BUGA Upper Middle Rhine Valley 2029: Water takes center stage

The Federal Horticultural Show 2029 will take place in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. The region has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002, as it represents a cultural landscape of great diversity and beauty. The organizers are now hoping that the project will act as an economic stimulus package for the entire region.

The Upper Middle Rhine Valley World Heritage Site stretches from Rhine kilometer 526 in Bingen and Rüdesheim to Rhine kilometer 593 in Koblenz. It therefore covers around five percent of the course of the river. There have already been three successful garden shows on the Rhine, namely in Bonn (1979), Bingen (2008) and Koblenz (2011), which have demonstrated the potential of major redevelopment projects in the city and region. In 2029, the focus will be on water.

BUGA Upper Middle Rhine Valley 2029 envisages a renewal of the public infrastructure with the renovation of the Loreley plateau, castle gardens and floating flower halls. BUGA gGmbH is also planning broadband connections and stronger mobile internet to make the Federal Horticultural Show the first garden show that can be experienced completely digitally. The concept envisages four core zones, namely the municipalities of Bacharach, Rüdesheim, Lahnstein and St. Goarshausen / St. Goar.

There are still five years to go until the BUGA Upper Middle Rhine Valley opens in 2029. The total budget is expected to be 108 million euros, of which the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse will contribute just under 55 million euros. BUGA 2029 gGmbH is expected to generate 38.7 million euros itself and the World Heritage municipalities will contribute the remaining 14.4 million euros. All 59 local authorities in the World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley are represented in the special-purpose association. The association will organize the event together with BUGA 2029 gGmbH.

A highly decentralized Federal Horticultural Show is planned along a 67-kilometre stretch of the Rhine between Koblenz in the north and Bingen and Rüdesheim in the south. It has been clear since 2018 that the BUGA will be held in 2029. A detailed feasibility study was carried out, which focused on renewing the public infrastructure along the Upper Middle Rhine that can be used for tourism. Major construction measures are planned in Lahnstein, including the construction of an additional bridge over the mouth of the Lahn.

All of the proposals submitted so far for BUGA Upper Middle Rhine Valley 2029 focus on water in order to make the region on the Rhine even more attractive to tourists. In addition, the river is to be made more tangible for the locals.

Due to the decentralized orientation of the BUGA Upper Middle Rhine Valley 2029, there are smaller competitions for individual locations with the central theme “Welcome to the water”. Landscape architect Thomas Wirth from Kitzingen has so far supervised three competitions with his office arc.grün.

In Rüdesheim, for example, there are plans to carefully develop the harbor park to accompany the Federal Garden Show. Under the working title “Ensemble”, a multifaceted park is being created that brings the local history to life and protects the existing trees. Following a restricted landscape planning competition, the jury decided in favor of the design by Franz Reschke Landschaftsarchitekten from Berlin.

This design proposes to break up the Kastanienallee in Rüdesheim, which until now has formed a caesura between the harbor park and the leisure park. The aim is to create a harmonious whole that also provides plenty of space for the BUGA’s colorful summer festival. Under the motto “Sources of inspiration”, the town of Rüdesheim intends to make itself more attractive for tourism, but also to create better living conditions for its citizens.

The Lahnstein riverbank is also an important venue for the BUGA Upper Middle Rhine Valley 2029. From Martinsburg Castle to the Rhine facilities in Oberlahnstein and the harbour pier to the park on the banks of the Lahn in Niederlahnstein, the riverbank areas are to shine in new splendour. The jury unanimously decided in favor of the design by Geskes.Hack Landschaftsarchitekten from Berlin. This design proposes a mixture of quality of stay, event opportunities, play and sport along the Lahnstein shore, with the harbor pier becoming a new point of attraction.

The landscape architects from Berlin came out on top against ten other offices in an open space planning design competition. They proposed plans for the permanent development of the parks. The temporary exhibition concept for BUGA 2029 will also be based on this. This underlines the fact that Federal Garden Shows are integrated urban and regional development projects that offer colorful experiences for guests and at the same time can influence the region for decades.

Another competition for BUGA Oberes Mittelrheintal 2029, also managed by arc.grün, revolved around the new Rhine facilities for Bacharach. The landscape architecture firm urbanegestalt from Cologne and the firm Hille und Tesch, architects and urban planners from Ingelheim, won the competition with their design. Ten offices applied for this open space planning design competition. The winning design combines old town, riverside landscape, play, beach and camping.

An attraction for visitors and locals alike is to be created on the Middle Rhine as part of the BUGA 2029. From 2029, the river will be easier to experience, which will also have an important impact on the city in subsequent years. A landscape park, a lido, camping facilities as well as sports and leisure facilities will enhance the Rhine facilities. In combination with the medieval town center, Bacharach is to become even more attractive in the future. The town is receiving support for this from the state government, but as a World Heritage municipality is also contributing to the budget itself.

Read more about the competition in Bacharach here.