A plateau for Fürstenberg Redesign of the square in front of the Fürstenberghaus in Münster

In a prominent location not far from Münster Cathedral, opposite the new LWL Museum of Art and Culture, a versatile city square with a high quality of stay has been created.

Franz Friedrich Wilhelm von Fürstenberg, an important statesman in the prince-bishopric of Münster in the second half of the 18th century, is the namesake of the Fürstenberghaus, which today houses the departments of history and philosophy of the University of Münster. An extension in the inner courtyard of the museum as well as the urgent problem of finding a solution for the rampant parking of bicycles made a redesign of the square necessary.

The great potential of this clearly defined urban space in a central location is represented by the more than 20m high primeval sequoia tree - a natural monument - and directly next to it a mighty red oak. Our design preserves and protects the trees in the long term and integrates them as essential elements in the new square design.

An extensive plateau with surrounding steps characterizes the square and allows barrier-free access to the surrounding buildings. The steps contain the elevated location of the old trees, create a protected place to stay in relation to the surrounding movement areas and provide a natural barrier to wild bicycle parking. Beneath the mighty trees, generous seating platforms protect the root space and, with a wooden decking, provide shaded lounging areas for students and visitors to the museums and downtown. The tree discs are planted with perennials, grasses, ferns and bulbs. Through the plant selection, visitors experience an attractive planting with different flowering aspects in every season. A sublime place for retreat, meeting and stay in the middle of the dense old town has been created. Another central element of the square is the sculpture by Franz Friedrich Wilhelm von Fürstenberg. It was prominently positioned on the plateau.
A sandstone-colored concrete block was chosen as the paving material. Colour and formats

are oriented towards the sandstone of the plinths and window reveals of the historic buildings and correspond with the façade of the LWL Museum für Kunst und Kultur. The same colour was chosen for the steps - the plateau appears to be cast in one piece and the visitor experiences an unagitated place in warm tones.

Facade spotlights and pole lights provide the functional lighting of the connecting path to the Aa and to the entrances of the buildings. On the plateau, only the Fürstenberg sculpture and the edge of the seating platforms are accentuated. The new square at the Fürstenberghaus remains free of bicycle parking facilities, as do the public walkways at the LWL Museum. In order to meet the large demand for parking spaces, a bicycle parking garage will be built in a second construction phase to the side of the connecting path to the Aa. The upper floor is accessible at ground level from Fürstenbergplatz, the basement from the lower Johannisstraße.