oldenburg | 7th - 21th july 2012

GROUPWORK 6: Jacopo Costanzo | Burcu Ölçer | Nicolas Malbet | Samo Vovk

intermediate presentation

final presentation

"BACK TO THE FUTURE" minute, by Josep-Maria Garcia-Fuentes

The project “back to the future” proposes a clear grid structure carefully related to the existent city fabric. It is a strong and rigid grid that defines the paths and streets of the new proposed area. And the dimension of the grid, aligned along Ammerländer Heerstrasse, is higher than the residential fabric of the immediate surrounding, what gives the proposal a powerful character. The project is then organized according to this new grid. Then, three important buildings are situated strategically on it trying to define a new suburban centrality. One of these new buildings is a new train station placed in the middle of the project area, over the Ammerländer Heerstrasse. In addition to this one, two new buildings are situated on both sides of this new train station, occupying the site of the two big existent warehouses –that are demolished. They are two singular public equipment: a University building and a students residence. And finally the urban structure proposed is completed with a high tower placed close to the train station and used for contemplating the new area and the whole city of Oldenburg and its modern growth.

In addition to this strong urban structure, the team of students who worked on the proposal used the project to launch a discussion on the kind of architecture needed for the area. Drawing in some historical references and discourses, they decided to create a very controversial new architecture of strong and pure volumes, in opposition to that of the surrounding areas. The aim was to create a new landmark area of iconic architecture for the city of Oldenburg. And in doing so, the group of students defined a very architectural approach in parallel to the urban discussion, and reached to move the discussion of the students and the jury into architecture.

The jury considered the project really interesting specially because of the potential of the proposed urban structure and its radial character. However, the project generated a controversial discussion on architecture and its social implications due to the strong, hard and disconnected architecture used to design the main buildings.