Redesign of the pedestrian zone Weender Straße, Göttingen An elegant catwalk

Konzept

The Weender Straße, the most important inner-city axis in Göttingen, displays reserved elegance and timelessness.

A second glance reveals the ingenious impact of the surfaces, which is convincing both in terms of aesthetics and function. The viewer gains an overall impression of a homogeneous carpet extending from the edge of one building to another and comprising of large natural stone slabs in varying light beige and red-brown colours. The colour of the historic building seems to be reflected in the subtle shifts in the carpet’s appearance. Depending on the time of day and night, as well as the weather and light conditions, the street conveys a wide variety of moods.

Wide drains and curbstones at ground level make a subtle reference to the historic “triple-zoning” that originally divided the street into a pavement area and zone for vehicles. At the same time, a high level of flexibility in the utilisation has been achieved.

The incorporation of the Altes Rathaus (old town hall) into the public zone creates a spatial climax: a carpet of paving set in front of the building, the same size as the floor plan of the Altes Rathaus, structures the square while at the same time strikingly emphasizing its spaciousness.