oldenburg | 7th - 21th july 2012

The task of this workshop is to look at a part of “Das Wissenschaftsband” (“the ribbon of science”) as one of four “Impuls Quartiere” (“quarters of impulse”) being planned for “Die Übermorgenstadt” (“the city of tomorrow”). In the context of this SMANFUL-Intensive-Project there are three starting points relevant to a realistic planning situation: The existence of a very large abandoned area of former agricultural and industrial uses available for potential developments and almost entirely in public ownership, the plan to incorporate a train station for the university in this area, and a decision made by the Carl von Ossietzky University, to integrate its dispersed locations into a more compact, perceivable and designed public space.

Main points and guide lines of particular significance should be discussed, and lead to an individual approach for this workshop:

• How to define the impact of architecture as a physical artefact on urban development on the way from sub-urbanity to urbaneness?
• How to change from mono-functional schemes like the “Technologie - und G ründerzentrum -TGO” close to our site, or the “Fleiwa - Service- Center Industriestraße” in Oldenburg, into a multifunctional and vivacious new part of the city directed toward new needs of the society?
• How to react to the challenge concerning the creation of an extension of the historical centres urban dynamic and structure along the historical axis to the west, and in particular into the perimeter of the city?
• How to articulate an appropriate coexistence of structures with older housing stocks and new patterns of modernity?
• How to balance out the clash of the old and the new, physically and socially?
• How to position yourself between the approach of adaption or the approach of self-reliance and autonomy, by starting an alien “U f o of U t o p i a” - just a place of intellectual, cultural and creative mobility, a place of provocation and progress, with mental flashpoint qualities, a place of a third status with unique characteristics. And of course a place for established demands with emphasis on mixed uses, with urbanity, multiplicity and of spatial and remaining qualities.

Mobility and change are variables that influence the way we choose to lead our daily lives. Until the beginnings of the Industrial R evolution, the combined role of the region and abilities of individuals to choose the way they lived their daily lives were often confined, limited, and most often “de-accelerated”.

The ensuing change and dynamic of the industrial revolution had considerable affect on the individual and society and marked the decline of a formerly stable - and in many cases - more coherent era. Individuality, plurality, and momentum replaced the ideals of a collective social coherence and with it influenced the nature of European cities, and as a result the concept of unity in diversity - defined by common social conventions - has become obsolete. The dominating principles of our day and age are heterogeneity, exception, and variance. The opportunity for diversity, complexity, and sincerity within architectural environments directly opposes this loss of cohesion.

Architecture not only needs to take this paradigm adjustment into account, but react to the changes that have occurred to - and will continue to modify - the way we live. Terminology such as “multi-functionality”, “new forms of living”, “integration”, “density”, “reassessing constraints”, and “divergence” may help us define a new approach, and perhaps a strategy for a new “hybrid-architecture”.

But “hybrid-architecture” - derived from mixed origins and systems - incorporates also a specific challenge to architects: the demand on creating “ensembles of great spatial relationship” with conceivable orientation, good identity, high legibility, clear expressiveness and “imageability” (Kevin Lynch)!

The project includes the reform of the urban zone and station environment.

Download the full task booklet HERE in pdf.