Alsterplatz and Störweg Braunschweig Residential quarter, Alsterplatz, Störweg green corridor and Braunschweig daycare center, LP 2-8

Located directly on Alsterplatz and east of the Rheinring, the building of the old integrated comprehensive school (IGS), which was completed and opened in the early 1970s, was located in Braunschweig's Weststadt until 2015. With the construction of the new IGS, which now bears the name Wilhelm-Bracke-Schule, and the associated move to an area around 200 meters further north, the demolition of the old building began and was completed in early 2016. Along with this demolition and disposal work, an area of around 2.15 hectares to the north of Alsterplatz is being completely redeveloped, redesigned and put to a new use. Over the next few years, a new residential quarter with around 190 residential units and 1,000 square meters of commercial space will be created at this heterogeneous, urban location, flanked by existing residential, school and sports buildings. A mix of owner-occupied and rented homes, a proportion of which are socially subsidized, in combination with doctors' surgeries, catering and financial facilities is intended to ensure a sustainable mix of different population groups. Alsterplatz and the green corridor in Störweg are being redesigned as the heart of the district and as part of the urban renewal. These will act as a mediator between the new and the existing neighborhood and are intended to be used and played in as a lively urban space by citizens and residents.



RESIDENTIAL QUARTER

Walkways running east-west from the public pathways lead into the residential area, the center of which is a neighborhood square. With its play and recreation facilities, this serves as a place for the neighborhood to linger and communicate. Two further meeting points are formed by the play courtyard, to the north of C2, and the residential courtyard, to the north of A2, which are spatially and visually connected by a promenade. The other open spaces are separated from the residential gardens near the buildings by fences and hedges, ensuring protection and intimacy for the residents. Trees of different types and sizes are freely distributed across lawns and planting areas, creating a pleasant counterpart to the stone pathways and dense development of the entire urban space.

The spatial structure of the buildings with varying storey heights in combination with a staggered vegetation structure of trees, half-height hedges and ground-covering planting areas gives the new residential quarter a pleasantly urban character.

The resulting mix of public, communal and private open spaces offers a varied range of options for residents at every stage of life.



ALSTERPLATZ

The redesign of Alsterplatz envisages a finely structured stone surface that is oriented towards the northern edge of the new building and is structured by textural banding in line with the design principle of the residential quarter. The paved square is interspersed with pleasant green islands in which valuable existing trees form a mature green backdrop. The geometric lawns are complemented by bands of hedges that echo the texture of the square, as well as seating areas facing the square that invite people to linger. On the east side, the green spaces connect to form a corridor that forms a prelude to the Störweg green corridor and accommodates places to linger and play. The central square is deliberately kept open to provide space for various uses such as district festivals, seasonal markets, neighborhood-related events, etc.

Visible from afar, a new light sculpture in the middle of the square attracts attention and, in combination with the beige-colored paving and seating elements, gives the town square a particularly inviting and attractive character. The warm charm of the surface materials is supported in the lighting concept by warm white light sources.



STÖRWEG

The Störweg serves as a green corridor to the adjacent Westpark to the north and mediates between the residential areas. In the topographically shaped green space, near-natural meadow areas are created, which are structured by groves of trees. Ribbon-shaped play and rest areas with a varied range of play options for different age groups are inserted into the undulating terrain. The play areas, which are structured by hedge plantings, are set apart from the other park paths by recycled natural stone paving (basalt).

At a central position between the play areas, a generously dimensioned seating element invites visitors to linger and interact with others.