In line with the basic orientation of the carbon manufacturer, all three designs provide for the close interconnection of high-tech, nature and residential. 3C-CEOKarsten Jerschke had already placed great emphasis on this when explaining the brief before the jury meeting. The aim of the development on the site of the former Lechrainkaserne barracks, he said, was to “make the outstanding landforms liveable for people, without disrupting the ecological balance.” In the north of the site, the company aims to construct a sustainable residential district with various types of buildings and floor plans, and ultimately to see a holistic campus develop with complementary infrastructure in the transitional area between the industrial buildings and the residential district.
Nineteen entries that tackled this exciting task were submitted (anonymously), and the local jury set about examining them intensely. The panel under the leadership of Nuremburg city planner Prof. Matthias Loebermann consisted of several specialist adjudicators - among them municipal architect Birgit Weber, Karsten Jerschke and Mayor Mathias Neuner as well as council members Berthold Lesch, Hans-Jürgen Schulmeister and Dr. Andreas Hartmann.
In an “open and friendly high-level discussion” lasting almost seven hours, after several closing rounds the jury decided on three concepts:
“A CLEARING IN THE WOODS”. As the title of the project suggests, a “clearing in the woods” is to be created. The design provides for a strictly circular form for the residential quarter with various building types and additional facilities for residents. The ring is intersected by two streets, but the site is otherwise car-free, with space for parking entirely underground.
The jury praised the fact that the design has been “kept to a minimum” and allows “plenty of room for nature and landscape”. The unique atmosphere can contribute to the feeling of community among residents, they believe. The jury members see a handicap, however, in the lack of possibilities for expansion and the limited development options; in addition, they believe the commercial viability of this solution is “questionable”.
“FOREST FIRST”. The design provides for four zones in the area: forest settlement, common area, industrial park and energy park. In the residential quarter, the plan provides for differentiated construction (of both apartments and individual homes), whilst the common area should function as a connective element between the residential area and the company complex (which is given organic roofs) as well as a space for the communal facilities and for the renaturation and expansion of the Wiesbach river.
With “Forest First”, the energy park, communal gardens and sports facilities are located to the west, whilst an adventure park completes the area to the south.
The jury was impressed by the transport connections by rail and B17, and rated the concept highly thanks to its overall “logical and nature-oriented allocation of the various purposes.”
LIVING WITH(IN) NATURE. The design was particularly interesting for the way it took a “classic” industrial site and incorporated alleys, pathways, squares and semi-public and semi-private spaces. This “intermediary” zone serves as a filter between living and working. The new settlement is complemented by reforestation efforts and offers an open pathway structure that is adapted to the various target groups on the site.
The work shows a unique interpretation of a company housing development, according to the jury’s report, and also lives up to its social responsibility. The panel did see a lack of detail on environmental standards and energy networks, however. The “appealing suggestion” to arrange the production spaces architecturally to the north was, they believed, “not possible” due to the production processes.
