Schwedt/Oder „Obere Talsandterrasse - Green Axis“

Context

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The small town of Schwedt (pop. 38.000) has been engaged in the extensive conversion of the resident area “Obere Talsandterrasse”, which had resulted from the development of a local petrochemical collective combine and paper mill, since 1998. 4.300 apartments are to be demolished by 2010.

Project description

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The demolition of 11-storey high-rise blocks with a length of over 300 meters along Leverkusener Straße at the centre of the “Obere Talsandterrasse” created an open green space measuring approximately 3 ha and featuring classic open space design elements.
The redesigned open space functions as a „town link“, an interface of crossing pedestrian relationships from two districts on an east-west axis. The area is highlighted by a steel construction (light pergola) which is illuminated at night and represents a new orientation point within the residential quarter. The „green link“ opens up the connection from the town centre to the forested areas bordering in the west. The cultivation of clear-cut rows of trees along the new green axis is replaced by groups of pine trees in this area. Gabions filled with stone rubble mark the ground plan of one of the eleven building segments. In combination with the design of the adjoining demolition sites, the new green axis could be developed into an important urban connection zone linking the districts of "Talsand" and "Am Waldrand". By realizing the public open space as one of the first measures within two years (1999 - 2001), the council signalled the town residents that restructuring is not automatically limited to demolition activities, but can instead also result in a quality boost. A new and very inviting space was created within the residential area. The project was subsidized with urban development funds within the national state programme “Urban Planning Development of Large Residential Areas” (Städtebauliche Weiterentwicklung großer Neubaugebiete) and Schwedt Council budget funds.

Project chronology

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Aims

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• Linking the town centre with forested areas adjoining in a westerly direction
• Qualitative upgrading of a residential area

Types of measures

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• Housing demolition
• Open space design
• Creation of pedestrian relationships between two districts
• Light pergola as a new orientation point in the residential quarter
• Tree rows along the new green axis
• Gabions

Innovations

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The realization of a high-quality open space concept in the subsequent use and design of areas which have become available significantly contributes to the creation of a positive image for the central public space. The urban restructuring project created a new urban structure – a green centre with new residential and stopover qualities.

Sources

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• Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Bau- und Wohnungswesen (Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs) (client), Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung (Federal Office of Construction and Spatial Planning) (ed.); the landscape architects „StadtBüro Hunger; Becker, Giseke, Mohren, Richard Landschaftsarchitekten“; the development association „DSK Deutsche Stadt- und Grundstücksentwicklungsgesellschaft mbH“ (contractor): Zwischennutzung und neue Freiflächen. Städtische Lebensräume der Zukunft (Interim Use and New Open Spaces. Urban Habitats of the Future). Berlin, 2004

Further information

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The project site is to be found at postal code: 16303 – town / city: Schwedt/Oder - street: Leverkusener Straße

The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 16303 - town: Schwedt/Oder - street: Leverkusener Straße.

Protagonists

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• Stadt Schwedt (Schwedt Council), Herr Hein, Lindenallee 25-29, 16303 Schwedt/Oder, tel: 03332/446341, stadtentwicklung.stadt@schwedt.de
• Housing associations: Wohnbauten GmbH, Wohnungsbaugenossenschaft WOBAG
• Planning: Büro Seebauer, Wefers und Partner GbR, Büro Urbane Projekte, Schmitz Potsdam