wbg Nürnberg GmbH Immobilienunternehmen has announced a non-open urban development ideas competition with the theme “Climate-friendly living and working in the Sandäcker district in Nuremberg-Gebersdorf”.
This was preceded by comprehensive internal administrative briefing and digital public participation as well as consultation with the citizens’ association Bürgerverein Gebersdorf e. V., the results of which were incorporated into the competition announcement.
The subject of the competition was an urban design with an in-depth section for a climate-friendly district centre on Diebacher Straße in connection with the Gebersdorf underground station on line 3, which is currently under construction. The district centre includes general service, local supply and residential functions as well as social infrastructure facilities at the interface between the underground station and the adjacent districts.
A total of 12 renowned architectural firms were invited to participate in the competition, 10 of which took part. The jury, which was chaired by Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Marc-Philip Reichwald, architect and urban planner (Berlin, Regensburg), unanimously selected Schellenberg und Bäumler Architekten GmbH, Dresden, in cooperation with studio grüngrau Landschaftsarchitekten GmbH, Düsseldorf, as the winner of the competition. The following is an excerpt of the jury’s explanation of its decision:
The prototypical design implements a greened, high-density urban approach with a high level of quality. The trick of dividing the northern area into three similar blocks and then bundling the structures of the underground railway with the central park while creating a cleverly placed focal point in the south with the nursing home also succeeds thanks to the underground car park, which frees up the space otherwise required for an above-ground multi-storey car park. The height profiles are cleverly thought out and satisfy the city’s wish for architectural diversity in its urban development. The structure provides for an exciting design for the residential environment, while the building structures provide good layouts for flats.
The openness of the inner courtyards, which allows good spatial utilisation, contributes to the overall concept and should be preserved. The area in front of the discounter and the underground is of an appropriate size and can also become a pleasant transition from the central park to the transfer point on Gebersdorfer Strasse.
The diverse internal passageways are assessed positively, and the diverse design of the square structures is also seen as a positive goal. The “sponge city” theme is given wide scope. Adjustments to the concept will make it possible for the design to reflect its model character in terms of sustainability and urban water management. The ideas regarding the energy concept may act as a first step towards the design’s implementation.
“With the result of the competition, we have advanced a great deal closer to our goal. Now it will be the task of all those involved to further develop this result in close coordination with urban planning and the public. We will then submit a corresponding resolution proposal to the city council in due course. Our special thanks go to the representatives of the citizens’ association Bürgerverein Gebersdorf e. V. for their participation in the process”, says wbg Managing Director Ralf Schekira.
“The result of the competition is oriented towards the goals of the European city, so I am pleased that we have received such a good design for this important urban development location”, explains City Councillor for Planning and Building Daniel F. Ulrich after the competition decision.
The competition is funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Housing, Construction and Transport in cooperation with the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection as part of the experimental housing model project “Climate Adaptation in Housing”.
The submitted works will be presented on the website of wbg Nürnberg GmbH Immobilienunternehmen starting on 1 February 2022. https://wbg.nuernberg.de/bauprojekte/wettbewerbe/sandaeckerquartier/
