In 2009 PLANORAMA Landschaftsarchitektur won the competition for the redesign of the market place Rheydt – Mönchengladbach. The measure was embedded in the urban development promotion programme ‘Soziale Stadt Rheydt‘ (Social City of Rheydt), within the framework of which further sub-projects were implemented in the urban area. The new marketplace was the focal point of these efforts to reactivate the inner city. On an area of approx. 1.7 ha, a lively square has been created, which is now available to the citizens and visitors of the city for numerous events and celebrations.
Below the square there is an underground car park from the 1970s, which was extensively renovated in the course of the redesign. Numerous special construction methods were necessary because the type and design of the building no longer meet today‘s standard requirements. Access roads were reduced in size, partly demolished, an additional underground car park newly connected and new stairways integrated into the square. The square itself is characterised by the two buildings of the Protestant main church and the historic town hall. The rest of the simple peripheral buildings date from the post-war period. During this time, historical square edges were also negated. In the 1970s, typical pavilion buildings were added in front of the houses, which completely cut off the ground floors from the square. The pavilions were dismantled as part of the redesign. They were replaced by slightly elevated ‘market terraces‘, which take up the square and resume historical references. A plateau was formed around the church as a counterpart, giving the square a second setting and emphasising the north-south orientation towards the town hall. In the centre there is a paved area of approx. 3,000 square metres which, with the symbolic image of a worn out carpet, lends a certain liveliness to the new design. The setting with a circular brass fountain in front of the town hall forms the highlight and invites the visitor to linger and play. High-quality natural stone coverings made of large-format slabs and paving stones decisively determine the high quality of the new square. Numerous seating options made of high-quality prefabricated concrete elements with wooden cushions at the edges of the square invite you to linger and observe. A completely new underground infrastructure offers state-of-the-art technology for supplying markets and fairgrounds. The square lighting with staging of the buildings was completely renewed. In spring, 25 white Tokyo cherries bloom on the market terraces, which in autumn have fiery red foliage. New green spaces have been created directly on the edge of the square and valuable old trees have been integrated. All areas are barrier-free. Roadway cross-sections have been changed and can now be crossed more easily and shops can be connected closer to the square.
Landscape Architecture: PLANORAMA Landschaftsarchitektur
Other designers involved in the design of landscape: Maik Böhmer, Ulf Schrader, Katja Erke, Sebastian Meyer
Project location: Mönchengladbach-Rheydt
Design year: 2009-2013
Year Built: 2013
Image Credits: Lichtschwaermer
