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
Michael HumesChris MaurerRyan Walker
SYSTEM DESIGN_cyclists take over
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
SYSTEM DESIGN_cyclists take over
Block_02 site planM 1:200North
Michael HumesChris MaurerRyan Walker
SYSTEM DESIGN_cyclists take over
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
Michael HumesChris MaurerRyan Walker
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