Holstenfleet - Kleiner Kiel Kanal

Project

297373

Status

Submitted

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NEW EUROPEAN BAUHAUS AWARDS: existing completed examples

Project title

Holstenfleet - Kleiner Kiel Kanal

Full project title

Description

The City of Kiel wants to make its inner city more attractive. Therefore a
former busy street is transformed into an urban space which connects
through several water planes to the fjord. Planning was accompanied by
intensive citizen’s participation. The new space attracts people, has high
amenity and offers a nice sojourn, improves the microclimate and helps
cleaning the water. The course of the project recurs to a former moat
around the city core, thus strengthening the identity of the place.

What was the geographical scope of your project?

Does your project address mainly urban or rural issues?

Does your project refer to a physical transformation of the built environment or other types of transformations?

Has your project benefited from EU programmes or funds?

Has your project won an EU prize?

Your project is fully completed?

When was your project implemented?

How did you hear about the New European Bauhaus Prizes ?

On whose behalf are you submitting the application?

Please provide a summary of your project

The City of Kiel wants to make its inner city more attractive by several
urbanistic projects near the core of the old city. The redesign of the Holsten
Bridge and its surroundings is a key project for the strengthening of public
space. The former heavily frequented street was transformed into an urban
inner city square with high sojourn value. The former moat around the old
town became a new waterfront situation in the inner city of Kiel, called
“Kleiner Kiel-Kanal” (little Kiel Canal). Together with the existing “Kleiner
Kiel” and the boat harbour he forms a string of water basins which connects
the inner city to the Kiel fjord. The water elements relate to each other by
sight axes, material and interweaving uses. Comfort zones for pedestrians
trace the main movement lines and areas of sojourn near the water line. The
water is cleaned through a soil filter two meters wide and planted with
reeds. Thereby the costs for maintenance are reduced. The reed filter also
secures water quality and is effective as an evaporation surface for
bettering the micro climate in the inner city of Kiel. The traffic surfaces for
the tram (in planning), buses, bicycles and pedestrians are interpreted as
one big square surface whereon low key markings give orientation.

Please indicate the main themes of your project with 5 key words

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of sustainability (including circularity) and how these have been met.
Please highlight how the project can be exemplary in this context

Main objectives are: bettering the micro climate and air quality, improving
water quality, reducing noise.

The water is cleaned through a soil filter two meters wide and planted with
reeds. Thereby the costs for maintenance are reduced. The reed filter also
secures water quality. Additional measures for cleaning water added in case
of sinking water levels are provided. The water is in constant cleaning
circulation.
Furthermore the water surfaces are effective as an evaporation surface for
cooling the air in heat periods and bettering the micro climate in the inner
city of Kiel. By reducing motorized individual traffic CO² emissions are
reduced as well as other noxious substances emitted by motor vehicles.
Noise is lessened too.
Also more plants are introduced in the project zone thus providing futhrt
amenities.

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience beyond functionality and how these have been met.
Please highlight how the project can be exemplary in this context

The project aims at creating a relaxed and attractive atmosphere where
people like to dwell, unique to the city of Kiel.
Instead of busy streets, squares with an interesting surface, many green
elements and attractive street “furniture” are provided. The stripes in the
pavement make for a lively and structured surface. Where pavement was
not possible because of bus traffic the asphalt was coated with special
materials to make the surface appearance uniform. Rounded jutties, like a
sort of balcony, are projected into the water spaces and offer the possibility
to stay very close to the water, perhaps even to put your feet into the water.
These “islands” offer also associations to geological elements from the ice
age, like erratic boulders.
With the introduction of water basins into the space attractive and calming
elements are created. Many waterfronts with different kinds of seating
elements offer an agreeable sojourn. Buildings materials like wood and
naturals stones create a warm atmosphere. Also they are reminders of the
maritime environment. Islands of many plants, flowers and grass, and trees
also contribute to a relaxed ambience and offer further aesthetic
experiences.
Remnants of the city’s history are traced by tree lines and lighting along the
stairs at the waterfronts, showing were the border between the old city and
subsequently built up areas was. This promotes also a stronger sense of
identity and distinctiveness of the site by making it un-interchangeable.

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of inclusion (equal opportunities, public participation, citizen engagement, co-design, universal design, accessibility, affordability, etc.) and how these have been met.
Please highlight how the project can be exemplary in this context

The planning process was accompanied by an intensive participatory
process. After the first design there were several assemblies, exhibition and
discussion in a market place, discussions and art projects in schools and
discussions with stake holders around the site. There were some concerns
about the project, especially about reducing individual motor traffic and also
costs. These could be dispelled by a well thought out concept for public
transport. Also the project was subsidized to a considerable degree by the
federal ministry of building and the federal state.
Also people wanted more green elements, less straight edges and more
organic forms. Lighting was also wished for. Better quality cafés and
restaurants were another demand. The design was influenced by all this as
far as possible and changed accordingly. Meanwhile public approval is
strong. The process and all the wishes are documented:
https://kiel.de/de/kiel_zukunft/kiel_plant_baut/innenstadt/_kleiner_kiel_kanal/_dokumente_kleiner_kiel_kanal/kleiner_kiel_kanal_dokumentation_2015.pdf
Barrier free access was another important issue. The whole square can now
be crossed without steps.

Please explain how these three dimensions have been combined in your project.
Please highlight how this approach can be exemplary

The planning and building process was in constant teamwork with other
disciplines, engineers for water, traffic and support structure planning, light
planners and architects. In addition, there was a constant public exchange and
an intensive discussion with all interest groups and all administrative departments involved.

Through the intensive participation of all specialist disciplines and interest groups,
a consistent result was achieved that takes all requirements and needs into account.

Please give information on the results/impacts achieved by your project in relation to the category you apply for

Reinvented places to meet and share:
The site was changed completely from traffic use to a multifunctional square
and water zone. After traffic was significantly reduced the amenity value
rose considerably. Many opportunities for sitting on benches, steps and
artificial stones were created and immediately accepted. A relaxed
atmosphere allows for people to sit, stroll on the waterfront or visit
neighbouring cafés which came along with the new site. Informal meetings
are possible; perception of others in public space is much heightened.
Groups of people can come together, by purpose or through happenstance.
The site was truly newly invented but with recourse to its history.

Please explain how citizens and civil society were involved in the in the design and/or implementation of the project.
Please also explain the benefits that derived from their involvement.

The citizens benefitted by a vastly improved public space and better
environmental conditions. Higher amenity values and a relaxed atmosphere
enrich the city life considerably. Also the sense of history and the readability
of historic traces were improved, thus furthering the identification of people
with their city.
As described before, the planning process was accompanied by an intensive
participatory process. After the first design there were several assemblies,
exhibition and discussion in a market place, discussions and art projects in
schools and discussions with stake holders around the site. There were
some concerns about the project, especially about reducing individual motor
traffic and also costs. These could be dispelled by a well thought out
concept for public transport. Also the project was subsidized to a
considerable degree by the federal ministry of building and the federal state.
Also people wanted more green elements, less straight edges and more
organic forms. Lighting was also wished for. Better quality cafés and
restaurants were another demand. The design was influenced by all this as
far as possible and changed accordingly. Meanwhile public approval is
strong.
The neighbouring enterprises were encouraged by the new public space to
invest in their buildings and their enterprises. High quality restaurants,
hotels and retail shops developed. The impulse by the new high quality
public space is estimated by the city to have generated private investment
up to 100 Mill. €. This in course betters the tax revenue and employment
chances in the city.

Please explain what kind of global challenges the project addressed by providing local solutions

The new designed "Holstenfleet" works as an air-corridor between the "Kleiner Kiel" and the "Förde" - furthermore the water surfaces are effective as an evaporation surface for
cooling the air in heat periods and bettering the micro climate in the inner city of Kiel aswell as the the new planted trees giving shadow ans the light surfaces reflecting sunlight.
By reducing motorized individual traffic CO² emissions are reduced as well as other noxious substances emitted by motor vehicles. In order to the reducing of traffic and traffic speed noise is lessened too, pedestrians have priority.
The new designed square can now be crossed without steps, barrier free acces of all areas is possible.
By increasing the attractiveness of the city center, many investments were initiated in the immediate vicinity and the city center was thus greatly upgraded and revitalized in terms of economy and design.

Please highlight the innovative character of the project as compared to mainstream practices in the field of the project.

Innovation was taking place through the participatory planning process as
well as interdisciplinary working process. Thereby new ways of cleaning
water were installed. Also relatively new is the successful implementation of
shared space in Germany.
Furthermore the reference to history translated into truly modern aesthetics
is remarkable.

Please explain to the potential of transferring the projects’ results or learnings to other interested parties and contexts.
Please provide clear documentation, communication of methodology and principles in this context.

It shows that public participation can swing the mood of citizens
considerably when well founded arguments and good schemes are
presented. It also shows that such a process can improve a project when
demands are translated in a creative way by the planners.
One can also learn that high quality surroundings – place making – can lead
to high quality investments by private business, and the public investment is
more than returned.
It is also shown that high quality design can heighten the sense of identity.
Old history in a new guise is possible; one doesn’t need to recur to pseudohistoric
imitations.

Is an evaluation report or any relevant documentation available?

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