January 13, 2019
New sustainable and innovative urban planning project in Germany
As part of a team with KCAP Architects&Planners, ARGUS and Energy-Group.ch, Ramboll has been selected as the winner for the urban planning competition of the new urban development for the Hafner district in Konstanz, Germany. The area will invite for sustainable innovation and social inclusion.
The jury’s vote for the winning design, which is called “Hafner-Ring”, was unanimous. After the decision the Mayor, responsible for the urban development, Karl Langensteiner-Schönborn said:
“We selected the design with the greatest potential for innovation. The district must be sustainable and adaptable to future changes”.
The concept is a result of a special and very innovative planning process accompanied with an intensive public participation. First reactions from local citizens are very positive, certainly a result of this open format.
A green ribbon
The plan envisages a mix of 45 ha of residential and 15 ha of commercial areas, including 2.600 apartments for 8.000 inhabitants. They will be set as several quarters into the soft hills of north-western Konstanz, creating a truly green neighbourhood. Within a clear structure, naturally embedded into the landscape, a blend of uses and building typologies offers different residential qualities.
The most important characteristic of the new structure is the “green ribbon” where future residents can use robust and multifunctional open spaces as recreational and experiential realms. Around this ribbon, social facilities such as schools, kindergartens, or a nursing home are located.
The ring will work as a meeting place, connecting the different parts of the neighbourhood to the existing neighbourhood of Wollmatingen. It is therefore a new type of public space that borrows both from the village and the city neighbourhood, giving an answer to the special location between landscape and city. The open spaces can be designed in collaboration with the residents according to their wishes in future participation processes. The green ribbon will be accompanied by bike lanes and public transport.
A vital meeting point will be the green center of the area, which is attached to the green ribbon. This will be a get-together spot for the residents in the district. The sustainable approach for nature is also clearly visible: Wetland areas are protected and integrated, as well as existing streams and other valuable habitats.
Multi-energy grid
In the rest of the neighbourhood, car traffic is limited, and the use of public transport and slow modes of mobility is encouraged. At strategically placed mobility hubs, parking spaces, rental cars, electric vehicles and bike sharing are provided as well as improved transition between the transport modes. By bundling parking, the streets will not be dominated by cars anymore. This poses an important fundament to create a truly “livable city”.
The industrial areas will be served with short connections to the adjacent connector road and though do not affect the livable inner spaces of the development with traffic noise.
The whole neighbourhood will be equipped with a multi-energy-grid, encouraging the use of renewable energies and reducing substantially supply needs.
In general, the concept stands out by extremely high flexibility and the ability to adapt to making a reaction to changing conditions and needs possible.
Team
Urban planning: KCAP
Open spaces: Ramboll Studio Dreiseitl
Traffic: ARGUS Stadt und Verkehr
Energy. Energy-Group.ch
Consultancy: KOSA Architekten