A two-stage project competition
Regaining the western docklands
By rearranging the western docklands a new centre is conceived along the waterfront. The industrial harbour now forms an entity with the historical centre on the other side of the water, having originally been perceived as an isolated area. Three prominent quarters emerge along the quays. The Speicherstadt, a traditional warehouse quarter in the south echoes Neustadt‘s maritime heritage as a harbour town and enters the picture as a lively mixed-use residential, cultural and commercial district. The significance of the Lienaustift hospital ensemble is embraced and enhanced with complementary new buildings to give rise to the new Stiftsqartier. The Bahnhofsquartier with the main station as its defining element is emblematic of a place of arrival. The newly gained density of office, commercial and retail spaces merges into a dynamic urban neighbourhood.
The generously proportioned waterfront square asserts itself as a central place within these three quarters. The harbour‘s most significant listed buildings define its location. A permeable pavilion-like structure forms the western edge of the square and simultaneously acts as a guidance for arriving traffic. The traveller is drawn towards the square in one gesture, as though he were symbolically to enter it while still aboard the train. The pavilion may serve for a variety of purposes, for example as a covered market with flexible stalls or for town fairs. Thus, the square, in its versatile uses, forms a vestibule for the town.
The most distinguishing effect of the waterfront square is to act as a medium between the new harbour district and the Ancora Marina in the south as the latter is linked in to the town across a pleasingly landscaped green belt. A planted pedestrian and cycle route is applied along the tracks. The extension of the Wieksbergstraße to the north of the navy base enables car parking amidst the trees, mitigating congestion at the junction of Eutiner Straße as well as the car parks within the Bahnhofsquartier.
All key elements, in particular the old town centre, the harbour and the Ancora Marina are tangibly united and are apprehended as a single urban entity.
date:
location:
use:
2017
Neustadt
in Holstein
urban design competition
