Schalke club New construction of the square sequence on the future Schalker Verein site to the east of Gelsenkirchen's main railway station

"In the case of the Schalker Verein project in Gelsenkirchen, the jury particularly appreciated the careful and user-oriented approach. The concept for the redevelopment of the "Schalker Verein" site addresses the still topical issue of the subsequent use of old industrial relics. The Oberhausen planning group succeeds in redefining the space with a powerful and unpretentious formal language, while integrating the aesthetics of user-generated random elements as a matter of course."
(From the press release on the awarding of the North Rhine-Westphalian Landscape Architecture Prize 2014)

Due to the long fallow periods, a piece of 'second-hand nature' was available on the site of the former steelworks Schalker Verein. In the course of an urban development competition, these natural areas were identified as the potential of the site and the motto 'Investor Green' was derived from this. The open spaces were made accessible in the short term and form a framework for the long-term development of the site. An attractive 'campus' is to be created, with a green edge connecting to the neighbouring urban districts. In direct connection with the listed ore and coal bunker in the south, the existing green potential will be preserved and made accessible by an extensive green space in the north.

For the long-term urban development, an inner green axis with solitary buildings has been proposed, which is to become the heart of a high-quality business park for 'start-ups'. Access from the city centre to the west into the site is organised via three squares. The bastion square and the festival square accentuate the change in elevation and form two access spaces that are dimensioned and structurally framed to suit the city. They lead over to the generous open space between the ore bunker and the railway line.

The resulting sequence of squares, which is scaled to the structures of the former industry, is not only the entrance to the quarter and the first signal for new investments, it also offers new space for all conceivable activities and appropriations in the first step.

THE BASTION SPACE
In the direction of the city center, the site of the Schalker Verein presents itself with a bastion of brickwork, which highlights and encloses the monument Schaltzentrale. A ramp serves as a barrier-free and bicycle-friendly access from the Hohenzollernstraße to the flat square surface covered with cord trees. Stairs provide direct access from Hohenzollernstrasse. The square pavement of basalt paving is structured by barrier-free walkways of large-format slabs. The tree grid offers possibilities for use as a small market place, for which electrical installations are provided. Tree spotlights illuminate the square indirectly.

The festival square
The festival square adjoins to the east of the control centre, its sail-shaped square area peeling out of the grove of whisker trees like a clearing. Here, too, the basalt paving forms the framework for a robust asphalt surface sloping at a slight gradient and structured by large-format concrete slabs.

In the west, the running difference in level is made accessible by stairs; in the south, the fairground wall, curved in a wide arc and set at an angle, traces the contour of the sail. The dimensions of the open space of the fairground also offer room for larger events. Three lighting columns, tilted at the angle of the concrete wall, cast concentrated light onto the asphalt pavement. Switch boxes and a hydrant offer connection possibilities for market use and other events.

THE BUNKER FOREPLACE
The monument ore bunker is exposed and staged as a spectacular solitaire. In the western part, the 200-metre-long concrete sculpture will be accessed and from there will offer insights into the imposing underworld of the complex. To the south of the accessible bunker section, an asphalt surface marks the bunker forecourt as a sports and exercise area. The elephant's feet further south - the foundations of the former blast furnaces - are partly integrated into a skate park. Further east, they are located in an extensive meadow area and are designed as climbing objects. The elevated area between the wall remains of the foundry hall was designed as an extensive cross-bike course.