Dorsten „Fortification and moat construction“
After having moved a main road, parts of the historic moat construction were re-established in Dorsten thus having restored parts of the old town’s identity and attractiveness.
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Context
Source: Stadt Dorsten
The medieval city centre of Dorsten (77,000 inhabitants) had been largely destroyed during the Second World War. Besides parts of the city wall and the old town hall on the market square, only a few buildings in the old town survived. Nevertheless, the walls, representing the historic boundaries of the old town, and the medieval city ground plan were largely preserved when rebuilding the walls. There is a green corridor running along the still existing city wall in the west. In the east, where city wall and fortification had completely disappeared, a main road ran on the medieval moat route.
As a result of moving the main road in the 1980s, the abandoned areas had to be laid out and parts of the eastern inner city had to be reorganised giving also the chance to complete the historic, ring-like ground plan of the old town.
Project description
Source: Stadt Dorsten
The project covers the restoration and new interpretation of the former fortifications and moat constructions along their traceable historic route. In doing so, remains of the city wall in the east and the south of the old town are taken into account. In the eastern part, which had to be reorganised as a result of moving the main road, these measures have already been carried out.
The measures concentrate on a moat of 440 metres in length and up to 1,50 metres in depth fed by ground water. At the same time, large green areas, footpaths and recreation areas were created. The adjacent transport areas were reorganised into mixed transport areas. Building two new bridges provided the old town with additional entrances.
Source: Machleidt + Partner
New urban spaces with central functions were created along the route of the former main road. Close to “Recklinghäuser Tor” for example, a square was created which can also be used for events. In the northern part of the square, a department store with an underground car park has been created. To the south of “Recklinghäuser Tor”, new parish rooms, a health centre, dwellings and police headquarters have been built on properties owned by the local government and the church. The Jewish Museum of Westphalia received an extension building. Medical buildings and a senior's residence have been built close to "Essener Tor”.
During the third stage of construction, the fortification and moat construction in the south of the old town is to be continued. According to plans of the local government, it is also to be continued in the west along the still existing city wall.
Project chronology
Year | Event |
---|---|
1987 | Urban development competition |
1990 | “Old town” master plan |
1995 | Preliminary design |
2000 | First stage of construction at eastern fortification started |
2001 | Department store opened “Recklinghäuser Tor” completed |
2002 | First stage of construction at eastern fortification finished |
2007 | Second stage of construction at eastern fortification finished |
Aims
Source: Stadt Dorsten
- To restore the fortifications including gate and moats around the old town
- To create important points for identification for citizens and visitors
- To reorganise abandoned/underused areas in the inner city
- To strengthen the inner city as a residential and retail location
- To improve the attractiveness of the old town for tourists
Types of measures
Source: Machleidt + Partner
- Converting and demolishing a part of the main road
- Creating mixed transport areas and squares
- Reorganising public space
- Creating a moat filled with ground water
- Building new parish rooms
- Extension building for the Jewish Museum of Westphalia
- Creating private building sites
- Urban redevelopment measure
- Urban development competition
- Master plan
- Urban development contracts
- Water-related authorization procedure to extract ground water
- Information and discussion events
Ceremonies on building sites, Feast of Lights, sightseeing tours during construction period
Innovations
Source: Stadt Dorsten
An important measure of controlling mobility, i.e. by converting and demolishing a section of the main road, enabled parts of the city to be redeveloped. In restoring the wall and moat contruction along its historic route, new paths, open spaces etc. could be created and urban identity be re-established. The urban renewal-related project brought about further developments such as the construction of a new medical building and a senior's residence. The measure also had positive effects on the inner city. In central shopping precincts, ground floor zones, previously affected by vacancy and fluctuation, are occupied again by shops.
Sources
- Interview with Hans Rommeswinkel, department for planning and the environment of the City of Dorsten, 26 August 2010
- “Integrated waterfront development” on the BBSR homepage http://www.bbsr.bund.de/BBSR/DE/Veroeffentlichungen/BMVBS/WP/2011/heft77_DL.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=2
Further information
The projekt site ist to be found at postal code: 46282 - town: Dorsten - street: Südgraben 8 .
Poject site on Google-Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/aWmHMgDtjxN2
Last update: 05.02.2018