City Square South, Frankfurt (Oder) Multifunctional town square and activity area with fitness facilities for all generations.

The Süd residential area is one of five designated urban redevelopment areas in Frankfurt (Oder). The green and open spaces represent a great potential of the area, but one that has so far been underutilized. The greatest deficiency in the open space system lies in the lack of hierarchization of public, semi-public and private spaces. An important part of the investigation preceding the square design was initially the development of conceptual but localized proposals. Cooperation with the stakeholders involved, such as the district center, housing industry, retirement home, schools and daycare centers as well as the city administration, was essential.



One example of this process-based work was the location and design of the town square in the district center area. Due to the complex development of the district center, there was no fixed location from the outset for this square, which was to represent a previously missing public and central space. This location first had to be "found" with the stakeholders under the moderation of the city administration and the experts.



The aim of the planning was then to create a town square with various possible uses as a meeting place for young and old. By relocating Alexej-Leonow-Straße, traffic was more clearly defined and bundled with the exits and entrances to the AWO social facilities, the underground parking garage and the Südring-Center parking garage. Parking and stopping areas for cars as well as a path to the retirement home and the nearby school were created alongside the road and trees were planted.



To the west, the square is framed in parts by a steel pergola with shrubs and grasses planted behind it. It separates the square from the street and benches invite people to linger.



The refurbished work of art 'Circus Acrobats' by Erika Stürmer-Alex from 1980 was placed in the center of the square. A grove of trees with freely arranged seating blocks is placed opposite it as a spatial counterpart and provider of shade. Additional benches and litter bins are arranged around the square to ensure that there are enough places for the various user groups to spend time.



To the east and south, there is an activity area divided into several sections with a cross-generational offer. At the same time, it acts as a filter between the public space of the central square and the semi-public space of the surrounding residential area. It offers space to linger, play and communicate within and across neighborhoods. In addition to paved play areas with table tennis tables, trampolines and various fitness equipment for young and old people, the brace is structured by trees, hedges and planted areas.



The rainwater largely seeps away completely via infiltration troughs in the vegetation areas; it is directed into the troughs via cross-slopes or channel elements that structure the square.