The most exciting competition results of the last two weeks and everything you need to know about them – from landscape architect Heike Vossen. February 2/2

Interested in the latest competition results in landscape architecture, but hardly have time to look at them properly? In the G+L competition overview, Heike Vossen provides monthly updates on the most exciting competition results.

With the “Lengerich Line”, Franz Reschke Landschaftsarchitektur won over the jury in the competition to realize the redesigned city centre. The trough and guiding strip forms the spatial and design backbone of the city center, along which the five squares are connected. The outermost squares also form the representative entrances. The line leads through the pedestrian zone and signals priority for pedestrians. The planners differentiate between the linear movement space of the street and the squares as green recreational areas, the “green breaks”: a uniform, calm paving carpet in rows defines the pedestrian zone as a unit. The individual squares – by changing to the non-directional arrangement – stand out like fitting pieces in the urban fabric. “Green inlays” of perennial plantings form the back of each square; multi-stemmed trees and fountains fitted into the squares accentuate the areas as places to linger and slow down movement.

Open space planning MediTech in Oldenburg, 1st prize chora blau landscape architecture, Hanover

chora blau impressed the jury with the idea of “guiding currents”, which divide the open space of the MediTech quarter into varied areas and create exciting spatial sequences. With this analogy, which is derived from the various currents in the human body, the planners have succeeded in developing an address-forming and atmospherically dense open space. Towards the neighborhood square, the streams open up into spacious recreational areas and green islands. Striking paving channels and cut edges accentuate the guidelines; however, the format and surface of the paving clearly delineate the areas of the district center, district axis and secondary axes. The quarter axis offers the employees of the MediTech Quarter activity areas for play and sport, including a boulder wall for climbing and giant swings. In the secondary axes, quiet recreational areas are created along larger planted areas. The slightly lowered paved surfaces temporarily collect rainwater, while an overflow leads to the neighboring planted islands.

Bahnhofplatz Süd in Karlsruhe, 1st rank bauchplan ).(, Munich, with berchtoldkrass space&options and dwd Ingenieure

The district development of the station area in the south of Karlsruhe’s main station calls for a redesigned south portal. bauchplan’s “climate watch” proclaims a sustainable square design for the southern station square – and derives the approach from the complementary juxtaposition of the north and south station squares, both functionally and atmospherically. The new square in the south connects the flow of movement of different road users and addresses the microclimatic and acoustic challenges in terms of content and design: It is a place of identification for the young modern quarter, but its southern orientation favors heat accumulation and the flanks of the high-rise buildings create whirlwind zones. The design defines the square as a sustainable multifunctional prelude that offers a high quality of stay as an urban climate-friendly oasis. A textile spans the portal on the south façade of the track as a striking element and opens up at the entrances. The perforated concrete covering allows water absorption and delayed evaporation. Clouds of mist and a water field generate cooling in microclimatic hotspots, while trees slow down the whirlwinds and shade the square.

In the second part of the field report by our Baumeister Academy alumni Maximilian Graber, he reports on what to expect as a Mendrisio student at the Accademia.

In the second part of the field report by our Baumeister Academy alumni Maximilian Graber, he reports on what a Mendrisio student can expect at the Accademia.

Critiques with assistants and professors take place on a weekly basis. Guest critics are invited to the interim and final presentations. This means a constantly high level of stress in the design, which is further increased by the semester-long projects of the humanities or technical-scientific courses. Most students catch up on work at the weekend that they don’t have time for during the week. Studying at the Accademia di Architettura is intensive in every respect. There is only one subject from morning to night: architecture. And if you’re not talking about your own project, you’re trying to help your colleagues come up with ideas. Sixty of the approximately seven hundred students call the Casa dell’Accademia, not far from the academy, their home. The community lives in two three-storey blocks of flats opposite each other in complete transparency, not just with each other but literally towards each other. This creates an unmistakable sense of community that enriches life together, especially in summer.

“Mendrisio students are even well-known among laser companies in the Italian hinterland.”

Model making is very important at the academy in the truest sense of the word. Despite limited technical resources, the students manage to create impressive models in all scales and materials every semester. Although the academy’s workshop is well equipped with its own plaster and concrete room, paint room, wood workshop, styro and laser cutters, it is more than busy at peak times. As a result, the condition of some machines during the semester leaves a lot to be desired. Appointments for the two laser cutters can be booked online and are limited to two hours per week for each student (10.00 – 18.00). Mendrisio students are therefore even known to laser companies in the Italian hinterland. However, there is a concrete mixer and appropriate equipment for casting models in the “Sala Gesso”. This opens its doors with the same booking principle, but is permanently accessible during the final handover. Students from the Aires Mateus, Holtrop and Miller studios are the main crowd here. Once the concrete has hardened, the students transport the small masterpieces to their studios using lift trucks. Once there, the workrooms are transformed from a mountain of rubble and cardboard into a magnificent architectural exhibition within a single night. For four weeks, professors, assistants, students and their families, as well as numerous visitors, can marvel at the models.

“The Academy is the engine of Mendrisio: it runs like an Italian Vespa after a general overhaul.”

After a year, I can now say that the Academy is the engine of Mendrisio. However, it doesn’t run like Swiss clockwork, but rather like an Italian Vespa after a general overhaul: well lubricated with the occasional misfire. In the same way, the university has its own quirks, its own life. But over the years, the students have developed some methods of escaping the daily hamster wheel of work, pizza and pasta and leaving the microcosm of Mendrisio behind them – at least mentally. The best way to do this is with a trip to Milan, a short trip into nature or one of the countless parties in and around the university campus. However, Mendrisio has incredible potential at an academic level. The level of achievement among the students is high, as is their motivation. Although there is a sense of competition, it becomes secondary thanks to open exchange and lively discussions. Architecture at the Accademia di Architettura Mendrisio is therefore not just a course of study, but a living passion.

Click here for the first part of the Mendrisio experience report…