| Beschreibung |
Luckenwalde, located about 60 kilometres south of Berlin and directly linked to the capital by rail, is representative of many medium-sized East German towns undergoing transformation. The town combines the heritage of a rich industrial past with the traces of structural upheaval that followed reunification–visible in the ciy centre through vacant properties–yet it also retains the qualities of a medium-sized town. Urbanity and rurality meet here, making it possible to enjoy urban living while stayng close to nature. Although linked to the Berlin metropolitan area, Luckenwalde has not yet realised its full potential. What might climate-friendly, socially just and future-oriented urban development look like here? How can forward-looking and sustainable living, working and mobility concepts be designed within regionally connected social spaces and how can the potential of landscape and open space-related living be developed? Especially against the backdrop of exploding rents in large cities and the effects of the climate crisis, life in medium-sized towns could once again become increasingly attractive. The challenges of the post-industrial urban structure are particularly visible in the inner-city quarter “Karree”, located between the city centre, the train station and the “Nuthe” landscape park: industrial wastelands, ruinous building structures and contaminated sites speak of Luckenwald's economic heyday as a major hub of the textile industry–here the ruptures are tangible. The district is undergoing redevelopment while also offering space for future visions of a climate-resilient, green, pedestrianised and socially and functionally mixed city. The “Karree” is a patchwork of building structures from different urban eras, with little connection between them. Derelict (industrial) buildings and ruinous structures stand alongside Wilhelminian-style buildings, detached houses on commercial sites or new buildings from the 1990s. Numerous gaps between buildings, unused plots, vacant buildings or building structures in need of renovation–combined with a lack of public open spaces and poor accessibility – highlight the need for reorganisation. The district’s open spaces are mostly unorganised semi-public or private open spaces, resulting in a shortage of public meeting places, quality of stay, accessibility and networking. There are also too few high-quality links between the “Karrees” and the surrounding neighborhoods or the Nuthe landscape park. Looking at Luckenwald through the lens of open space planning, we are seeking urban and open space planning concepts that address the challenges of climate change, heat stress, sealing and inadequate rainwater management, while also promoting social balance. The challenge is to organise this complex mix of structures, preserve existing qualities and strengthen and reconnect them with new impulses. The aim is to create a lively, mixed-use quarter where living, working, education and leisure coexist in the neighbourhood. The train station, as both an infrastructural hub and entrance to the city, plays a fundamental role in this transformation. Its rail connection makes Luckenwalde part of the Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan region and strengthens its ties to the capital. The newly built library, the redesign of the boulevard, the conversion of the E-Werk and the participation as a model city for the Fuss e.V. project “Besseres Klima in Kommunen geht gut” (‘Better climate in municipalities works well’) are providing impetus for a new urban orientation. More attention could be given to the connection between the train station and the city centre: with barrier-free, pedestrian-friendly streetscapes, clear pathways and a restructuring of the traffic area. Upgrading the key public spaces is an essential part of socially and ecologically sustainable urban development. By improving both functionality and design quality, and by strengthening connections with adjacent neighborhoods, the “Karree” can fulfil its connecting role within the urban structure. We ask: How can today’s gaps and sub-areas be transformed into a coherent neighbourhood with a socially and ecologically viable future? How can fractures and voids be put to productive use? And how can the transformation of the “square” create a model for the medium-sized city of tomorrow? The open space planning and urban design will be developed within the framework of the AIV-Schinkel Competition 2025/26. |
