new mile böblingen conversion of bahnhofsstrasse böblingen into a pedestrian zone in the participation procedure

the new böblinger meile was created on the basis of a cooperative workshop process. the aim was to introduce a new way of perceiving and using the previously car-oriented lower town in terms of urban planning and atmosphere. bauchplan ).( developed a design concept with a new identity between down-to-earthness and future viability through a guiding principle and participation process.
 the versatile pedestrian boulevard was handed back to the people of böblingen in spring 2015 after just two years of planning and construction. local problems were recorded as design parameters throughout the entire design process and further developed into specific attractors of public space.



the new böblingen mile fundamentally reinterprets the classic railroad station street situation. the aim of the cooperative workshop process was to offer a new "dimensional system" as an expressive public reference space for a liveable city center in böblingen.

with qualities between shopping mile and open space, an independent link between the old town and the railroad station was developed and increasingly refined in the participation process. building on a compact design phase, excursions, sampling and prototyping processes were carried out in close coordination with local stakeholders.



the former lower town of böblingen has been transformed into a highly recognizable city center with the help of the new mile. since spring 2015, it has been the backbone of böblingen as a pedestrian boulevard in a previously car-oriented city center. its adaptability and cyclical updating are inherent in the design concept. the new mile offers a real alternative to new, economically strong neighbors as a lively urban space with numerous commercial-free amenities; the newly designed public space initiates the further revaluation of the surrounding buildings.



the premise of the design process was to move away from the classic street typology. the newly formulated hybrid space consisting of diverse interlocking sequences of squares makes use of the location between the railroad station and the old town: both ends are interpreted as shop windows for the public space.

the spatially defining drainage has been precisely reversed from a classic street cross-section into an asymmetrical spatial profile. iberian granite stone stretches over it as a continuous, elongated pixel parquet from façade to façade. specifically developed drainage channels and tree quarters break the linearity of the former street typology.

the independent identity was continued with a new, suspended lighting concept. self-glowing light rings dance freely above the public space, interlocking with the adjoining rooms and acting as a noticeable landmark throughout the course of the day. contemporary, dali-controlled lighting technology allows immersion in rgb-based worlds of color during events, while everyday life presents itself in classic warm white.

elbenplatz, a busy intersection in the center of böblingen, is transformed into a postcard motif "window to the old town": a fountain field set into the level of the square interacts with the flow of traffic and, coupled with the traffic lights, overlays it visually and acoustically. the pedestrian underpass, which is no longer needed, serves as a water reservoir and technical room.

in combination with the modular furniture, a variety of recreational and service areas are created, which rhythmize the mile and initiate its use by passers-by and businesses: bicycle counters in combination with long benches allow for consumption-free breaks or serve as presentation counters for store owners.

in cooperation with the youth council, street furniture such as open-space sofas, post office benches or freely rotating individual seats that can be interpreted as play equipment were developed and integrated into the design system.



the conversion process of böblingen's public spaces was continued until the end of 2015 with the conversion of the adjacent streets into meeting zones.