New Kohlenhof Nuremberg - redevelopment of an inner-city railway-site

Relations

The urban design of the new district is inspired by the available structures of the Gostenhof quarter, the storage buildings and railway facilities of the the Kohlenhof area and the container station. We believe the development of a new urban district is a big possibility for its surroundings which should be taken in account in the development. This way it is possible to achieve a planning process that improves the area as a whole.

The strategic design

is the result of a thorough analysis of problems and qualities of the surroundings of the new district.

The result is functionally and spatially related to its environment. That means we do not only design a nice and liveable neighbourhood but try to improve the surrounding quarters with green spaces and educational and cultural facilities.

Design-wise, the block type structure of the early 19th century is the urban scale for a new development of the quarter. The six built up areas of the new Kohlenhof district can be developed independently and flexibly. Open urban spaces such as squares, avenues and parks serve as linking elements.

The city “continued” at the interface between the railway-tracksand the early 19th century quarter.  The edges of the new blocks are aligned with the old ones in the Gostenhof. A new urban edge is developed facing the surrounding open spaces. It forms a clearly readable and tangible boundary

between city and railway-landscape.

Facing the railway spaces are lineal buildings protecting the interior of the quarter against the noise, whereas the pedestrian connections and priority of non-motorised traffic within the  neighbourhood give the district a high permeability in East-West direction. 

In order to make it a high-quality living environment we intended to include a high percentage of green and achieved a total of about 2.6 ha.

The Park in the west of the area merges into a green belt which leads to the cultural district of this part of Nürnberg. The old storage buildings between the Gostenhof- district, and the railway spaces invite to continue this cultural activity towards the new neighbourhood with its educational facilities at the entrance. The large green spaces improve not only the planning-site but also the liveability of the surrounding districts.