Competition Zincoli Fireplace Stolberg

The "copper city" of Stolberg offers strong prerequisites for setting impulses for the structural change of Aachen. In order to attract a young "creative culture" in the future in the planned commercial area, developments are needed in which the historical local reference is an integral part, and is readable as cultural heritage in the urban landscape.

The chimney stack is staged as a timeless landmark by a renewed cover made of polished brass. The new fireplace cover is planned as an aerodynamic light metal construction from 12 equally sized pieces; the visible brass surface in a high gloss finish.

Retained areas of calamine vegetation between the old rail tracks will be taken up and transplanted into round steel frames as if in raised beds. In the central area, shallow-rooted Japanese string trees will be planted in linear concrete raised beds with larch seat pads. The resulting green axis forms the barrier-free connecting space through the area and from the museum to the fireplace.

At the western end of the open space axis, approx. 0.4ha of woodland will be planted on the polluted soil piled up there. In procedures of phytoremediation heavy metals can be extracted from the soil by planting, e.g. poplars. The plants are harvested at intervals and then grow again.