Stadtplatz South, Frankfurt (Oder) Multi-functional town square and active range with fitness offers for all generations.

The residential area South is one of five designated urban redevelopment areas in Frankfurt (Oder). The green and open spaces represent a great potential of the area, which, however, has been used too little so far. The greatest deficiency in the open space system is the lack of hierarchy between public, semi-public and private spaces. An important part of the investigation preceding the design of the square was initially the development of conceptual but located proposals. Essential here was the cooperation with the stakeholders involved, such as the district center, housing industry, retirement home, schools and daycare centers, as well as the city administration.

One example of this processual work was in the location and design of the town square in the area of the district centre. For this square, which was to represent a previously missing public and central space, there was no a priori fixed location due to the complex development of the district centre. This place had to be "found" with the actors under moderation of the city administration and the experts.

The aim of the planning was then to create a city square with various uses as a meeting place for young and old. By relocating Alexej-Leonow-Straße, traffic was more clearly defined and bundled with the exits and accesses to the social facilities of the AWO, the underground car park and the multi-storey car park of the Südring-Center. Alongside the road, parking and stopping areas for cars as well as a path to the senior citizens' home and the nearby school were created and trees were planted.

In the west, the square is partially enclosed by a steel pergola with a back planting of shrubs and grasses. It separates the square from the street, benches invite you to linger.

At the central point of the square, the refurbished artwork 'Circus Acrobats' by Erika Stürmer-Alex from 1980 found its place. As a spatial counterpart and shade giver a tree grove with freely arranged seat blocks is placed opposite it. Further benches and waste paper baskets are arranged to accompany the square, so that there are sufficient places to stay for the various user groups.

To the east and south, there is an active area divided into several sections with a range of activities for all generations. At the same time, it acts as a filter between the public space of the central square and the semi-public space of the residential surroundings. It offers space to linger, to play, to communicate within and between neighbourhoods. In addition to paved play areas with table tennis tables, trampolines and various fitness equipment for young and old people, the brace is structured by trees, hedges and planted areas.

The rainwater seeps away largely completely via infiltration troughs in the vegetation areas; it is directed into the troughs via cross slopes or channel elements that structure the square.