Europan Germany

E8: Topic

EUROPEAN URBANITY - STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE EUROPEAN CITY

EUROPAN's mission is to provide young architects throughout Europe with the opportunity to develop sustainable ideas and present them to a broad public. Urban planners and urban development agencies offering sites are supported in their search for innovative approaches to architecture and urban planning.

With the theme "european urbanity" EUROPAN, in close cooperation with the cities and urban planners of the organizing countries, pursues the goal of creating new competencies among young architects. Urbanity is defined as a collective approach to experiencing and analyzing the city and its functions, reflecting on the heterogeneity of its manifestations, and thereby creating public, communal spaces that foster human contact.

COMMUNITY AND PRIVACY

The highest aspiration of the European vision of city is to bring together people with different experiences from all walks of life. In this context, the prevailing trend toward individualization as part of the ubiquitous quest for independence must not be overlooked. EUROPAN attempts to counter this paradox with the simultaneous desire for city and intimacy, with the attempt to reconcile livability, life in society and the public sphere, and the privacy of a "home" in familiar community and surroundings.

BETWEEN URBANISM AND ARCHITECTURE

Creating urbanity is a task for architects and urban planners. Buildings define public space, their furnishings, their interactions with plants and trees, the busy paths that cross or border the space create the desired ambiance. Urbanity is landscape, atmosphere and space at the same time. It is perceived equally when looking through the window as when moving, as a pedestrian or motorist.

Intentionally, the competition is located in the area between urban planning and architecture, in order to increase the competence in the field of "architecturally generated urbanity".

STRATEGIC PROJECTS AND THEMATIC CATEGORIES

EUROPAN's strength lies in its ability to target those "strategic projects" that have a perceptible impact on the development of urban areas, far beyond the site itself; this may take the form of transforming parts of the consolidated city, regenerating complex areas or former industrial sites, or upgrading problem areas.

Such an objective suggests that it makes sense to assign sites to thematic categories. These can serve as a link between cities and actors on the ground facing similar problems, and give competition participants a picture of the issues raised by the problems at the sites.

 

TOPIC 1

URBANIZATION INVOLVING INFRASTRUCTURES

Infrastructures dissect the suburban space. How can they be integrated into the urban network?

Crossing the networks

What types of networks or urban interfaces can be created to overcome barriers created by transport routes (railroads, highways)?

Creation of new polarities related to transport networks

Can transport networks have a dynamizing effect on the emergence of new urban poles?

 

TOPIC 2

GENERATING THE NEW (INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL EXTENSIONS)

In order to limit the expansion of the city and to preserve nature, the city takes possession of brownfield or vacant land. How can new neighborhoods be generated there?

Transformation in phases

Large industrial sites that are no longer in use lend themselves to the development of urban neighborhoods. How can restructuring be developed in phases over time?

Inserting a new piece of the city

Some sites without quality stock can be enhanced only by adding new urban fragments. How can these fragments be inserted and connected to the existing context?

Expanding the urban boundary

How should sites on the urban boundary be used strategically to respond to development pressures?

 

TOPIC 3

RECYCLE STRUCTURES

The modern city creates a hybrid urban fabric characterized by the fragmentation of spaces and overlap of diverse properties. How can these heterogeneous areas be restructured so that urban life is made possible there?

How can uses develop? Transformation or substitution

Some areas have been designed as mono-functional enclaves (residential areas, industrial areas, barracks). How can spaces be created there in which contemporary urban uses can be established?

Strengthening existing neighborhoods

How can new urban dynamics be created in these heterogeneous urban fragments by introducing new functions and structuring public space?

 

TOPIC 4

BUILDING WITH NATURE

The aspiration of citizens to live in the city and at the same time in or close to nature raises the question: How can the urban landscape be designed in balance of built spaces and natural elements?

Building in nature

How can nature and the built environment be combined, in green enclaves in the city or in urbanized nature?

Developing an urban landscape

How should we think about the relationship between urban space and nature? Should built things confront nature, or can the natural landscape be imagined as a dynamic interface with the built environment?

 

TOPIC 5

URBAN REDEVELOPMENT - FOR WHICH INHABITANTS ?

Adapting to urban development sometimes requires deconstructing existing structures to create new urban spaces. How can we succeed in keeping residents on site during the renewal process?

Creating the social mix

How can old and new neighborhood residents coexist?