oldenburg | 7th - 21th july 2012

GROUPWORK 5: Laura Caponi | Mafalda Marques | David Jo Carbonell | Tomaz Cirkvencic

intermediate presentation

final presentation

"INTERACTING MOVEMENTS, ATTRACTIONS AND FILTERS" minute, by S. W. Pollock

On an isolated site west of the city center in Oldenburg, this concept reevaluates the otherwise bleak and isolated remnants of the cities regional urban development. It offers a tactfully inserted large scale connective infrastructure concentrating on the fundamental necessity of neighborhood connectivity and pedestrian accessibility.

By proposing connected pedestrian movements via ramps on a raised public plane, the project unites a vast expanse of land, transforming it into quarters, sectors and intimate spaces. This horizontal planar frame creates a unique urban experience that accepts the divisions created by poor zoning, street planning, and transportation infrastructure dividing the neighborhood, yet "lifts" its users above this quagmire to a level amongst and above the crowns of the existing and planned trees. Through recognition, response and interaction with preexisting conditions the concept highlights a local quality of greenery and creates a contemporary quality worth experiencing.

The perforation of this raised pedestal allows built volumes to complement the composition. These injunctions offer points of interest with the potential to support the overall concept containing a proposed library, mixed use developments and train station. Though the massing of these structures needs to be reassessed due to its scale and overshadowing of the existing urban fabric, the placement of the functions and spaces and correspondence to the proposed park areas, contains promise and potential both above and below the horizontal pedestrian planes.

Restrictive elements of the site - the boulevards and elevated highway - are further delineated by an existing rail line. The development takes its cue from this complicated situation by concentrating spaces and pedestrian activity around an integrated train station. Interaction between the covered interstitial spaces and adjacent designed landscape elements create countless opportunities for filtering the mundane daily routines of travel and circulation from relaxation and recreation. The generous spaces can become a hub in the neighborhood for everything from open-air festivals, installations of sculpture, university soccer matches and winter ice skating rinks, to open green spaces for grilling out and playing sports on a warm summer evening. The opportunities are endless and consistent with the mixed use design principle suggested for the projects built volumes. It delivers flexible space and spaces inviting the local users, neighborhood and city to create their own sense of identity and place.

The images presented by this team are a compelling picture of how a train station and an unconventional approach to urban development can act as a fulcrum in establishing neighborhood connectivity, pedestrian accessibility and growth in this part of Oldenburg.