Citizens' park Seelze Bolt - Play - Experience

Between the river Leine and the natural border to the Leine floodplain, the approx. 8ha large citizens' park of Seelze stretches. The beginnings of the open space can be found in the seventies and is closely related to the construction of the school, the swimming pool and the shooting club. Due to the construction of the Leinedeiche the open space experiences various terrain modellings. This creates both depressions - temporarily filled with water - as well as shallow hills, which are less noticeable and can not be experienced at the present time due to the heavy vegetation.

The citizen park Seelze presents itself as an extensive green space, which lies directly on the cycle path Hanover - Steinhuder Meer, whereby the plant is to be attributed a supra-regional importance. Near-natural areas are located along the Leinedeich. The once open water areas and depressions have become overgrown with willows and bushes over the years, as have the dyke ridge and the mounds. Due to the strong growth of woody plants in other areas as well and the emergence of seedlings in recent decades, views, sight lines and spatial relationships are difficult to experience.

The aim of the planning is to create an attractive green space for citizens with a variety of uses for all ages. A special focus was also on the balance between high quality and the lowest possible maintenance and care.

All service phases of the HOAI.
The project was a component of the Garden Region Hannover 2009.

The existing trail system will remain in its basic structure. Two new paths will be created from the centre of the site, which will join the existing dyke path. These two paths will provide access to the center of the open space as well as to the exterior natural areas and the levee, and will allow for internal circulation throughout the facility.
In the inner open space, due to an embankment edge and the existing trees, three partial areas are created, which are assigned to different aspects. In the western area, the central square area of the complex is created, shallowly elevated. In it there is a small children's play area, which merges from the square into the landscape. In the direction of the Rodelberg, areas for young people are provided. Here, a youth meeting place is being created in the direct vicinity of the new football field and a separate basketball court.

The edge of the embankment and the existing row of trees imperceptibly separate the western subspace from a large lawn, which can be used both for ball games and as a lawn for sunbathing. As a summer highlight, concerts or theater events can be held here.

The eastern third part of the space is intended as a space for art, inspiration and contemplation. On small areas, different spaces are created in a meadow of flowers and grasses, which playfully deal with the vegetation and different elements. A straight path leads through the areas, then over a hill - ending at the dike.
Each of the small areas has a particular theme:
Birch grove - the birch grove opens the different sub-areas. The bizarre white of the trunks and the loose green of the leaves contrast clearly with the woods at the edges. The passage of this gate expects new and old is forgotten.
Flower meadow - directly adjacent to the birch grove is an approximately 600m ² large flower field, with different depending on the seasons dependent flowering aspects.
River rock - on a lawn and sandy area are different large and colored boulders installed. A large circular swinger provides the opportunity for wild spinning and rambunctious play.
This area passes into grass field (about 900m ²). The different grasses, planted in large areas offer the most diverse impressions throughout the year.

Natural areas
The near-natural areas are preserved as far as possible. In order to stop further succession towards the forest, shrubs and copses will be cut back in some areas to such an extent that visual relationships, spatial impressions (depth effects, kinetic experience) and light effects (sun - shadow) can be experienced again. These areas are the foothills of the Rodelberg, the backs of the dikes, the interiors of path curves, prominent slope edges and the side space of some paths.
The old gnarled pollarded willows standing by a small body of water will be cleared. They thereby gain in value for nature as well as for the visitors.