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Planning for the Mannheim railway areas means moving along demarcation lines of urban identity: Between expressway, industrial areas and living quarters, between the baroque central city and block structures dating from the period of rapid industrial expansion at the end of the 19th Century, the new quarter at the railway axis is surrounded by different chapters of town lore. How is it possible at this location to initiate an independent process of urban development which does not blur the existing crossings, edges and breaks, but in fact emphasizes them and and makes their quality evident? How can the immediate vicinity to the 'transit space' of the railway axis be experienced in its dynamic impact and set an impulse for the new Lindenhof quarter? |
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New Urban Quarter |
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Site Mannheim |
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The Conception
We suggest to use the location between the contexts as the structuring element of the new borough. The single partial areas of the conceptualized area, the ribbon to be developed along the railway, the industrial and residential areas on Landteilstrasse, and the central open space of the Hanns-Glückstein-Platz are conceived as independent spaces, that react specifically to their respective borders. Therefore it is not intended to impose a homogeneous urban model structure on the new quarter, but to inscribe individual typologies in the partial areas which do not flow into each other, but are characterized by precise crossings between the contexts.
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Gaps |
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Blocks |
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Transformation |
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Signs |
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Orientation |
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Open-space Links
The different open-space typologies form a basic urban structure and apply to the entire planning area. The open-spaces at the links define public areas within the urban structure and connect the Lindenhof with the city center on the other side of the railway tracks. The design of the links varies internally:
The Lindenhofplatz is defined as a paved multifunctional open space which reacts to the high functional density of its environment and establishes the southern Main-Station entrance in the urban area. The 'Lokschuppengarten' (engine shed garden) enters into a dialogue with the Hanns-Glückstein-Platz. The new use of the engine shed continues into the open space. The Kleinsteg Fountain with its water jets serves as a focus and points towards the Kleinsteg Bridge linking the urban areas and the Lindenhof Quarter. As a structuring and linking element, each of the links is slightly elevated, connects the buildings and also constitutes an external as well as an internal space within the open-space areas.
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Topography 0 |
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Topography 1 |
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Topography 2 |
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Movement |
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The Urban Garden - Hans-Glückstein-Platz
Urban topography: The urban park becomes the central open space of the new quarter and is designed as a landscape relief between the adjacent quarters. On Windeckstrasse, the park topography develops into the third dimension below which new leisure facilities are established. Together with the new topography of the roof landscape, the new buildings become part of the park and also border the street. Free and varied movement in the entire area becomes possible. The design of the park takes the tree population into account and is restricted to remodelling the lawn areas in the south till the extension of Landteilstrasse. With the new park, the structures of the surrounding quarters are confronted with a quiet and variable open-space typology implying a flexible utilization which is largely undefined.
