LGS Offenburg 2032
Symbiosis is the keyword that describes the character and atmosphere of the future Kinzigpark. Symbiosis refers to the harmonious coexistence of heterogeneous elements that interact with each other and thus form a new kind of whole, a kind of shared ecosystem.
It is our response to the complexity of today's urban, social, and climatic requirements and an effective strategy for making the city of Offenburg fit for the challenges of the future. The aim is to enable the residents of Offenburg and visitors to enjoy an intense experience of nature in the middle of the city.
The network-like park layout creates a variety of interfaces with the immediate surroundings. With the relocation of the Offenburg soccer club to the newly emerging Sportpark Süd, there is a unique opportunity to transform the club's sports grounds, currently perceived as a disruptive barrier in the urban space, into an important link between the city and the countryside, in line with its significance as a central building block in the urban fabric.
A hierarchical network of main paths made of light-colored asphalt with gravel, connecting the Kinzig River and the university campus, and a delicate network of secondary paths made of gravel, provides orientation and brings the sub-areas together into a clearly legible park layout. The path network diffuses into the adjacent urban spaces and forms a strong open space bracket from the city center to the remote river courses of the Kinzig, Mühlkanal, and Räderbach.
The park is a central component of Offenburg's overall urban strategy to meet the future challenges of climate-resilient urban redevelopment. A diverse park relief supports the zoning and connects to the flood protection dam to the west. The micro-relief supports ecological diversity through a dense patchwork of different landscape typologies, while also enabling temporary retention areas for rainwater, especially during heavy rainfall events. The changing seasons are thus reflected in the changing appearance of the park landscape, with transitions from dry to wet. The small-scale biodiversity creates attractive retreats and food sources for native fauna such as birds, amphibians, and insects, but also serves as a stopover for migratory birds.
