Generation place Wiesenburg/Mark Encounter in motion

The Generationenplatz site is characterized by a topography that slopes down from north to south, which, together with the sweep of Schlossstrasse, gives the site a beautiful dynamic. The trees on the edges of the site appear to have grown up randomly: pine trees on the west side and birch trees on the east side.

The design of the generation square takes up the motif of the historic garden spaces and is divided into the following areas: The Schlossstrasse with barrier-free access, an active band with pines and grasses for active and quiet recreation, a grove of fruit trees with a picnic area, a climbing forest made of naturally grown robinia trunks as well as a water playground and a planting area with wild roses, grasses and birches.

Three new crossings made of clinker bricks facilitate barrier-free access to the Generationenplatz: visitors to Wie-senburg, local residents and residents of the adjacent nursing home to the south have various easily accessible seating options and a barbecue area at their disposal.

The combination of play and recreational facilities creates a shared space for young and old: a meeting place in motion!


The generation square in Wiesenburg. Encounter in motion.



The place

Wiesenburg has 4500 inhabitants and is located in the Fläming - a mountain range in south-western Brandenburg.

The old village center is characterized by the Renaissance castle with the 123ha castle park from 1863. In 2011, Wiesenburg was the first village in Brandenburg to be awarded a gold medal in the federal competition Our Village has a Future. In 2011, Wiesenburg was awarded a silver medal in the "Entente Florale Europe" competition. The municipality focuses on sustainable development and intensive citizen participation in so-called future workshops. The Generationenplatz project was also developed and implemented in close consultation and with the involvement of citizens.



There used to be a (kitchen) garden with individual fruit trees on the site of the Generationenplatz. A contemporary witness reports that the respective garden sections were bordered by boxwood hedges and there was a seating area framed by lilacs near the pump. After reunification in 1990, the plot was used as a playground. The box hedges, fruit trees and lilacs have disappeared.

The site is characterized by an evenly sloping gradient from north to south. Between the Pumphauslücke and Hermann-Bossdorf-Straße, it falls by almost 6 meters. Together with the sweep of Schlossstrasse, the topography lends the site a beautiful dynamic. The straight line of the eastern boundary contrasts with this. The themes of dynamism and contrast accompanied our design considerations.



The existing trees appeared to have grown up randomly and are mainly located at the edges of the property. The western side is dominated by a row of pines and the eastern side by birch trees.

They were supplemented by new pines and birches and now form the framework of the generation square.



Small park - great diversity

Our design for the Generationenplatz takes up the motif of the historic garden spaces and is divided into the following areas:



1. castle street

2. active band with pines and grasses

3. fruit tree grove

4. climbing forest

5. water playground

6. planting area with wild roses, grasses and birches



Schlossstraße

Schlossstraße was only altered at certain points to improve accessibility to Generationenplatz.

The clinker footpath that had already been started was continued. Three new crossings, made of clinker or cast stone, allow barrier-free access to the active strip.



Active strip

The terraced Tennen-Band, which is around 4.5 meters wide on average, accompanies Schlossstrasse to Hermann-Bossdorf-Strasse. It is demarcated from Schlossstrasse by strips of ornamental grass for active and quiet recreation.

At various stations inviting movement, some of which were designed with local artist Sebastian David, you can be active in a targeted manner, but also en passant. The asymmetrical oak benches in the active band were developed together with Sebastian David and built by him.

The Lümmelstein and the stacking stones were designed and built by Sebastian David. From the benches, you can watch the action on the playground under the canopy of light pine trees.



Fruit tree grove

The highest area of the meadow was accentuated by a small apple grove and a picnic area with a table, benches and a table tennis table.



Climbing forest

The climbing forest made of naturally grown robinia trunks is located in the middle section. It forms a spatial filter between the picnic area and the lower-lying water playground. Here, people of all ages can balance, climb, swing, shimmy, climb a tree house and slide on ropes, tree trunks and a wobble plate.



Water playground

The existing open ditch on Schlossstrasse was shaped and given a natural look with boulders found on site. The new water playground is located in a small depression in front of the rectory.

Large and small boulders seem to roll down from the playground into the depression and invite you to sit and climb. Water flows from a swivel pump and children can splash around in a small sandy area in the depression. A wooden seating element will also be installed between the hollow and the active strip on Schlossstraße



New path connection and planting area

A paved path connects Schlossstrasse with the pump house gap and provides a direct link for the residents of the adjacent nursing home to the small park.

The existing row of birch trees on the eastern boundary of the site was extended to Schlossstrasse and forms a nice contrast to the pines of the active strip. Underplanting with wild roses and grasses

ensures a long-lasting blooming and fragrant aspect. Lilac bushes shield the generation square from the neighboring parking lot.



Accessibility

The height difference in the Generationenplatz mentioned at the beginning poses a challenge for people with very limited mobility. The new path connection is handicapped accessible and has a gradient of approx. 5%. Three new clinker brick crossings facilitate barrier-free access to Generationenplatz.

Residents of the nursing ward and Hermann-Bossdorf-Straße have two easily accessible seating options in the immediate vicinity.



Integration into the surroundings

For integration into the surroundings, a framing planting of lilacs is planned towards the parking lot in addition to a planting of roses and grasses, which refers to the historical planting of the former garden property. The existing row of birch trees will also be extended to the south.

Along Schlossstrasse, planting with ornamental grasses (Calamagrostis) growing up to 150 cm high and an addition to the existing row of pines are planned.



Planning chronicle:



4.1.2012 Invitation to the competitive procedure with 3 offices

21.1.2012 Future workshop with approx. 50 citizens

22.2.2012 Public preliminary design presentation by the offices,

followed by a public vote in favor of LA.BAR's contribution

21.5.2012 Presentation of the implementation planning to the local advisory council

3.9.2012 Start of construction

27.10.2012 Planting event with approx. 40 citizens

23.11.2012 Completion

15.12.2012 Public "taking possession" with citizens' party





Planning participants



Open space planning LA.BAR Landschaftsarchitekten bdla



Lot 1 Landscaping: Landschafts- und Gartenbau Stackelitz GmbH, Coswig

Lot 2 Playground equipment: Werkform GmbH, Brand-Erbisdorf

Lot 3 Sanitary: Norbert Krüger, Wiesenburg

Lot 4 artistic equipment: Sebastian David, Wiesenburg

Archaeological site supervision: Martin Wurzel Archäologie, Stahnsdorf

Planting of roses, grasses and flower bulbs: Wiesenburg citizens