Lush and Oversized
Düsseldorf's Marktplatz is set for a significant revamp, aiming to transform the square into a more inviting, green, and traffic-managed public space. The redesign plan, presented by Cornelia Zuschke, Baudezernentin, on Wednesday, focuses on improving the staying quality of the square through extensive greening and the redesign of street space for enhanced traffic management.
The core concept revolves around turning Düsseldorf's Marktplatz into a more attractive, green, and traffic-managed public space. This will be achieved through a large-scale greening initiative, which will introduce more vegetation and natural elements to the area, contributing to cooler temperatures, better air quality, and a more pleasant atmosphere for longer stays.
The redesign of street space will optimize traffic management around the square. This involves reorganizing vehicle lanes, prioritizing pedestrian zones, and possibly adjusting traffic signals and crossings to ensure safer and smoother movements. The connection to Kasernenstraße will be removed, making the entire square larger.
Improving the overall spatial quality is another key element of the plan. The objective is to create a true urban meeting point, encouraging people to linger and engage with the space rather than just pass through. A spacious seating lounge with bookcases is planned on Hunsrückstraße, providing an area for people to browse digital books. Selected areas will be kept free of obstacles to provide more space and freedom of movement.
The redesigned entrance to the basement of the Carsch-Haus with its light courtyard will blend into the open square. The redesign aims to ensure good connectivity and accessibility, with improved local pedestrian and cycling traffic. Florian Reeh, head of the Office for Traffic Management, emphasized the importance of these aspects.
A public participation process was conducted in the summer of 2021 to evaluate the redesign. A total of 2,905 participants took part in the process, with 66 percent rating the redesign as positive. Following the evaluation of the public participation process, a concrete plan for the square's design is now available.
The redesign of the square in Düsseldorf has two main goals: to significantly improve the staying quality of the square and to enhance traffic management. This approach reflects a broader trend in urban redevelopment focused on sustainability, enhancing public spaces, and integrating green infrastructure within city centers for improved livability.
The redesign plan intends to transform Düsseldorf's Marktplatz into a more inviting green public space, thereby appealing to a wider audience and enhancing its livability. This will be achieved by introducing a large-scale greening initiative, as well as reorganizing street space for better traffic management, creating ample seating areas like on Hunsrückstraße for a home-and-garden-like ambience that encourages longer stays.
