There is magic in every beginning. For us, placemaking means creating places that are more than just spaces – they are loose narrative threads that continue to be spun by the future users of the place. Sustainable appropriation of a place begins when people associate their personal stories and experiences with it. Such appropriation processes create distinctive, memorable and lively places.
The Key to Lively Places
Placemaking: Appropriation by Continuing the Narrative
Topics
Our approach always begins with the user’s perspective. This allows us to recognise and awaken qualities in places that are otherwise easily overlooked. We don’t develop functions in strict accordance with the briefing, but focus instead on the real-life needs and wishes of the people who bring these places to life. One example is our Brainhouse247 project, which impresses with its user-centric approach. Working with the operator, we developed personas to represent future user groups, which then served as the basis for developing the appropriate spatial programme.
24/7 pulse
Places have their own history. Understanding, respecting and continuing their historical narrative is central to our work. In doing so, we take into account the different granularities, sizes and functions that a place can offer.
In larger project developments, space is left empty or only rented out on a short-term basis to allow functions to be added or altered over time. This ensures that the character of the property, which is continually updated by the users, can be expanded by suitable functions.
Mixed use can take place at building level or on the scale of an entire neighbourhood. The latter is especially interesting when building regulations or the architectural preconditions of individual buildings do not permit mixed use. A neighbourhood must be active right around the clock: through different functions that can be used at different times of the day and week. Intelligent utilisation, ideally in the context of the 15-minute city, reduces traffic volume and contributes to the quality of life in the surrounding area. One example will be our Mark One project in Düsseldorf, which is currently in the planning stage.
In order to activate neighbourhoods and real estate, they must in future be financed and developed, but also operated so as to become successful and therefore sustainable in the long term. Why not talk about the additional services that a tenant can use in the building instead of just communal rental areas? Why not introduce service fees instead of commercial rents for office real estate?
To establish a place in the public eye, it must be accessible and tangible for all. One way of doing this is by a public walkway, as is the case with FOUR in Frankfurt, for example. Ideally, this public transit takes place within the buildings, as in our projects for the HassiaGruppe and Beiersdorf. Places become memorable when they can be experienced at first hand.
To be successful, placemaking must be interdisciplinary and incorporate appropriate communication measures. It is the combination of space, history and use that brings a place to life and makes it a permanent part of urban existence.