_SCAPE

Aachenerstraße: Cyclists Take Over

Transportation Systems

_SCAPEcatalytic movementand the overlapof space and streetalong aachenerstraße

Aachnerstraße is a street full of life that is empowered by the movement of people, public transit, cars and bikes. Movement is what defines this space as not only an essential thoroughfare through the city of Köln but also as an upbeat and lively urban corridor filled with bars, cafés, restaurants and nightlife.

The intent of this design was aimed at maintaining movement as an essential characteristic that defines street. However, in order to utilize the street as a functional piece of infrastructure that can adapt to needs of the future we looked past the automobile as being a dominant force within the street. Trough the combination of public transit and the use of bikes we were able to maintain the atmosphere of a public street while providing pedestrians a zone that was interesting and lively. In this regard we created a catalytic street for dynamic movement.

This catalytic street was based on the concept “space as street, street as space” in which the cyclists take over control of the street as the dominant force of movement. The combination of cyclists paired with the industrial noise of the trams helps invigorate and create the lively aspect of movement one expects in a city streetscape, however; the design still provides a dynamic, multifunctional, pedestrian friendly zone.

Within these pedestrian zones we implemented gentle rolling waves in the street as an abstraction of nature furthermore connecting back into the outlying greenbelt. This new topography has been covered with a Tartan Track—emphasizing the dominance of the zone by bikes and pedestrians. This material’s soft characteristics and color application offers comfort to the pedestrians and traction for the high-speed bicycle lane while creating a unique, playful atmosphere that molds into the dynamic characteristics of Aachnerstraße.

In order to make Aachnerstraße a functional catalytic street for dynamic movement—the existing streets and traffic patterns on the streets surrounding the block had to be reorganized in a manner that allowed for efficient movement of cars outside of Aachnerstraße. It became evident during the reorganization of these traffic patterns that the streets perpendicular to our focus area of Aachnerstraße had smaller importance to the overall flow of traffic and led us to incorporate these side streets into our focus area. These additional spaces allowed us to create transitional zones back into the existing urban environment and helped to reestablish the importance of the nodal intersections of the streets.

_SCAPE

The project title owes its name to the existing streetscape and the design goal of creating a dynamic space that has

multiple uses. “_SCAPE” enables the user to define the site for his or herself with their own prefix such as “Bike”SCAPE

or “Social”SCAPE. Although vehicles can still access this new space, the intent is for the bicyclist and the pedestrian

to take over this former streetscape and create a new type of cityscape, one that includes movement, activity, and social

interaction.

PLAN: Scale 1:2000

Existing Traffic System

Proposed Traffic System

ABSTRACT

Vehicular

EXISTING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

TramUnderground MetroDesignated Bike LaneRailwayUnderground Parking

Vehicular

EXISTING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

TramUnderground MetroDesignated Bike LaneRailwayUnderground Parking

Vehicular

PROPOSED TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

TramUnderground MetroDesignated Bike LaneRailwayVehicular Service Underground Parking

Vehicular

PROPOSED TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

TramUnderground MetroDesignated Bike LaneRailwayVehicular Service Underground Parking

DESIGNATED BICYCLE

VEHICULAR

UNDERGROUND METRO

EXISTING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMnot to scale

TRAM

DESIGNATED BICYCLE

SERVICE & ACCESS

VEHICULAR

UNDERGROUND METRO

TRAM

PROPOSED TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMnot to scale

Block_02 site planM 1:2000

Block_02 existing traffic planM 1:2000

Block_02 proposed traffic planM 1:2000

North

North

North

Michael HumesChris MaurerRyan Walker

SYSTEM DESIGN_cyclists take over

PLAN: Scale 1:1000

A B

A’ B’

New Tram Section

The new tram stop incorporates the rolling wave form of Aachenerstraβe for both trams. This block is dominated by the tram stop but still accommodates pedestrian movement as well as the high speed bike lane. The tram lines themselves are molded flat into the wave form in order to ensure safe transportation, as well as a delineation for any service or emergency vehicles that may need to access buildings along Aachenerstraβe

Section A-A‘Block_02 site plan

M 1:1000

Block_02 existing conditionM 1:100

Block_02 proposedM 1:100

North



Block_02 floor planNot to Scale

North

New Café Section

A key feature of the Aachenerstraβe redesign is its dynamic space along catalytic movement, both down the street and across it. Although the trams dominate the space when active, their lanes can be reclaimed for use and are easily crossed in order to reach the large pedestrian zone in the middle of the space. This zone includes a high speed bike lane that snakes along the street, outdoor café and restaurant seating, free form seating, a feature throughout the project, and space for leisure biking and walking.

First Floor Use

Hotel

FIRST FLOOR USE

CafeRestaurantBar

Shop

Section B-B‘

Block_02 existing conditionM 1:100

Block_02 proposedM 1:100 Michael Humes

Chris MaurerRyan Walker


Block_02 site planM 1:200North



Aachenerstraße looking east towards Rudolfplatz

Aachenerstraße “square” near underground bike parking access

Seating area + “service/access” road at intersection of Aachenerstraße and Brüsselerstraße

THERE HAS NEvER bEEN ENouGH SpACE oN THE STREETS

SYSTEM DESIGN_cyclists take overLARCH 499b spring 2013

profs. Johannes böttgerThomas Knüvener

pennsylvania State universityAIb study abroad program


Documents

_SCAPE