Open space planning of the University of Augsburg and the adjoining residential areas From the old airfield to the university district

In 1972, the Augsburg University Building Office, together with the Augsburg City Planning Office and Neue Heimat Bayern, developed a structural framework plan for the area for the University of Augsburg and the adjacent residential areas.
The area is the size of the old town of Augsburg.
At this stage, we were already involved as landscape architects in the structural and green space planning.
The university area extends over two landscape units, the high terrace covered with loess loam and the lower lying low terrace of the Lech.
An important requirement of our landscape planning was that the difference in level between the two terraces should remain visible in the otherwise flat Lechfeld.
This 6-meter high glacial slope edge, between the Lech gravel plain and the loess loam terrace, is to be kept free of development as a superordinate green connection from Augsburg (plan).
In accordance with the different soil conditions on the two terrace levels, we have varied the selection of plants:
On the high terrace, the natural vegetation is the oak-hornbeam forest, on the low terrace, the pine-oak forest.
In the east-west direction to the sieve table forest, the green links were established.
This open space framework plan was the basis for the following urban planning competitions, green space plans as well as the planning of the individual construction sections.
Over 30 years of construction, a coherent landscape concept for the university and the neighbouring residential areas was thus created.

The University Street
Urban planning the Munich architectural group Benedeck, Hagen, Koch and Ihlmann.
The University Street, the central square and the shopping street connect the university with the residential area. This area is an urban experience space that has been kept free of through traffic as a meeting place for students and residents.
In the center is a square with a tram stop and cafeteria. The square is paved throughout and enclosed by a row of roof-shaped plane trees (planned by Diplom Geologe Jürgen Schiffler). At the outer ends of the axis, to the east and west, there are two large squares which are architecturally designed with tall chestnut and lime trees as well as with columnar poplars and hedges.
In the area of the north-south green corridor, Hochschulstraße opens up. The view into the green spaces, to the lake and the sunbathing lawns becomes free. The full width of the elevation change can be experienced.

Green elements
The exterior areas of the university and the green corridor of the slope edge are deliberately landscaped.
In the area of former water outlets at the base of the glacial slope edge is a watercourse that widens into a lake. The north-south green corridor has been extended into a park in the area of the university. It is an ideal recreational area with seating and sunbathing lawns for the students. At the same time, this park is an attraction for the adjacent residential areas.
In contrast to this park, the development zones of the university and the residential areas are designed with urban green elements. Each courtyard has its own design theme.
The University Street area and courtyards are planted with urban tree species and tree forms such as sycamore, black locust, columnar poplar and columnar oak, and sycamore maple. Surrounding green spaces are around the lake with willow and cottonwood. The outdoor areas are planted with oak, basswood, maple and pine typical of the landscape.
This has created a sequence of individual open spaces alternating from landscape to urban green.
This created a varied Bepflanzug coordinated with the respective situation.

The residential area
The urban planning of the residential area the Munich architects Becker-Nickels, Kamp and Steuernagel.
For the residential area, a green space plan was prepared to the development plan.
The streets in the residential area are largely traffic-calmed.
The main urban planning requirement for the open space planning of the public areas was that the streets become an urban space again. A recreational space and a green living room for the residents.
Wide sidewalks and squares invite the residents to linger: they are diversely furnished with seating and playgrounds, fountains, kiosks, art and individual alternating planting.
The streets are planted in an alley-like manner with tall lime trees, maples, hornbeams and cherry trees. In contrast, the squares are planted with special tree forms such as columnar poplar, columnar oak, spherical maple and spherical acacia to open up the view. Trimmed hedges.
The front gardens are spatially allocated to the public street space and delineated from the pavement with low hedges and small trees.
The residential area has a variety of recreational opportunities within a short distance due to its privileged location adjacent to the Screening Wood and its proximity to the Lech Meadows.

Literature
From the Old Airfield to the University Quarter, City of Augsburg, Building Department, 1996
New Home 6/80
Garden and Landscape 8/78
Garden and Landscape 11/00
New Home Residential Blocks 11/76
Baumeister 12/76d