The New Middle Gersthofen
The New Middle Gersthofen
Gersthofen
Since 2017
68.568 sqm
Commercial zone, trade, cinema, gastronomy, services, retirement homes, childcare centres, living, underground car park, space design
B.S. Project Development
In planning
Die Neue Mitte: a stroke of luck for Gersthofen
The centre of Gersthofen has an expressive name in the language of the citizens: for years it has been called the “hole” and is in the eyes of most people, a bothersome “eyesore”. On this 7,000 square metre piece of land between Augsburger and Schulstraße, a “new centre” will finally be created and join four city areas around the town hall in the manner of a four-leaf clover.
»The ‘hole’ is the ideal place for a vertical garden, which can become a new, attractive signature feature for the city.«
In 2019, Kehrbaum Architekten developed a concept that takes all circumstances into account equally:
The currently well-functioning town hall area with administration, politics and town hall, the Citycenter with its potential for expansion, the Stadtgarten, whose visitor numbers could be increased by shopping magnets, and the Balloon Museum, which could also considerably benefit from more life in the area.
Particularly when it comes to the topic of “going green”, imagination knows no limits – even when it comes to a viewing platform 20 metres above the city. With optional roof constructions, even weather-protected rooms are possible, with variable walls that can be used for events of all kinds.
»The façades of the residential buildings will have green balconies and loggias, allowing each resident to thus have their own private garden.«
The northern end of the building is a structure that is entirely at the service of its residents: with service providers on the ground floor and apartments suitable for senior citizens above, right at the heart of the lively hustle and bustle on the square in front of it. The old villa of the area is also “awakened with a kiss”. It will be integrated into a steel construction with a vertical garden, perhaps even built over, and can be openly accessed as a cultural café. Kiosks for fruit, vegetables or various specialities will enrich the offer in the new urban space. Just as greenery on and around the façades is an important part of the Kehrbaum concept, water is another theme. Fountains, watercourses and horizontal “water curtains” provide visual variety and – in summer – pleasant refreshment. All this brings a completely new, attractive atmosphere to the city.
The existing Stadtgarten will become an ideal oasis of peace. Since the planning proposes elevated buildings, the green spaces will remain as they are in order to offer the citizens and guests of Gersthofen an invitation to linger and enjoy their stay.
The park extends up to the roofs, which are accessible to everyone and offer a wonderful view over the whole city both during the day and in the evening.
The entire cloverleaf is connected through the underground car park. Incoming traffic can be intercepted directly via the shared entrances in Bahnhofstrasse. Thus the entire ground floor surface is available to pedestrians and cyclists, enhancing the quality of their visit. In close cooperation with the city of Gersthofen and the main investor, a new quality of urban life is achieved, and as a stroke of good fortune, can serve as an example of sustainable urban development in Swabia.
