Old customs Bonn Redevelopment of the historic outdoor area

The structural upgrading of the Old Customs House was followed by the restoration of the open spaces around the historic building. Pavement surfaces, plantings and furnishings were renovated and in parts completely renewed. Despite its central, inner-city location, this part of the Stadtgarten had increasingly lost sight of itself in recent years. Now it was necessary to once again create an open space quality that does justice to the location and its overall urban significance.

Viewing plateau
For reasons of monument preservation, additional railings were dispensed with. To ensure a sufficiently high parapet wall, the entire plaza area was lowered. The western boundary wall continues at seat height, strengthening the connection to the adjacent green space. By raising the adjacent grassed area, the fall height here has been reduced below one metre. At the northern path connection, the height offset was compensated by raising the path.
A 60 cm wide band of flagstones frames the water-bound plaza area. Due to its installation flush with the ground, it is both a structural protection and a standing surface. The monument also received a frame of basalt lava slabs in free lengths and a width of 20 centimeters. The original plating could be reinstalled at the adjacent viewing area to the north. The lookout point is elevated in relation to the large plateau. A row of block steps here imparts an offset of up to 15 inches.
With loss of the chestnut grove, the old customs lost its original character. In the future, 13 linden trees will shade the plaetau. Instead of a strict tree canopy, however, the trees were placed as a light grove. The treetops should be able to develop as freely as possible in the future. The permanent development of the trees with a uniform growth pattern required the clearing of the remaining chestnut trees. Good growing conditions for all new plantings were created by the area-wide installation of a tree substrate capable of compaction.
Complete illumination of the area was dispensed with. Recessed lights along the parapet provide the necessary orientation here.

Front area
In the west adjacent front area, the water-bound path surfaces were reworked and existing asphalt paths were renewed. A final coating with an epoxy resin-bound chippings now improves the slip resistance and allows a visual integration into the urban garden. The edging was carried out - analogous to the square design - by a 20 plate band.
Along the adjacent parapet wall to the south, fall protection measures were also required. The approach to the wall is prevented by a simple handrail made of flat steel.