable contribution to future-proof and value-retaining town development.
The characteristic paving of the old town is incorporated into the design and extended into the new central square. This creates a natural connection between the historic town centre and the new town centre. The old town and the new square merge into a cohesive urban space with high recognisability and a particularly pleasant atmosphere. At the edges of the green islands within the new urban space, permeable paving with open grass joints is used. These paved areas allow rainwater to infiltrate naturally on site. At the same time, the green joints create a soft transition between the square and the vegetated areas, emphasising the landscape character of the urban space.
The market square will be fitted with a robust asphalt surface, creating a durable, hard-wearing and low-maintenance surface. This makes the market square particularly suitable for a variety of uses, such as weekly markets, festivals, mobile stages, temporary structures or access by delivery and emergency vehicles. At the same time, a level and accessible surface is created that is highly suitable for everyday use, whilst also providing space for informal play and physical activities such as cycling, skating or other spontaneous activities. The car park area will be constructed using permeable paving, allowing rainwater to seep directly into the ground on site. In the area of the new row of trees, a retention basin will also be created, which is important for the market square as it temporarily collects, stores and delays the discharge of rainwater.
The Herrngarten is being fitted with a durable gravel-turf surface that meets the functional requirements for market events, festivals and temporary uses. The area remains accessible to vehicles and durable, whilst at the same time serving as a green open space with a park-like character. Gravel turf combines usability with ecological benefits: the green surface improves the microclimate, reduces heat build-up compared to sealed surfaces and allows rainwater to seep away naturally. At the same time, the ground remains permeable and supports groundwater recharge. Gravel lawns also prove particularly robust in the event of temporary flooding. Excess water can be absorbed, temporarily stored and drained off gradually. Once the water has receded, the area quickly becomes usable again and remains permanently functional.
Rainwater / Retention
Sustainable rainwater management involves the targeted collection and retention of surface water, which is then allowed to infiltrate the ground at a later stage or released into the drainage system in a controlled manner. Green spaces, open basins and permeable surfaces help to relieve the burden on the sewerage system and promote a natural water balance in the town centre.
At the same time, the high proportion of unsealed and greened areas significantly reduces the formation of heat islands, as evaporation and shading improve the local microclimate. Rainwater is temporarily stored in open spaces, released at a delayed rate and partially infiltrated on site. This not only reduces the risk of flooding during heavy rainfall events but also ensures a controlled and nature-oriented integration into the water cycle.
The concept develops a sustainable town centre for Ortenberg that combines historic structures with new urban qualities. The reorganisation of the centre, the enhancement of the open spaces along the Nidder and the revitalisation of the market square create a versatile, identity-forming urban space.
The interplay of housing, public amenities, transport and open space creates a new centre with a high quality of life, a clear sense of place and a sustainable focus – serving as a vibrant meeting place for the entire community.
Construction of a new multi-purpose residential building | Filderstadt-Bernhausen
2nd Prize | Construction of a new multi-purpose residential building
Filderstadt-Bernhausen
In collaboration with ATELIER30 Architekten GmbH
Urban Planning and Internal Organisation
The new building stands as a confident urban element on the corner of Bernhäuser Hauptstraße and Volmarstraße, on the site of the former car park. It marks both the start and the spatial conclusion of the pedestrian zone on Bernhäuser Hauptstraße, thereby reinforcing the urban presence of this important local area.
The carefully designed, L-shaped structure responds sensitively to the existing context. It incorporates both the height profile and the building lines of the adjacent development, translating the small-scale, granular character of the surrounding area into a contemporary architectural structure.
The conceptual section complements the ensemble naturally and, with its transverse orientation towards Volmarstraße, provides an urban conclusion to it. The striking four-storey structure in the implementation section creates an inviting forecourt through a deliberate setback, thereby clearly marking the public uses on the ground floor.
Both the event space and the restaurant are accessed via a spacious foyer. Both areas are deliberately oriented towards Bernhäuser Hauptstraße, thereby helping to bring life to the public space. In addition, both the event space and the restaurant have their own entrance from the forecourt. This allows both areas to be operated independently of one another, whilst at the same time facilitating synergies between them. The event area is further complemented by a terrace opening onto the tranquil inner courtyard.
The foyer area also houses the central staircase, which provides access to the apartments on the upper floors. The staircase is accessible from both Bernhäuser Hauptstraße and the green inner courtyard. This provides future residents with direct and easy access to the communal open space. The courtyard serves as the communicative heart of the neighbourhood and offers space for relaxation, socialising and neighbourly interaction.
The ground floor also houses all the ancillary rooms for the catering kitchen as well as the central toilet facilities. A passageway from Volmarstraße connects the courtyard directly to the public street space, thereby enhancing the neighbourhood’s accessibility.
The longitudinal section of the building is designed to accommodate additional commercial space, which can be easily subdivided as required thanks to its flexible layout. The ground floor is complemented by an electric bicycle storage room, separate waste disposal rooms and the building services room.
The floors above are based on a clearly structured floor plan with a grid of approximately 3.00 m. This structure allows for a high degree of flexibility in the design of different apartment types. Two-, three- and four-room apartments can be created on each floor. Around 50% of the flats are designed to be fully accessible, whilst the remaining flats are designed to be barrier-free. All flats also feature a loggia, which serves as a sheltered private outdoor space and significantly enhances the quality of living.
The entrance to the underground car park is located in the desired area in the north-east of the site. The underground car park provides a total of 24 parking spaces as well as additional storage areas for residents. On the third floor, the stepped storeys respond sensitively to the height of the neighbouring buildings, thus creating a harmonious transition to the urban context. The conceptual section follows the same structural logic as the implementation section, thereby ensuring a clear overall architectural form.
BOMA+ | Braunschweig
2nd Price | BOMA+
Braunschweig
In collaboration with STAUTH Architekten Partnerschaftsgesellschaft mbB
Context and Guiding Principle
The competition site forms a central transitional space between Bohlweg, Schlosscarée, Schloss-Arkaden and the historic Magniviertel. Today, this urban space is characterised by oversized traffic areas, high levels of paving and a lack of visual and pedestrian connections. In particular, the isolating architecture of the Horten/Galeria complex and the existing design of the ‘Schloss’ tram stop prevent a natural connection with the adjacent Magniviertel.
The design therefore aims to reorganise this important inner-city area spatially, functionally and atmospherically. Under the guiding principle of “Opening up, Connecting, Greening”, the previously fragmented traffic area is transformed into a coherent urban fabric of squares and open spaces. Private motorised traffic is significantly reduced and, in accordance with the shared-space principle, relocated to the west side of Bohlweg with one lane in each direction; the area around the Ritterbrunnen is freed from through traffic. New pedestrian links, level-paved street spaces and bright, accent-paved strips running east-west strengthen the visual and functional connection between the city centre, Schlossplatz and the Magniviertel. Pocket parks in the north and south, greened recreational areas and outdoor dining amidst the greenery enhance the quality of the environment and make the Magniviertel visible and experienceable once again.
The restoration of the historic Ackerhof gateway and the creation of an attractive pedestrian link between the Magniviertel and the Schloss-Arkaden will reinforce the historic connection between these areas and re-establish links within the urban fabric. The restoration is to be financed through the sale of Horten tiles to the public and, as a community-supported project, will be firmly embedded within the local community.
Redesign of the open spaces at the Mathildenhöhe Information Centre | Darmstadt
Recognition | Redesign of open spaces at the Mathildenhöhe Information Centre
Darmstadt
The Blue Mathilde – Nature as a Gallery
The new Mathildenhöhe Information Centre stands as a standalone structure within the park, nestled in its historic and culturally rich surroundings, whilst also serving as a central focal point along the green axis linking the Old Town, the Erich-Ollenhauer Promenade and the Rosenhöhe green corridor. The design’s central concept is to create a space with maximum greenery, providing shade and evaporative cooling for visitors, changing with the seasons and offering sufficient area for infiltration and evaporation. Gathering spaces for small and large groups are created both on and along the green spaces. A long, curved path gently winds its way through the large green spaces, connecting the individual areas. The open space responds sensitively to the historical, ecological and artistic requirements of the site, combining them into a fluid, harmonious experiential space that appeals to visitors on various levels.
Hamburg-Nord district office building development | Hamburg-Eppendorf
3rd prize | Hamburg-Nord district office building development
Hamburg-Eppendorf
In collaboration with gmp Architekten
Urban development and monument preservation
The aim of this competition entry is to highlight and strengthen the potential of the listed building complex ‘Bezirksamt Hamburg-Nord’ (Hamburg-Nord District Office). The administrative building will be transformed into a liveable and sustainable neighbourhood: the Seitz Quarter will be created.
The listed buildings B-E, designed by architect Paul Seitz, will be preserved in their structural substance and carefully supplemented by three new buildings: a new tower as the highest point on the main road emphasises the start of Eppendorf with its long-distance effect. It will be located directly behind building section B1, replacing building section A, and will be connected to it by a covered hall, creating a large, contiguous inner courtyard to the east.
An extension to the former library rounds off the building block along the busy Lenhartzstraße. The street edge of the new building is set back slightly so that building E retains its presence. An extension to building C1 connects the quarter with the adjacent Marie-Jonas-Platz as a mediating building block. The original design idea is continued here, with the new building stepping down in height compared to the existing structure and creating a new frontage. In this way, all the new buildings blend harmoniously into the existing structure and the adjacent development, developing it further in a contemporary manner.
The existing buildings will be renovated in consultation with the monument protection authority and converted for new use in the interior. The façades will retain their protected appearance and will only be supplemented with balconies in the courtyard areas (buildings C and D). This will create an inner, private and landscaped courtyard as an oasis and identity-forming space for the residents of the Seitz Quarter, in contrast to the more public neighbourhood square on Marie-Jonas-Platz and the more urban square on Magistrale.
Development and use
The new buildings will enable an appropriate density of use and, as a result, greater economic efficiency for the project. Retail space is primarily located on the ground floor on the north side. Office space is located on the lower floors on the east side and at the highest point. The upper floors will contain apartments of various sizes, ranging from compact one-room apartments in the existing building to spacious townhouses in section D and maisonette apartments in section C.
Open space design
The transformation of the administrative building into a neighbourhood with commercial, office and residential units also changes the requirements for open space. Unused and inaccessible green spaces, purely functional entrance areas and parking spaces are making way for neighbourhood life and play areas. The inner courtyard is open to the public, but is primarily reserved for residents. New plantings in free, curved shapes complement the existing tree population, which is worthy of protection. The courtyard is accessed directly from the surrounding buildings. A private passageway connects the open spaces to each other.
Mobility concept
The demand for car parking spaces is determined based on empirical values, taking into account location-specific reduction factors. Residents and guests have access to two large bicycle garages, supplemented by decentralised parking areas in the outdoor areas. A mobility hub and two bicycle repair shops complete the mobility concept.
Westerwischstrom neighbourhood | Cuxhaven
3rd Prize | Westerwischstrom neighbourhood
Cuxhaven
In collaboration with Thomas Schüler Architekten und Stadtplaner
Urban development concept
Due to its existing island location, the new neighbourhood needs a neighbourly structure in order to create an identity here in the future. A village green will be created as a central open space element, forming a communal interior area as a ‘green heart’ to which all building plots are adjacent and from which they derive their addresses.
The village green connects with the landscape areas, in particular the southern green corridor and the Süderwischschule school, thus creating a coherent open space framework. The individual building plots, which give the green centre its spatial edges, arise naturally from these path axes.
The biotope area of the reed strip is preserved and given a sufficient buffer strip. It becomes the new open space theme of the green centre and strengthens the function of a retention meadow.
Quarter centre
Directly opposite Theodor-Heuss-Allee, a centrally located neighbourhood square is being created as a representative gateway to the new quarter. It opens up like a window onto the retention meadow and forms a central hub here. As an urban square, it allows for a wide range of uses and integrates central play and activity areas. Large benches and seating steps invite visitors to linger and create a pleasant atmosphere with a view across the Retentionsanger.
The structural centrepiece is the daycare centre, which, together with a bakery or a small village shop in the adjacent neighbourhood house, will enliven the square. The upper floors could be used for special types of housing, such as multi-generational housing or senior living.
The forecourt along the district road is integrated into the new sequence of squares as an open space and forms the entrance to the new neighbourhood. This is where the public transport stop and the neighbourhood car park are located, which also serves as a structural noise barrier.
Garden courtyards at the Green Centre
The modular concept of garden courtyards forms small neighbourhoods that can be developed with different types of buildings for single-family homes and multi-family homes with a focus on family-friendly and communal living. They are grouped around a garden courtyard with play and communication areas, which strengthens neighbourly coexistence. The building density is highest at the green centre and becomes less dense towards the edges.
The buildings along the green centre are intended for building groups that form a striking park edge with varied architecture through individual development. The ground-floor communal uses and small offices for W+A have easily findable addresses and enliven the public space.
Traffic-free residential environment
The neighbourhood car park is located directly in the access area, providing parking spaces for the western apartment building. The base houses a bicycle parking facility and an energy centre, which supplies the neighbourhood with energy independently as a combined heat and power plant or large heat pump.
The parking spaces for the garden courtyards are located directly at the access areas, keeping the interior areas car-free and creating neighbourhoods with a high quality of life. Understated and well-placed furniture creates a pleasant atmosphere in the public spaces as places for meeting and communication.
Directly on the neighbourhood square is a mobility station that accommodates all functions of ‘soft mobility’ such as car sharing and e-mobility. The footpaths and cycle paths through the green spaces reinforce the permeable internal access concept and promote individual walking and cycling.
Green centre as a retention area
The green centre serves as a large retention area. It is designed to be close to nature and acts as a retention space for rainwater. With its recreational qualities, play facilities and ecological function as a rainwater retention area, it contributes to improving the quality of the neighbourhood and enhancing its identity.
A flat lawn depression parallel to the reed bed strip acts as a central retention area, collecting rainwater from the neighbouring residential courtyards and draining it into the rainwater retention areas to the north and south. The interaction between the reed bed and the extension with intermittently wet retention areas is carefully coordinated with nature conservation requirements in terms of modelling and rainwater supply.
Rainwater and climate impact adaptation concept
The rainwater management concept follows the principles of minimising surface sealing and retaining rainwater runoff at its source so that a large proportion of the water no longer needs to be drained away through evaporation. First, the rainwater from the flat roofs on the construction sites is retained in retention roofs with minimal runoff and an evaporation rate of up to 75%, The rainwater from the gabled roofs and courtyard areas is collected in retention cisterns or led via open seepage ditches and seepage channels close to the surface into the temporarily dammed, lowered areas of the residential courtyards and the lawns and wet meadow hollows along the paths.
The water from the cisterns can be used for grey water utilisation in the buildings and for watering the garden courtyards. Proportional roof greening can contribute to the purification of rainwater and reduce the amount of water accumulating on private areas. The water flows through the garden areas to the central neighbourhood square or directly into the adjacent hollows. Here, the water is retained and discharged in a controlled manner into the adjacent green joints with their associated waterways. The green joints also ensure emergency waterways during heavy rainfall, so that rainwater can be discharged without causing damage.
Particular emphasis is placed on extensive tree planting with climate-resilient species that provide shade and evaporative cooling. In street spaces and squares, they are supplied with water via lowered planting strips and, to a lesser extent, via tree trenches, thus supporting the sponge city concept of the entire neighbourhood. The sowing of species-rich meadows, in combination with bird protection hedges, creates valuable habitats for insects and other animals. In this way, rainwater and climate change adaptation are made visible and tangible as ecological qualities, contributing to the positive image of the neighbourhood.
Wasserkuppe Arrival & Information Centre | Gersfeld (Rhön)
3rd Prize | Wasserkuppe Arrival & Information Centre
Gersfeld (Rhön)
In collaboration with Sturm und Wartzeck
Basalt as a leitmotif
Basalt can be found everywhere in the Rhön in a wide variety of forms. Whether it stands on the rock face as spectacular vertical layers, like a stone forest among the trees, intertwines horizontally with the surrounding meadows at Pferdskopf, or illustrates the sculptural power of nature as filigree hexagonal columns (Gangolfsberg). Basalt always appears as a defining element of the landscape, entering into dialogue with its surroundings through its differentiated layers. This sculptural quality, which defines a place without dominating it, served as the leitmotif for our design.
Urban planning and open space design
The building is a multi-layered, elongated structure situated between the heterogeneous existing buildings on the site and the open airfield. The shifting layers of the building allow it to respond organically to the different requirements of its surroundings. In the northeast, the differentiated edge of the building opposite the wing building defines a spacious, freely usable square that ties the entire area together as a new centre. Here, the beams are lower to give the square a scaled and inviting setting. The main entrance to the new information centre forms the end of the square, which is visible from afar. This is at the same level as the main entrance to the gliding museum, which makes it easier to find your way around the site and opens up spatial synergies between the institutions. In the north-west, the recess of the last building blocks creates an outdoor space that is clearly separated from public use, with parking spaces for employees and access for the mountain rescue service.
To the south, the building faces the airfield with its open vistas along its entire length. The tallest parts of the building, with viewing and star terraces, create a highly recognisable silhouette – the new gateway to the Wasserkuppe. In the restaurant and Regio Shop area, outdoor terraces on three sides offer a view of the airfield and the Rhön mountains, protected from wind and weather.
Open space
The nearby basalt formations are interpreted for the building construction, with the edges and projections of the façade giving the building a character that blends naturally into the landscape. The plot has a height difference of several metres, which is also reflected in the building construction with its varying ground floor heights. This principle is continued in the open space, with individual areas of the ground floor having access to terraced levels in front, which also follow the height differences and mediate between the building and the open terrain. The offsets of the terrace segments are staged with benches or steps, thus becoming usable elements. To the south, there is a green strip that also integrates the edge of the gliding field across the road. The road is designed with lawn liners, giving it the character of a private road that is only used by glider pilots. The planting here is dense, but does not obstruct the wide view. Trees are placed sparingly here. In the north, the planting is somewhat more lush and forms the framework for the open event area between the new building and the competence centre. The materials and colours in the open space are based on the building construction – basalt and wood, complemented by yellow-gold accents, create a unity between the building and the terrace base.
Replacement building for GGS - Strand Europaschule Timmendorfer Strand | Timmendorf
A 3rd Prize | Replacement building for GGS – Strand Europaschule Timmendorfer Strand
Timmendorf
In collaboration with Baufrösche Architekten und Stadtplaner
Guiding principle
The new GGS Strand Europaschule brings together three previously separate school and building sections in a shared architectural and educational concept. The result is a lively place of learning and encounter that combines educational diversity, architectural clarity, and spatial flexibility. The aim is to create a place that harmonizes learning, community, and sustainability and visibly embodies the European idea of diversity.
Architecture
The new building is a compact, three-storey structure that blends harmoniously into its urban surroundings thanks to its clear layout. The three-part façade structure creates a sense of scale and fits naturally into its surroundings. The chosen positioning of the building creates a spacious, contiguous open area that can be used in a variety of ways as a school playground and event space.
The centrally located main entrance is accessed via a spacious forecourt from the nearby public transport stop. In addition, the primary school has its own entrance, which makes everyday school life easier for younger children in particular and at the same time eases the flow of pupils at peak times.
Inside, the building opens up to a central break hall with a canteen, which forms the communicative heart of the school. Large skylights with controllable dimming provide pleasant daylight, while flexible stage and room concepts allow for a wide variety of uses – from everyday encounters to school or cultural events. A surrounding gallery on the upper floors expands the possibilities for use and encourages interaction between the different year groups. The music room and library are directly connected to the break forum. The canteen opens generously onto the schoolyard and offers sheltered seating areas with its covered outdoor area.
The internal organisation follows modern educational approaches. Cluster structures with open learning zones promote communication, flexibility and independent learning. Classrooms and differentiation rooms are transparently connected to the open learning areas and naturally lit via additional inner courtyards. Short distances, clear floor plans and good orientation characterise the concept. The primary school has its own two-storey area with direct access to the upper floor. Two schoolyards of different sizes – a large one for everyone and a small one for the primary school – create age-appropriate spaces for physical activity. A central lift ensures barrier-free access to all levels.
Facade
The facade combines warm, natural materials with innovative, sustainable elements. Wooden cladding meets colourful, hexagonal façade tiles made from recycled plastic – so-called Pretty Plastic Tiles. These are made from 100% upcycled PVC, obtained from old window frames, rain gutters and downpipes. The colourful design symbolises the diversity of Europe and the openness of the school community. The material won the Green Product Award in 2021 and combines aesthetics, sustainability and durability.
Open space concept
The urban positioning of the new building creates a sequence of three independent but interconnected open spaces. These areas form a varied learning and exercise landscape.
The entrance plaza serves as a passageway and meeting point and is flanked by bicycle parking spaces. The primary school playground is a protected play area with age-appropriate climbing facilities and an integrated green classroom. A play path leads from there along the sports field to the large schoolyard, which is designed with groups of trees, curved shapes and different recreation areas. In front of the canteen, permanently installed furniture invites visitors to linger, while a large play structure in the south becomes a meeting place for exercise and community. Quieter areas are planned for the school apiary and another green classroom.
Water management and biodiversity
The open spaces follow an ecologically sustainable approach. Extensive green roofs, water-permeable surfaces and a rainwater recycling system contribute to the resilience of the area. Rainwater is retained on site, seeps away or is collected in cisterns for domestic use. The planting promotes biodiversity with species-rich, site-appropriate plant communities and creates valuable habitats.
Bicycle and car parking
The covered bicycle parking facility with a green roof is located to the west of the building. Car parking spaces are located in the underground car park, while above ground there are only parking spaces for people with disabilities.
Former Telecommunications Office | Heusenstamm
1st Prize | Former Communications Office
Heusenstamm
In collaboration with Thomas Schüler Architekten und Stadtplaner
Urban development concept
The urban development concept builds on the adjacent urban fabric and forms an independent urban building block that mediates between the northern residential areas and the southern commercial area.
As an urban-style neighbourhood, new forms of living are emerging here that combine living and working and create a new type of sustainable urban neighbourhood for Heusenstamm on individual plots. The extensive greening of public spaces creates an all-round open-space interconnection and a green stepping stone to the adjacent landscape areas.
Open space backbone and neighbourhood structure
The new neighbourhood will be accessed via a central open space backbone, which the individual building plots will be based on and from which they will receive their addresses. This open space, as an ‘urban green space’, forms an attractive inner green corridor and connects all areas of the neighbourhood, promoting identification and community within the new urban neighbourhood.
This creates a high quality of living throughout the entire interior area with communal spaces for playing, meeting and spending time. Recesses and widenings create different spatial situations and give rise to an exciting internal structure.
The ‘green common’ functions as a communicative communal open space with play and recreation areas for all generations.
Partially shaded by a mixed canopy of climate-resilient tree species, the green space integrates meeting places, outdoor fitness facilities and play areas. A subtle relief with hollows absorbs some of the surface and roof water and, in addition to the changing image of dry and temporarily wet areas, creates a mosaic of different location factors that promise a highly diverse species composition.
Green joints divide the new residential quarter into clearly legible individual building plots and provide clear orientation and address formation. At the same time, they make the quarter permeable, enable a variety of crossings and ensure connection to the existing cycle and footpath networks.
Development concept
The concept envisages building plots with open courtyard structures that can be developed in sections as independent neighbourhood areas. They form a robust urban framework for a mixed-use urban neighbourhood, with a coexistence of residential, working and commercial uses. Flexible development for multi-storey residential buildings, townhouses or houses-within-houses with different living and working models will be created on various individual plots.
The building plots will be developed with individual detached houses, contributing to a lively, small-scale neighbourhood image. The result will be a flexible mix of different typologies for subsidised and privately financed housing.
Small ground-floor commercial units, communal areas and living+working spaces face the ‘urban green space’ and enliven the public space. The impetus provided by the building groups is being used here to strengthen the character of the neighbourhood with its mixed working and living models.
The residential courtyards support the idea of communal living, with play areas and places for communication. As green inner courtyards, they contribute to well-being and function as green oases with a high quality of living. Green living areas, residential gardens with large trees and self-sufficient gardens on the roofs form further communal areas within the building groups.
This clear and robust framework creates the conditions for small-scale construction development with a maximum of individual freedom. A few typological specifications will create the basic structure for a new urban quarter – integrated into the urban space and flexible for new living concepts.
Central square as a calling card
At the intersection of the path axes, the neighbourhood square is created, which can serve as a hub for urban life. It forms the heart of the new neighbourhood and serves as a place of communication between the residents of the adjacent districts and the new neighbourhood. Here there are play and communication areas for all age groups and open-use areas for community events. A small fountain forms a central and invigorating element on the square.
The central neighbourhood house is being built directly on the square, symbolising the architectural centre as a solitary landmark. It will house cultural and commercial uses, co-working and innovative office space for start-ups. A gallery café enlivens the public space and acts as an urban magnet.
Adjacent to this is the neighbourhood centre with a daycare centre and a multi-generational house above it. The neighbourhood meeting place and community shop will enliven the striking corner of the northern construction site. Above these are special types of housing for senior citizens with various care services.
Climate protection and climate adaptation
All trees worth preserving will be retained and supplemented with new tree plantings. The current and future tree population can thus continue to serve as a source of fresh and cool air. The open construction method provides bioclimatic relief and improves ventilation conditions.
Within the neighbourhoods, too, generous tree planting in squares and residential streets will provide sufficient shade and thus contribute to improving the microclimate. The greening of inner courtyards, extensive façade greening and the greening of roof areas will ensure maximum cooling and evaporation effects.
Traffic and mobility
The car parking spaces are distributed across two neighbourhood garages located centrally within the individual construction phases. Access is via the adjacent road space, with traffic taking a short route to the neighbourhood garage. The entrances to the garages face the squares, creating communicative spaces. The base houses a mobility station and parking spaces for bicycles.
The central mobility hub is located at the entrance plaza, a pavilion with a bicycle repair shop and all the functions required for the concept of ‘soft mobility’, such as car-sharing spaces, rental bicycles and charging stations for electric vehicles. Intelligent mobility and sharing concepts in combination with public transport can significantly reduce moving and stationary vehicle traffic. The footpaths and cycle paths through the green spaces reinforce the permeable internal access concept and promote individual walking and cycling.
The residential environment is kept free of traffic and is only accessible to residents, refuse collection and emergency vehicles when necessary. This creates a largely traffic-free interior area with high-quality open spaces, which in turn creates a vibrant neighbourhood with a high quality of life. Understated and well-placed street furniture enhances the quality of public spaces as places for people to meet and communicate.
Rainwater concept
A differentiated, decentralised rainwater management system in three stages is proposed for drainage. In the first stage, the roof water is retained via retention roofs and a large proportion of it evaporates on the roof via green roofs, which has a significant cooling effect on the area.
The remaining and greatly reduced portion of the roof water, as well as the runoff from the very limited paved areas in the inner courtyards, is retained via open ditches and gutters and in the slightly lowered lawn depressions, where it partially seeps away. In addition, if proven to be economically viable, water from private areas can be collected in decentralised retention cisterns, retained on the property and used for grey water purposes.
Rainwater from public roads and squares is also collected in a network of small ditches and open gutters and, in a first step, fed into the slight depressions within the Green Anger and the green joints. In the event of heavy rainfall, these hollows flow into the retention area on the southern edge. Due to the long retention time of the water in the green hollows, some of the water can evaporate or seep away into the vegetation areas.
Tree trenches ensure that the collected surface water from the squares supplies the trees with water.
The topic of rainwater management is made visible and tangible as an ecological quality and adaptation to climate change, contributing to the positive image of the settlement.
Economic efficiency/recycling
The primary goal is to reuse demolition materials, e.g. as recycled concrete in a hybrid construction with timber. The buildings are constructed using recyclable materials and are energy self-sufficient. The waste-to-energy concept is also intended to contribute to a natural cycle of recyclable materials in which no waste is generated.
The planning is based on recurring dimensions and takes into account uniform standards in all areas. This creates the conditions for an element-based construction method with a high degree of prefabrication, which is particularly useful in the field of timber construction. The aim is to save as much energy as possible with as few technical measures as possible, to conserve resources and to make maximum use of them.
Children's Centre, educational campus Rainbrunnen | Schorndorf
Recognition | Children’s centre, educational campus Rainbrunnen
Schorndorf
In collaboration with Atelier 30
Urban integration and interlocking with the landscape
The new children’s house with the extension of the school building on the Schorndorf educational campus is a scaled ensemble of individual buildings with a common centre, the future communicative heart of the new buildings. In the context of the existing buildings, these form an arrangement in a free network that interlocks with the open spaces and offers well-proportioned open spaces.
The school extension for the Fröbelschule is connected to the new building in a natural way. The kindergarten will have its own separate entrance in the southern part of the site. The design concept of interlocking landscape and building is also reflected in the interior of the ensemble. The orderly structures of the buildings create very well-organised interior sequences and exciting spatial relationships from the inside to the outside and vice versa. These characteristics make the new building an emblematic, varied and creative building for children and teachers. Another important aspect of the concept was to locate the uses in recognisable structures, whereby the extension to the school complements and strengthens the existing campus concept and its facilities.
Outdoor facilities
Arrival
The start of the new school and kindergarten day takes place on the forecourt. Planted with a multi-stem, generously planted amber tree with a round bench hovering around the tree, the entrance plaza is both a passageway and a recreation area. The western part of the forecourt along the lay-by and in front of the main entrance offers generous space for waiting, boarding and alighting, while the eastern part extends the open space in front of the dining hall, offers space for the playing field to be relocated and extends the existing playground of the Fröbelschule to the east.
Play yards
The positioning of the buildings allocates clearly defined open spaces to the individual kindergarten and school areas. A linear play sculpture with integrated sand play, climbing and retreat options and a slide closes off a western play yard to the property boundary and arranges the play options in such a space-saving way that there is plenty of room for romping and dashing and for a bobby car track outside the fall protection area. The northern play yard in the spatial context of the Christian Morgenstern School is designed as an exercise yard with a range of play equipment adapted to the age group. The school garden with its opportunities for barrier-free gardening and outdoor lessons is located in the north-east courtyard.
Ecological aspects
We see the open space on the entire site as a heavily greened play and school landscape. It is covered by large-crowned future trees and structured by sunken areas of grasses and shrubs which, in addition to their insect-friendly abundance of flowers, also serve as retention and seepage areas. The paved recreation areas are paved with permeable concrete paving, with linear grass paving at the edges. All shrub plantings around the edges are planted with native trees and shrubs and a border of native wild herbs to protect birds. Where no playable and walkable lawn area is required, lean, double-cut meadows make their contribution to biodiversity. In addition to aesthetic considerations, all planting is carried out in such a way that it can make a valuable contribution to biodiversity. Through a targeted selection of different substrates, a mosaic of ecologically valuable sites is initiated, which develops into particularly species-rich plant communities through the sowing of native wild herb seeds. Modelling the terrain into shallow depressions for retention and infiltration further increases the diversity of the microsites.
Water management and biodiversity
In addition to the requirements of the exercise and learning landscape, the open spaces also fulfil fundamental functions of resilient and sustainable area development. These include a maximum of structurally rich vegetation areas, water-permeable surface paving and rainwater management as a circulation system. The roof surfaces of the school building are designed as retention roofs (approx. 20-40 cm of substrate and retention boxes) to optimise rainwater retention and evaporation. The substrate layer in combination with the retention boxes stores the rainwater and makes it available to the plants. In the ground-bound vegetation areas, the rainwater is channelled to the planting areas through the formation of the topography.
