Kemptener Gate, Kaufbeuren Redesign of the access to the historic old town

The city of Kaufbeuren launched the ideas and implementation competition for the redesign of the street and square areas at the "Kemptener Tor" with the aim of giving the area, which had previously been dominated by car traffic, its own identity within the urban fabric. At the northern end of the pedestrian zone, an attractive access to the historic old town was to be created and, at the same time, the newly planned fashion store at the gates of the old town was to be connected to the existing system of paths.

Urban and open space planning concept

The spatial structuring and zoning of the area is achieved by three compact tree roofs made of plane trees in connection with the sculpturally shaped seating elements made of prefabricated concrete elements underneath. Through the positioning and orientation of the tree islands, the historic customs guard's house on the square is set in scene in terms of urban space. The spatially effective tree islands serve as an orientation and guidance system for road users on the uniformly paved square area.


Shared Space

An important objective of the planning was to create the framework conditions to enable the square area to be used and occupied in a variety of ways in the future. The development was therefore based on the principle of "Shared Space". According to this planning approach, the urban area is used equally by the various road users. Therefore, the installation of kerbs and road markings was dispensed with. The equal-height design creates a homogeneous plaza area that can also be used barrier-free for temporary events.


Seating sculptures

The construction of the seating elements consists of factory-prefabricated and dyed concrete elements whose coloration is matched to the installed granite material. The stainless steel grates integrated into the surface of the benches allow for a dry seating surface even a short time after precipitation.


Tree islands

The cut plane tree canopies take up the shape of the seating elements and invite visitors to linger in the light shade. The polygonal design of the seating elements results in areas with a more introverted or extroverted character, which can be used either by passers-by to rest, by residents as a neighbourly meeting point or by children as a play sculpture. The inner zones of the tree islands are played with different uses or remain open for individual appropriation.


Granite carpet

The continuously laid pavement of granite small stone gives the newly designed square a generous spatial impression and mediates to the pavements laid in the entire area of the historic old town. The different shades of grey and beige of the native stone material and the way in which it is laid in a passe bond make a significant contribution to the new appearance of the approximately 2,000 m² area.


Lighting concept

Pole lights, which trace the pathway between the new fashion store and the city centre, ensure the basic lighting of the square area. In addition, floor spotlights embedded in the granite pavement illuminate the façade of the listed customs house. The three tree canopies are also illuminated from below as central recreation areas and space-creating elements.
The concrete seating sculptures are given a special lighting design in keeping with their functional and design significance: LED strips embedded in the precast concrete elements give the massive elements a floating character in the dark. The illuminated joints also playfully support the traffic-guiding function of the elements.

Special Award Light in Open SpaceGerman Landscape Architecture Award 2015

Jury verdict: A small, seemingly everyday town square becomes an urban pearl. This succeeds the authors through a convincing spatial concept, which creates exciting structures with few means. Characteristic are three green tree islands, which are framed by an elegantly shaped seating element.

The robust stone edge rests on a base, which appears very light, especially through the light setting. With sparing means the lighting elements are used here for the creative support of the sculptural figure. Lighting accents are also used sparingly but with great precision in the square area. The result is an aesthetic overall space in which the design concept, the structural form and the nocturnal staging merge into a harmonious whole.