2nd prize, 2005, competition related to the German Federal Garden Show (BUGA)
with Andreas Dittrich and Felix Lüdicke
The Lenbach Square constitues an important element of Munich's Altstadtring, the circular raod around the historic centre.
However, today this space is disturbed and split into fragments by elements of infrastructure and traffic.
What remains are hardly comprehensible traces of space - and the question "is there still a square?"
The project carves out spaces of quality on the square. It redefines them by changing perception, offering new impressions to pedestrians.
The concept follows the idea of reducing disurbing effects from enclaved spaces in order to change the experience they offer.
Thereby the projects integrates the BUGA's leitmotif for changing views not only on public space, but also on the work of the landscape architect.
Using mobile walls, plants, and most of all the pink color concept of BUGA 2005, parts of spaces are seperated from the square, and transformed into small spacial entities with real entrances. The lost qualities are carved out and put back into place like this. Again, areas around the fountain of Maximilian, around the tram stopp, and on grass invite the pedestrian to dwell and linger.
Convertible Aquatics Centre for the 2012 Olympic Summer Games
Ideas competition, 2004
with Andreas Pippig
Within the existing master plan for the olympic sport facilities, a new location was found for the aquatics centre
on the shores of a flood basin in the centre of Leipzig.
Right from the start there was a big emphasis on the much longer post-olympic use. After the games the stadium should serve as a swimming bath, combined with spa and wellness areas, and should host only minor sport events.
To be up to this challange, the aquatics centre feature a convertible hull. During the Olympic Games, the hull opens on the entrance levels and guides the spectators into the stadium to their seats.
After the games, parts of the stands and seats will be removed, and the training pools will be transformed into baths and spa.
A spatial sequence is created, leading the visitor from the entrance level to the locker rooms, then to the main pool, and through the spa to the sunbathing area outside the stadium, next to the flood basin.
The hull will be opened parallel to this sequence, thus enhancing this spatial qualitiy, and transform the stadium into an open air swimming bath.
Like this, the hull gurantees perfect conditions for the games, as well as an attractive post olympic use..
The construction spans aprox. 100m and consists of pairs of trussed beams, which underline the movement
of the visitor from the land side to the water side of the stadium.
Its form and shape do not distinguish between wall and roof, the view out of the opened hull is not disturbed by such elements.
The convertible elements a huge pneu pillows, filled with air. To open the hull, they are emptied, and the pillows are moved and stored inside the hull.
Revitalisation former Waal Harbor, Rotterdam
groupE contest "finding the urban condition" 2002
with Thomas Popp
The harbor of Rotterdam is one of Europe's most important harbors, and under constant change since 1990.
Most of all along the river "New Maas", old harbor areas have been redesigned for new purposes, such as the new Kop van Zuid,
where residences and offices find there place next to the waterfront.
In the project, a new urban structure was designed for the old Waal Harbor, that goes a step further and creates a close relation
between the element of water, and the residents. The ever changing low and high of the waters define public and privates spaces new with the tide.
The new structures are supported by offices, comercial areas and an oceanic institute, connecting to the history of the site.
The project covers five different harbor piers, each of them puts the concept of living to a different relation with the water (tide aprox. 2m):
From the perception of water as a border or barrier up to water as a private space everything is offered to dwellers.
While the residental structures incorporate the differnt themes of water, the central areas of the piers offer traffic infrastructure, business, commerce and education.
Along the northern side of the displayed pier, the structures form yards. Some are gardens, some have a sand covered slope and form small beaches.
On the southern side, a terraced structure offers views on the harbor basin, with private spaces floating on the water.
All spaces change with the tide, some constantly and slow, others abrupt and suddenly, depending on the geometry of the waterfront.
The new urban condition is spatial change through the tide.
