Outdoor facilities Elefantensiedlung, Neu-Ulm

Appreciation in the special award for living environmentGerman Landscape Architecture Award 2011

Jury verdict: A plain housing estate of the Federal Government from the 1950s in a less privileged location is taken over by the Neu-Ulmer Wohnungsbaugesellschaft and not demolished and rebuilt, but carefully redeveloped and sensitively upgraded. This alone is a great merit of the building owner.

The holistic redevelopment also includes the skillful and careful addition and redesign of the open spaces. Disturbing features - such as garages - are removed and valuable ones - such as the 60-year-old tree population - are preserved and cared for. With simple means, new protected spaces are created, identities of existing spaces are strengthened and the formation of addresses is supported. Here, landscape architecture discreetly and naturally places itself at the service of the common task and thus makes an important contribution to a successful work.