Masterplan Freiraum schafft Stadtraum, Essen

The masterplan “Open space creates urban space” activates Essen’s open space potential in terms of green districts and business locations, while developing “water in the city” as a design element linking the city with the wider region through its natural capital.

The rays model developed in the masterplan ties the extensive qualities of the southern districts of Essen to the structures in the inner-city area and to the north. The existing inner-city flowing waters between Lake Baldeney and Lake Emscher were used as ideal guidelines. Along these guidelines (“rays”), free spaces are to be created by simple measures and the creation of new visual relationships (“exposure”).

The connection of the new open spaces to the environment and their “staging” is intended to raise public awareness of the planning process, offering the possibility to crystallize areas of attention within the urban area.

The individual rays differ thematically: On the “Water Route” in the west, the direct connection to the water becomes clear with the watercourses Borbecker Mühlenbach, Kesselbach and Wolfsbach. In the central area, the “City Route” focuses on cultural institutions and inner-city parks. Paths through the city will be accessible to people on bikes as well as on foot. It is not just about a functional cycle path away from road traffic, but about urbanity conveyed by nature, about green trusses, connections between newly developed landscapes and parks that have so far remained isolated. This can be experienced in particular on the “Nature Route” located in the east.