The two-phase urban design qualification procedure for the Oskar-Jäger-Straße site south of the Low Line in Cologne has concluded. Chaired by Professor Kraemer, the advisory committee awarded first prize to the design submitted by ASTOC ARCHITECTS AND PLANNERS GmbH in partnership with GREENBOX Landschaftsarchitekten. The planning area is situated in the west of Cologne at the transition between the Ehrenfeld and Lindenthal districts.
The project developers are a joint venture between DIE WOHNKOMPANIE NRW and Art-Invest Real Estate. The partners intend to develop the roughly 3.5-hectare site into a mixed-use neighbourhood. The master plan provides for around 450 homes and approximately 15,000 square metres of commercial space, positioned along the future Low Line green and pedestrian corridor.
Five sections and extensive unsealing
The winning design structures the various structural uses into five sections. The panel particularly highlighted the clear spatial layout as well as the synthesis of housing, commercial space, mobility and landscape design qualities. The previously hard-to-reach site will be opened up through new pathway networks and closely integrated into the existing urban fabric. A park will be created along the former railway line, extensively unsealing ground that was previously heavily built upon.
The competition procedure was conducted by the two project developers in coordination with the City of Cologne. A total of seven interdisciplinary teams of urban planners and landscape architects submitted proposals. Four consortiums advanced to the second phase, refining their concepts based on recommendations from the expert panel and feedback from a public information session before the final decision was taken on 13 October.
Basis for the development plan procedure
According to the project stakeholders, the outcome marks an important milestone for urban development in western Cologne. Andree Haack, Councillor for Urban Development, Economy, Planning and Construction for the City of Cologne, pointed to the urgently required housing as well as the significance of ground unsealing for the initial section of the Low Line. Katrin Eming, Managing Director of WOHNKOMPANIE NRW, announced that the design would now serve as the foundation for the upcoming binding development plan procedure. Arne Hilbert, Managing Director at Art-Invest Real Estate, highlighted the added value of the modern commercial spaces for the local labour market.
- —Site: Around 3.5 hectares on Oskar-Jäger-Straße in Cologne-Ehrenfeld
- —Housing: Approximately 450 residential units planned
- —Commercial: Around 15,000 square metres of commercial space for service providers and enterprises
- —Open space: Connection to the future Low Line green and pedestrian corridor
