Competition Karlsforster Straße in Kaarst 1st prize

For a hitherto undeveloped area in the north of Kaarst, a development plan is to be drawn up
with the aim of creating living space in Kaarst to meet demand.
On the basis of the structure and framework concept drafted by the Kaarst municipality
should be developed within the framework of an anonymous competition according to RPW with 4 seeded participants
urban concept, from which in a next step a
legally binding land-use plan is to be derived.
Special attention in the planning is to be paid to a balanced relationship of the three core elements of residential development, open spaces and traffic. Furthermore, it is generally important to generate a successful connection to the surrounding landscapes and to create a gentle transition between development and nature.

The landscape concept builds on the footprint of the orthogonally parceled agricultural areas and converts them into an extensive "Parc agricole".
A row of columnar oaks marks the dividing line between settlement and greenery close to the settlement as well as landscape and agriculture, accompanied by a path that follows the line of the trees.
At the corner of Neuhofstraße / Karlsforster Straße, the triangle of sight stretched along the row of trees offers wide views into the landscape, the areas continue to be extensively cultivated by agriculture as 2-shower grassland.
On the side facing the settlement, an orchard provides ecological compensation and is a typical regional design element on the edge of the village. Here, the residents of the neighborhood can plant and operate a picking garden in the sense of a commons, or the local nature conservancy can process the fruit into Kaarst apple juice. The orchard can be continued to the south - provided that no construction takes place in the triangular area next to the terraced houses on Karlsforster Strasse.
The open space ribbon being created as an extension of Heinrich-Lübke-Strasse begins in the neighbourhood with a stone square offering paved areas and seating for small festivals, markets, skating and rollerblading.
In these hard surfaces, green is mixed - similar to a "barcode" - in the form of a band - first as a well-kept lawn, the further west, the more as a meadow, the vegetation-free bands are then also used for the installation of playground equipment for children, the young at heart and seniors.
Leaning against the row of oaks, unsuitable for footballers because of the diagonal path, there is an exercise play area for young people and a fitness area for adults, again in a linear band structure.
Close to the settlement, a meadow depression can be used for parts of the development on the one hand as a recreation and event arena, on the other hand, the areas can be used in heavy rainfall for a retention of rainwater (20 cm) to avoid runoff peaks.
North of the planned development on Heinrich-Lübke-Strasse, the dogs also come to their rights, behind a small wooded area is a meadow, where man's best friend can safely run.
The backdrop of columnar oaks ends at Heinrich-Lübke-Strasse, the Feierabendweg around the settlement continues in the green gap between existing and new construction to the south to Karlsforster-/Mörickestrasse.
To the north and west, the path axes extended from the settlement ensure the connection with the city-wide path and open space network, small triangular squares help to establish new neighbourhoods.
In the area of the multi-storey housing, tenant gardens are planned on the ground floor apartments, a semi-public network of "Pättken" makes the area continuous.
The precipitation water disposal takes place largely property-by-property via Rigolen.
As tree species are proposed:

for the landscape edge columnar oak Quercus robur "Fastigiata"
for the development roads flower ash Fraxinus ornus "Meczek"
for the orchard local old fruit varieties as high and half trunks.