LEEZEN.ROOMS Ideas competition Westf. Wilhelms University Münster (1st place)

The concept takes up the urban spaces of the area under consideration with their very individual characteristics and divides them into five different types of space along the main axis Dom - Campus - Schloss.
The existing deficits, potentials and qualities serve, especially with regard to the distribution of parking spaces, as a starting point for the development of the newly created Leezen.spaces.

The focus is on today's everyday, predominantly student bicycle traffic volume and the associated uncontrolled, partially blocking parking of bicycles. The aim of the design is to react adequately to this situation and the differently distributed usage pressure in the area under consideration.
The new, clear positioning and expansion of bicycle parking spaces is oriented as a matter of course to the daily routine of the students and takes into account the reasonable distance to the respective campus buildings.
The overarching goal of this concept is the structuring, expansion and order of the diffuse and congested bicycle parking situation and the simultaneous preservation but also enhancement of the open spaces with a resulting increase in the quality of stay. Thereby the artificial creation of new spaces is avoided. Rather, the different identities of the spaces are to be clearly emphasized through the redesign. Hedges, topographical interventions and different materials serve as recognizable design tools in the upgrading and structuring of the different areas. Special elements such as a new parking garage or seating furniture are unique selling points of the respective spaces.

The Leezen.Räume will increase the parking space supply from 1852 parking spaces to approx. 2642 parking spaces and optimize the mobility concept that ensures the continuity of the open spaces and simultaneously enhances their quality of stay.

5 SPACES

City square
The prominent Fürstenbergplatz, located in the immediate vicinity of the Domplatz and directly opposite the new building of the LWL Museum of Art and Culture, will be upgraded with a clear, accentuated design to a representative urban city square.
On the forecourt of the Fürstenberghaus, the functional and recreational areas will be separated. The bicycle parking spaces will be moved back towards the Fürstenberghaus and arranged parallel to it.
The central square area will be raised slightly to emphasise its representative character as an inner-city open space with improved quality of stay. Low steps at the edges of the plaza frame the plaza, serving as a place to linger while directing bicycle traffic around the plaza. This elevated, stage-like area is primarily pedestrian-oriented and invites visitors to linger on seating cubes and engage in communicative exchanges. Bicycles play a secondary role in Fürstenbergplatz and should be directed through the steps to the designated parking areas at the edge. An approx. 1.5 m high, continuous hedge as a demarcation between the platform and the parking spaces accentuates the square. This green edge of the square closes off towards the Fürstenberghaus and thus opens up to the urban space in the direction of the LWL Museum and the cathedral. At the same time, the hedge serves as a visual screen for the bicycle parking spaces behind it.
The Fürstenberg statue is pushed forward to the northeastern edge of the square and thus in the direct visual relationship between the cathedral, the museum and the new town square.

Alley - Jesuit Walk
The Jesuit walk between Fürstenbergplatz and St. Peter's Church is redesigned into a barrier-free ramp. The ramp is dimensioned so that pedestrians and bicycle parking have sufficient space. The increased permeability achieved in this way will enable the campus area to be better linked to the adjacent town centre areas.

Greenspace - Aa riverside promenade
The open space will be supplemented by a new cycle parking garage in the form of a landscaped ramp, which will dock in the south-eastern area as an extension of the existing green space. The parking garage will become a new central, multi-functional focal point on campus. From the existing lawns of the green space, one can directly access the roof of the parking garage and enjoy it as a landscaped viewing platform. The newly created meeting point on the banks of the River Aa gives the open space a new atmospheric quality. A service station in the multi-storey car park offers help with repairs. Hedge elements pick up on the curved course of the river, guiding cyclists from the main axis to the car park. Parking areas along the Jurdicum will be maintained and enhanced with new and additional bike racks.

Streetscape
The streetscape in the area under consideration (Krummer Timpen area in front of the Jurdicum as well as in the Baker Street area) will be aligned by raising the street to sidewalk level. Due to the traffic calming and the equal car, bicycle and pedestrian traffic, this passage space is equalized, which makes the orderly parking of bicycles possible. Hedges also signal visitors here to park their bikes.

Streetscape - Krummer Timpen
The streetscape is raised to sidewalk level and interpreted as a unified circulation space. The existing angled parking spaces will be abandoned. A portion will remain as longitudinal parking in the same location. The residents' parking spaces will be relocated longitudinally to the opposite side. The bicycle parking spaces in the northern area will remain and will be supplemented with additional ones.

Street Space - University Street
Due to the minor amenity directly on University Street, this can be used to create additional parking spaces. The existing parking areas will be abandoned in its current form. Approximately 30-40 cm lowered "bicycle pools" define the new parking areas. Due to the slight topographical adjustment, the areas in front of the Juridicum will remain clear. Bicycle pools" will be created, which will enable the quick retrieval of one's bicycle by means of numbering.

Street space - Bäckerstraße
The existing parking spaces along the fence will be abandoned and replaced by a new arrangement of bicycle racks. Again, the concept is to raise the streetscape to sidewalk level to define it as a walking area or riding area for bicycles. The existing sidewalk area along the existing trees can thus be used as additional space for bicycle parking.

Street Space - Ev. Theology
The area in front of the evangelical theology will be expanded as a large "bicycle pool" with additional bicycle parking.

Yard Space- Lecture Hall Building H1
The semi-public area will be rearranged. Bicycle parking will be increased and moved to the edge of the spaces. Green elements that interfere with the permeability of the courtyard spaces will be removed.

Design Tools
Hedges will serve as recurring, guiding elements to structure the open space and signal locations for bicyclists to properly park their bikes. At the same time, they accentuate the leeward spaces with green elements and provide visitors with a visually appealing height grading of the urban space.
By raising and lowering surfaces, different areas of use are clearly defined and made apparent to visitors.