Alter Markt Magdeburg

Magdeburg’s Alter Markt, or Old Market, is a central component of the activation and further development of the historic city’s urban core. The Alte Rathaus, or Old City Hall, an architectural gem that presents the eastern front of the market square, marks the visual reference point. The market square, Bei der Hauptwache and Martin-Luther-Platz combine to endow the historic location with its underlying structure, each by way of its own character and specific function.

The aim of the submission is a design of a contemporary square that respects historical legacy with creative restraint while fostering a location for active urban life. The open space of the square allows for multifunctionality – for the weekly market or seasonal festivals. A fine-grained carpet of natural stone paving unites the different subspaces in an urban sequence of squares and creates an ensemble that can be experienced as a whole, with fountains and other water features as design accents. Tree canopies at the edges of the square establish spatial reference points and emphasise the areas of shade where visitors may repose. The squares remain free of through traffic. The types and arrangement of the furnishings at the outer edges of the square also serve as vehicle barriers as a safeguard against potential terror attacks. Radio-controlled individual modules can be lowered into the ground to regulate access.