Post photo: Wollhaus | © Heinrich Kümmerle
As already mentioned by me on August 1, 2023 in the post “Woolhouse reloaded', I welcome the projected initial spark through the Wollhaus realignment of the Neufeld group in Heilbronn's pedestrian zone.
In this context, there is an opportunity to consider the green and sustainable path of the design template for the surrounding pedestrian zone as well. In the past, urban squares were always carved in stone, such as the Bollwerksturmplatz, which today is often used for events in front of high-quality residential buildings. In the past, this design approach was the right one, even with regard to the intensity of care. The Wollhaus idea and climate change write us a new way of thinking in the family book. This also in view of the fact that a survey by the University of Rostock showed that 53% of the growing target group in cities as we know them today no longer thinks window shopping is imaginable in 25 years, which is why the redesign and greening of the pedestrian zones is very important. Other studies report that 18 to 21-year-olds in particular still like to go back to pedestrian zones.
Inner cities are looking for a green transformation, quality of stay, sports, culture, medical care and gastronomy. In this environment, trade becomes a place of short distances through new target networks.
This makes pedestrian zones on the upper floors more attractive for residential use, as conceived in the Wollhaus concept. This requires accompanying installations that are able to cool down urban spaces.
The CDU is therefore applying for an open space planning competition for the Wollhauspark as a green installation with little sealed areas and children's playground, for example in the climate forest of the shade: "Children love cities that are like villages".
As a side note, countries like Spain are increasingly constructing their bus stations / bicycle parking garages underground. If space allows, EU funds should also be examined.
Kiliansplatz, after the departure of the Eiscafe Presutti, is now more of a place to rush through. Here we imagine a climate forest at a suitable place, which the administration has already presented positively elsewhere. If necessary, including the weekly market, so that the feeders will have to be convinced in order to be able to use the market place more with gastronomy for safety reasons. Gastronomy can be cleared on terraces for wine village, high jump meeting & Co.
In this context, the summer zones, which are a consequence of the 2019 master plan, must also be addressed. While the Turmstrasse model was more of a finger exercise, the appearance on Lohtorstrasse was a success, but in the wrong place. The gastronomy neighbors are happy, it damages the trade. The CDU parliamentary group sees summer zones in Sülmerstraße as more meaningful in the future.
"For Turmstrasse and Lohtorstrasse, we are applying for the final redesign by 2025. It is unacceptable to invest large sums of money every year for temporary summer zones. Given the tight budget, this money could be used more sensibly for other projects,” the city councilors demanded Thomas Aurich and Andrew Heinrich.
Alternatively, for example if there are questions about subsidies, reintroduction of short-term parking spaces in Lohtorstraße on the southern side, leaving the summer zone in the northern part. Saving of funds in Turmstraße until the final redesign.
