Density at the edge of the agglomeration

The potential for density can be found, where the settlement structure is thin: in the agglomeration. In order to respect the scale of the agglomeration and at the same time to gain a certain degree of acceptance among the population, horizontal forms of densification with a high flexible structure are sought.

Long-term planning should close the settlement area and create a tension between the newly densified settlement edge and the dense core zones from the city centre. In order to clarify the completion of the settlement border in the perimeter, a large volume with an „industrial scale“ is set on the edge. This volume has three stories plus a half-story loft. The development continues with linear structures, set transversely to the main road. These are optimally aligned with the sun an the noise pollution. The buildings are set up in a very flexible structure, built as an hybrid in concrete and wood. Since the costs have to be low and the ground is not good for a basement, the car park is put in the middle of the large volume. In direction South-West, there are many different residential models, from single room studios up to cluster apartments. On the other side of the building are multistory houses with included ateliers. Also here, the flexibility is very important. An atelier can be used by the people who live there, but there are also public spaces for everybody, such as a hobby room or music room. Because the apartments on this side of the building are stacked, each unit can profit from the sun and the view. Because of the organization, the sharing and the density of the building, each person only needs 40 square meters. The distribution works with several public hotspots and functions like a path trough the building, always with respected privacy to the apartments. Because of the density, the insulation and the chosen material, the building is energetic optimized. The technic is reduced to a maximum and the building has a natural ventilaton. The solar panels on the roof can almost cover the power consumption of the complex.