Design for new neighborhood in the heart of the city proves convincing
The development of the Singer site in Würselen near Aachen is taking shape. The dialogical-collaborative workshop process, which was jointly organized by the city of Würselen, Landmarken AG as the developer, and the ISR Innovative Stadt- und Raumplanung office, was concluded with a unanimous result. The winning design by Molestina Architekten und Stadtplaner from Cologne will now serve as the basis for the development plan to be drawn up. A new neighborhood with residential space and complementary uses is to be built on the site in the city center, which has been vacant for several years.
The process, in which four firms participated—in addition to Molestina Architects and Urban Planners, the firms zanderroth from Berlin, Konrath and Wennemar Architects Engineers from Düsseldorf, and pbs Architects from Aachen also submitted compelling designs— was characterized by extensive public participation. Starting with a survey of the immediate neighborhood by postcard, several information and participation formats were organized on the site itself, including an evening discussion for nearby businesses and a separate children's and youth participation event. As part of the workshop process, citizens were also invited to express their wishes and provide suggestions on the preliminary designs, which were then taken up by the participating firms. The fact that this was actually implemented was acknowledged with approval on the eve of the committee meeting, when the four offices presented their designs to the public once again.
"The workshop process was designed for maximum transparency and public participation. It is impressive to see how good ideas for the site have emerged from the dialogue between local residents and planning experts," says Dr. Friederike Fugmann, project manager for neighborhood development on the Singer site at Landmarken AG.
The Singer site, named after a former needle factory, is a very important area for Würselen, as it is located in the heart of the city. Following failed development attempts by previous investors, a neighborhood is to be created on the approximately 29,000 m² site in collaboration with Landmarken's sister company Stadtmarken GmbH, which will include residential, commercial, and childcare facilities. The participating firms were specifically asked to design a neighborhood that would blend harmoniously with the existing buildings and surrounding structures.
The winning design, created in collaboration between Molestina Architekten + Stadtplaner from Cologne and Atelier Le Balto from Berlin, envisages around 290 apartments and a daycare center, and allows for a retail component facing Kaiserstraße. "The winning firm has developed an urban planning solution that is sophisticated, unique, and imbued with a certain poetry, while at the same time reflecting the scale of Würselen," praised jury chairman Prof. Rolf Westerheide.
Based on the recommendations for revision made by the advisory committee, the design will now be further developed in the coming weeks to serve as the basis for the development plan to be drawn up. Mayor Roger Nießen sums up: "The process decided upon by politicians has led to a successful result through constructive dialogue, which we would now like to develop further together with all those involved."
