The competition to redesign Potsdam’s Havel riverbank promenade in the Alte Fahrt area was won by the Berlin office sinai with a concept for two squares connected by a promenade along the Havel. A mooring for boats and a large staircase will characterize Otto-Braun-Platz on the waterfront in the future.
The state capital of Potsdam launched a design competition for the redesign of the Havel riverbank promenade in the area of Alte Fahrt (redesign of the riverbank promenade, Otto-Braun-Platz and the “area by the pergola” on Brauerstrasse). The quarter in the center of Potsdam is to develop into an attractive residential, office and cultural location with appealing, versatile public open spaces thanks to the development currently underway on Alte Fahrt and a small-scale inner development. The aim of the competition was to create a promenade, a square and a green space on the Havel with a high quality of stay that would strengthen the importance of Alte Fahrt for Potsdam’s city center.
The Berlin office sinai came out on top with the concept “Zwiegespräche am Fluss”. Their design envisages a town square in the west and a garden square in the east. On Otto-Braun-Platz (town square), which benefits from its location next to the city palace and the Havel river, sinai are reshaping the tree slice of the space-defining old chestnut tree with granite stones at seating height. The square is being resurfaced with Bernburg mosaic paving, while large granite slabs typical of the area structure the edge of the square and the walkways. Three steps overcome the difference in height to the Long Bridge.
A large staircase connects the higher Otto-Braun-Platz with the promenade by the water. This consists of small cobblestones in a pavement pattern. The edge to the banks of the Havel is formed by granite cobblestones, which are also suitable for sitting on. On the water side, Corten steel covers the sheet pile wall down to mid-water level. A stepped landing stage, which cuts into the square, allows boats to be moored.
The “area by the pergola” at the eastern end of the promenade (Brauerplatz) is designed by sinai as a garden square with the same small stone paving. Loosely arranged groups of Koelreutheria paniculata trees and a sloping lawn level towards the Havel characterize the space. In this way, sinai also open up the view across the water to Freundschaftsinsel. Densely planted Ilex crenata pruned into “clouds” grow in the tree grates.
With the use of Schinkel luminaires at the edges of the square and streets, the Berlin landscape architects are following the guidelines for the “Alter Markt” urban space. Stele lights along the promenade illuminate the façades from the base of the buildings.
Potsdam
Design concept for the Havel riverbank promenade on the Alte Fahrt
Restricted design competition
Awarded by: City of Potsdam
Decision: June 12
1st prize: sinai, Berlin
2nd prize: Atelier Loidl Landschaftsarchitekten, Berlin/Solingen
3rd prize: bbz landschaftsarchitekten, Berlin/Freiburg/Bern
