Federal Garden Show 2023 in Mannheim, 3rd prize Europe-wide, two-phase competition

Following the idea of the city of Mannheim, the Federal Horticultural Show is not only conceived as a one-off event, but also as an impulse generator for urban development. This design builds on the basic ideas of the feasibility study from 2013. This proposes a link between Luisenpark and the more rural area. In order to realise this, the present design is based on a sequence of five parks: Luisenpark, Neckarpark, Auenpark, Feldpark and Wiesenpark.

Assessment by the jury

The basic concept with a sequence of parks, each with a different character but
still with a clearly identifiable function as a green corridor, is assessed positively.
The connection of the new green spaces across the Neckar, through the partially restructured
sports park and through a generous underpass as well as an opening in the existing
allotment gardens is clearly identifiable without being radical.
The routing at the edges of the open spaces with an accompanying row of trees partially fraying into the
green space is very consistent and underlines the spaciousness of the
framed green space. The orientation and routing of the bike path is very clear.

The floodplain park is largely left alone. The new main path is used intelligently as a
transition and mediation between the privately used allotments and the public
green spaces and agricultural land. The circular path around the floodplain park, the
natural staging of the embankment and the upper path with its panoramic views over the city
of Mannheim are all consistently executed.

The incorporation of the grid-like infrastructure of the Spinelli Barracks as the basic framework for an
urban garden and open space landscape seems conclusive and gives a distinctive
historical reference without being preservative. A stable basic structure is created for diverse
future developments of a contemporary park.

The Spinelli quarter as a U-shaped courtyard opening up to the park can function well.
Together with the depot, the existing commercial area and the relocated
sports areas, a coherent unit is formed.

The urban development adjacent to Käfertal has the right scale for the city of Mannheim
and connects carefully to the existing development. The relocation of the sports areas in
the large green space is understandable, as this avoids the noise problem. However, the
development proposed at this location appears poorly developed. A solution must be found for the maintenance of the sports areas during the BUGA. The
new neighborhoods would gain from a stronger hierarchy and clearer connections between the city
and the park. The activity strip between residential development and the circular path has a good
scale. It suggests a good quality of amenity, but this is only rudimentarily visible in the representation
. A selective break in the tree line and the creation of
stronger vistas of the residential development, activity strip and park would
be desirable.

The essentials of a Federal Garden Show are executed. However, there is a lack of a coherent
round trip and the Field Park District exhibit area seems somewhat disconnected. The staging
of agriculture as a garden show theme would be desirable. The individual garden fields are
flexibly playable, but require a skillful handling of the scale.
The design represents overall a stable and sustainable basic framework with clear
overarching connections.