Redesign of streets and squares in Höchstädt a. d. Donau Market place and castle surroundings

Stock

In the planning scope, the design of the state road was essentially designed for (moving and stationary) motorized traffic. Partially oversized lanes and disorderly parking on the street were at the expense of sidewalk widths and any quality of stay.

Despite good urban spatial edges and largely good design quality of buildings and facades, the overall condition was unsatisfactory due to the one-sided focus on traffic handling and especially due to the lack of green structures.

Pavement concept

In the design of the pavement areas in the sidewalk area, a clear distinction is made between the old town area and the outer city area:

The sidewalk and cycle path areas along Herzogin-Anna-Strasse in the old town area are designed with high-quality pavement surfaces (concrete paving with natural stone facing), although their value is graded in relation to the market square. Different formats were chosen in accordance with the "passée" laying method on the market square. In order not to impair the homogeneity, the combined footpath and cycle path is embedded in the same pavement, but deliberately set off in colour to clarify the use. The walking and cycling path areas outside the old town area from the town gate onwards are designed in asphalt to connect with the existing buildings. In order to reduce the dominance of motorized traffic, the areas for stationary traffic are added to the sidewalks in terms of design by using the same material. The short term parking zones along the street are marked by colored gradations analogous to the combined sidewalk and bike path.

The importance at the old city entrance is underlined by a change of pavement: In the width of the city wall has been made visible in the pavement with limestone paving the location of the city wall.
In keeping with the urban planning situation, the area around the new information building is designed as a square. This square at the castle information including the square-like widenings in the direction of the market square received a high-quality pavement of granite paving (small stone, laying in the passée) analogous to the market square.
The street running across the square is deliberately not in asphalt but design and at the same time traffic calming in granite large stone (surface sawn and sandblasted, laid diagonally and with very small joints in bonded construction for the best possible noise reduction).

The mouths of the alleys into the Duchess Anna Street are readable by pointers in extension of the house lines in the sidewalk area. A pulling out of the alley pavement was renounced in favour of a homogeneous road surface of the Herzogin-Anna-Straße. In the future, high curbs will be omitted in favor of slightly raised or pavement-level transitions in order to achieve a pavement surface that is as barrier-free as possible.

Lighting concept

The alternating placement of wall luminaires generally takes place at eaves height at the ends of the buildings, as well as at building gables. The luminaire type of the previously used trapezoidal luminaire at the market place was retained. Energy-saving LED light sources are generally used. The castle information centre is highlighted by attractive interior lighting and the forecourt is optimally illuminated by three luminaires with a large light point height.

Green concept

New street trees along Herzogin-Anna-Strasse highlight the urban axis of the church-marketplace-castle and at the same time ensure the desired upgrading of the street space. A row of trees next to the castle driveway complements this urban planning objective.

The Lower Gate

The Untere Tor (Lower Gate), also known as the Donautor (Danube Gate) or Wertinger Tor (Wertinger Gate), built in 1529, formed the eastern entrance to the city until its demolition in 1902. As a significant urban point with history, this prominent location required special planning appreciation. The urban boundary between the old town and the outer area at the former town gate in the east at the foot of the Schlossberg was to become clearly visible again. Together with the new information building for the castle, the new interpretation of the city gate in the form of stelae made of CorTen steel gave the eastern entrance to the city a striking and timelessly modern new form.

back to overview to the time shades

1. Stock
2. Pavement concept
3. Lighting concept
4. Green concept
5. The Lower Gate