BIG APPLE ERLANGEN

 

Type:	Realisation competition with urban planning conceptual part
Location:	Werner-von-Siemens-Straße 61-67, 91052 Erlangen
Sponsor:	Engelhardt RE Group and Empira AG in coordination with the city of Erlangen
Architects:	GKKS Gössler Kinz Kerber Schippmann Architekten PartG mbB
Employees:	Rüdiger Amend, Violetta Zilbersher, Georgia Gkliati, Hanna Wissemann
Period:	2022
Ranking:	2. Preis

 

The project area is located in Erlangen Mitte and is enclosed by Werner-von-Siemens-Strasse in the west, Mozartstrasse in the north, Zenkerstrasse in the east and Sophienstrasse and Pfälzer Strasse in the south.

The existing office building "Bingelhaus" on Werner-von-Siemens-Strasse, a high-rise building with a flat base building or annex (casino) on Mozartstrasse, a parking garage on Zenkerstraße and another office building called "Elefantentreppe" (Elephant Staircase) in the southern part of the competition area are in use on the project site.

The high-rise building and the casino are listed buildings. It is planned to demolish the non-listed buildings "Bingelhaus" and the parking garage on Zenkerstraße and replace them with new buildings. It is also being considered whether the "Elefantentreppe" building should be retained in whole or in part, or whether new buildings should be erected on the same site.

The aim is to build an ensemble that creates space for living and working in an innovative and at the same time economical way and at the same time gives a contemporary answer to the self-evident goal of sustainable building.

The "thinking together of work and living" is intended to create a lively, inner-city quarter through the functional connection of living, working, supply and leisure.

In addition, a way of dealing with the listed building stock is to be found that corresponds to the high status of these architectural monuments and preserves and strengthens the integration of these buildings into the urban context.

Open space concept

The Red Square with its iconic silicon disc mosaic forms the centre of the current and future quarter. Although finely composed and executed in terms of surface area and materiality, it functions purely as a passageway and has no quality as a place to stay. The intended revitalisation of the Big Apple Erlangen Quarter (BAEQ) with student housing, retail and ground floor zones opening onto the square offers the opportunity for a careful redesign. To this end, the round mosaic, composed of red clinker brick, light-coloured travertine bands or surfaces and rusty metal plates, is spatially framed by sunbathing lawns and radial travertine benches. To enliven the square and increase the quality of stay on hot days, a fountain integrated into the mosaic is conceivable, which would preferably be located in a section of the western hemisphere of the square. A circle of light (LED strip) running at a height of four metres illuminates the square and accentuates its radial centre. The rows of spherical maples framing the square are retained. Only in front of the new Bingelhaus will individual trees be removed to better connect the ground floor zones with the square.

The Bingel area

With its commercial ground floor use, the new Bingelhaus, unlike the current office use, interacts with the urban space in a variety of ways. This will therefore be designed on Werner-von-Siemensstraße not as a spaced green as before, but as a stone forecourt with trees, seating and bicycle parking, which extends around the building to the south. A small square opens up in front of the main entrance, and to the east a row of trees formulates the transition to the retail delivery zone.

Surroundings of the Elephant Staircase

The transformed Elephant Staircase presents itself with a generous barrier-free entrance area to Red Square, which is connected to the green inner courtyard by a passage. This is equipped with all the amenities necessary for residential purposes, such as play and seating areas, green spaces and trees. A communal garden forms the joint to the public green corridor in the south. A path connects the generous entrance square on Zeppelinstrasse with Pfälzerstrasse, where the entrance areas of the new residential building are located.

The Zenker area

The Z-shaped building encloses a north courtyard and a south courtyard opening onto Zenkerstraße. The Zenkerstrasse is characterised by typical landscaped front gardens with entrance trees. The gap between the high-rise and the residential buildings, which is not built under, accommodates a playground and large trees in addition to the access path. The access path is connected to Zenkerstraße, Sophienstraße and Roter Platz via stitches. Between the play area and the north courtyard is another community garden for all residents of the neighbourhood. Both courtyards will be equipped with all the amenities needed for residential purposes, such as play and seating areas, green spaces and trees. A fire brigade access road will open up the south courtyard from Zenkerstraße.

Paved areas

Sealing will be limited to the necessary extent and, where possible, will be carried out with water-permeable stone surfaces. The parking spaces for bicycles will be paved with lawn joint paving, unless they are located on plaza areas. The fall protection surfaces will be made of play sand or wood chips; plastic surfaces will be avoided in order to prevent microplastic pollution.

Surface drainage

Where possible, the rainwater falling on the paved areas is drained into the adjacent green areas and swales. The remaining areas are drained via underground pipes to infiltration trenches in the areas not built under (see pictogram).

The existing slope oriented towards Werner-von-Siemensstraße and the linear drainage of the Red Square designed on it will be retained; it will be supplemented by a new radial drainage channel located in front of the circular bench.

Planting areas

The following categories of planting areas are planned:

• Play lawns in the residential courtyards and for the lawns on Red Square
• Extensive, species-rich, insect-friendly meadow mix in the area of the new green corridor and the green space on Sophienstrasse
• Certified, extensive perennial mixes in the area of the front gardens and residential courtyards with additional site-appropriate, insect-friendly specimen shrubs
• The existing trees will be integrated into the redesign as far as possible. When selecting new trees to be planted, preference will be given to "climate trees"
• Climbing plants for the greening of suitable façade areas
• Extensive green roofs on suitable roof surfaces

Lighting

To avoid light pollution, lighting will be provided by directional light sources and the use of insect-friendly light sources. Mast luminaires are used along the public connecting path. The access path in the Zenker area is illuminated with motion-controlled bollard luminaires.

Equipment elements

Benches with and without backrests and armrests in shady and sunny areas.

Use of durable, low-maintenance materials with low primary energy consumption and low environmental impact.

Wood used for e.g. benches and playground equipment made of FSC or PEFC-certified European wood with CoC certificate.

Accessibility

All areas and facilities in the outdoor facilities are barrier-free. Selection of barrier-free play facilities.