Bahnstadt Heidelberg
July 19, 2014
Inauguration of the first realized phase
On Saturday, 19 July, the completion of the first phase was celebrated in the presence of Lord Mayor Dr. Eckart Würzner and Dr. Nils Schmid, minister of financial and economic affairs and vice prime minister of Baden-Württemberg.
A new neighbourhood is to be created on the site of Heidelbergs former goods yard which extends over an area of 116 hectares and is one of Germanys largest urban development projects.
The open space concept is based on an urban masterplan by Trojan & Trojan, which envisages a large proportion of high-quality public spaces with sub-regional appeal and strong individual identities, applying green and resource-saving construction methods alongside stormwater management.
A 9.5-m long water basin on LangerAnger collects stormwater from roofs and courtyards and lets excess water seep into the ground via a system of infiltration areas.
At the summerly inauguration party residents and visitors enjoyed the ambience full of atmosphere around the water basin. Play areas and lawns are linked to the main promenade along the edge of the urban development. A seating step mediates between intensively used zones and ecological compensation areas. A long continuous retaining wall made from tamped concrete protects the elevated gardens of the residential blocks. This forms a hard architectural edge that defines the interface between private and public spaces.
