Project Report | Boomtown versus Regio-City:
Implant and the Urban Living Room

Project 4: The Karlsruhe Cityregion 2030

Susanne Duerr, Dagmar Pelge and Alex Wall

Intention: The goal of the research project is to imagine a new regional redevelopment concept that combines the model of a single center dominating its surrounding area with a decentralized network of existing and new centers. To qualify this concept, we developed three planning instruments, which also function as design tools: "decentralized density" as a regional planning paradigm, the city implant, and the urban living room.

1 Project Structure: Diagram of the relationship between the general project (thesis), the 4 individual projects (regional dynamic, landscape and nature, social sustainability, and urban planning), and the collective end-product.

2 Project goals: Diagram showing the relationship between basic analysis (Materialien), project goals, teaching (Lehre), and critique (Experten).

3 Three project areas: Identities and borders: Cultural landscape with the regional "wine route" (Rheinland Pfalz); Nature "paradise" with village landscape (Alsace Nord); and Regional cultural and consumption axis of the core area of Karlsruhe (Baden-Württemburg).

4 Two development scenarios: Boomtown+Regiocity:

Boomtown: A single dominant urban center will continue to develop westward incorporating the Rheinhafen, Woerth, continuing towards Landau. The thesis is that by a policy of development within existing urban boundaries, the density of the city will rise to achieve the urban atmosphere that is associated with urban culture.
Regiocity: A network of centers, whose public and private transport infrastructure will guarentee convenient mobility and access. The thesis is that balancing future development and refinement of the transport infrastructure will remove mental, spatial, and administrative borders within the cityregion.

5 Spatial structure: Sequence of streets and public spaces; how can these be linked, and what additional functions would be needed to create diverse spatial attractions and relieve the current singular focus on the Karlsruhe Marktplatz?

6 Three Urban Living Rooms: Near the Beltway: The ZKM (Center for Art and Media Technology), the Europahalle and Guenther Klotz Anlage, and the Mediamarkt-shopping district are all well known points of attraction, but are perceived to be separate and distinct from each other. In fact no more than several hundred yards separate each from the other. How can landscape planning and design link these points into a new kind of "center"?

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