Redevelopment of the site of the Falkenried vehicle works

Local identities - similar yet different

Listed industrial buildings and a variety of modern architecture give the new district a lively ambience. With the uniform design of the outdoor space, we ensure a formal unification. We therefore deliberately limit ourselves to three elements: Material(ity), Tree and Light. Public and private spaces are created and differentiated solely by surfaces, density of planting, light levels. For example, all squares, streets and paths are covered with the same paving. The driving areas are covered with light-coloured asphalt that corresponds to the paving. There is no classic street layout; roadway, gutters and sidewalks merge at the same level. Everything is similar and yet different. The same goes for the planting. Throughout the area we use a single species of tree: maple from all over the world as specimen shrubs and specimen trees, but in different arrangements and species. Depending on the place - square, street, avenue, yard, garden - the maple is arranged as a group, row, block, in loose arrangement or individually. Differences are also evident in the different types of flowers and the autumn colours of the leaves. All areas are equipped with the same, simple and industrial-looking lights. The solitary trees in the squares are illuminated individually and also in different colours. The tree canopy on the central piazza is staged as a forest of light. The project was awarded the 'German Urban Design Prize 2004'.