Reconnecting a City with its River

The competition site is located in a former parking area between Erlangen’s historic baroque center and the river Regnitz, enclosed by the highway and railway tracks. The proposal envisions transforming this isolated space into a car-free, permeable urban district that reconnects the historical fabric with the natural landscape.

The project focuses on:

• Reestablishing connectivity between the baroque city center and the river park through new pedestrian underpasses and a gently sloped square linking the train station to the river

• Creating a car-free neighborhood by reorganizing the street network and relocating vehicle traffic to the periphery, encouraging active and public mobility

• Applying sponge city principles by minimizing sealed surfaces and maximizing soil permeability to enhance water retention and biodiversity

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