Landhauspark and promenade Linz
previous state
The space in its present dimensions came into existence only in 1800 when a fire destroyed most of the city. The rampart was razed and transformed into a horticultural designed area. 20th century growing mobility had a degrading impact upon the space, becoming primarily a passageway for motorised traffic. Pedestrian movement was limited to narrow areas, close to the buildings on both sides, available space devoured by parked vehicles. An unimpeded clatter of urban furniture took up most of the remaining space. The worn-out benches, deeply hidden behind florid flowerbeds were far removed from city life; randomly a stray passer-by would actually use them.
Consequently, the average “Linzer” did not realise an open space in the heart of the city, just steps from pompous Hauptplatz and next to the country’s main governmental building (the Landhaus), existed. Without proper guidance, tourists hardly discovered the edifice behind multiple rows of parked cars. The space was used strictly to traverse, in order to get to one of the “nice places” as quickly as possible.
In 2005, government of Upper Austria and city council had agreed, in a joint effort, to install an underground car park and remodel the area’s surface. In the wake, adjoining shop owners were devastated. How would the customers react to the loss of convenient parking places outside the shop windows? Would anyone actually bother to walk the Promenade after this feature would be lost? Also, after a 2-year period of constant construction site, would customers remember the shops at all?
Political environmentalists feared that the dense city centre’s only vegetation might get destroyed during the process. This legitimate concern created a very strict requirement of the competition brief: to keep all the existing trees, although scattered without a recognizable system and surrounded by tarmac surfaces.
aim of the intervention
The competition brief asked to develop a discernible identity for the space, to provide usable space for a variety of user groups ranging from children to seniors, tourists and customers. Likewise, the ecological aspect was to be taken into account.
After our preliminary look at the space, we quickly recognized: The space’s identity was already there. It had just become unrecognizable beneath layers of confusing additions and competing requirements.
We distinguished a sophisticated picturesque urban façade along the southern and western side of the area. The northern and eastern edges of the L-shaped plot were adorned with an amazingly pictorial population of trees. This bipolar identity, oscillating between the urban side of the actual Promenade and its green counterpart of the Landhauspark, was the atmospheric idea we wanted to make comprehensible for the users.
Both sides draw from the other’s complementing qualities: Promenade and Landhaus receive a green vestibule, leading up to the Schlossberg overlooking the entire city. The Park is connected to the city’s main street by an “urban parquet” and distinguished by it’s unique architectural backdrop.
description of the intervention
First step was a major clearance of superfluous additions and features to make visible the high quality space structure. Next we chose related but adapted strategies to treat both sides:
landhauspark
Rather rigid zoning was implied in the park and carried over in a simplified way to the Promenade’s side. A simple sequence of stripes differentiated by usage and complementary materials continues throughout the park. When applied to an “empty” space, a similar concept might easily result in a rather boring outcome. Here, the “collision” with the existing trees makes for a variety of resulting situations, substantiating the special charm of the park. By standing “in the way” the trees can’t help but be noticed – and appreciated. The contrast between trees and geometrical layout makes for dynamic spatial flight and sophisticated detailing. Individual treatment of every tree was essential to guarantee best living conditions.
A major part of the park’s trees are united by a lawn divan, framed by the park’s main feature, a syenite bench that combines to a total length of 200 m. The bench’s material was specifically extracted from a local quarry and chosen for it’s great density. Coherent pieces as long as 350 cm allowed for the bench to be installed close to existing trees without disturbing their roots.
Wooden seats distributed along the bench define separate compartments. At night, the bench comes aglow with a LED-Strip underneath it. A stretch of selfbinding gravel surface, the “strolling zone”, accompanies the entire range of the bench. With a backdrop of green and much open space to watch other park users, a stay in the park has become a communicative activity that brings the Landhauspark back into the city’s conscience.
To enable openness, a transparently planted strip of grasses and easy to maintain perennials, filters the nearby presence of motorized traffic. Use of perennials instead of commonly used annuals adds seasonal but sustainable rhythm to the otherwise strict layout. The plants were chosen for their sturdiness and tenacity and placed to develop homogenous communities rather than classic ornamental borders. They create shifting veils of colour in the otherwise subtly coloured park.
The park’s northern conclusion incorporates not only the car park’s entrance but also a playground. To incorporate these conflicting claims on a very small area we took a straightforward approach toward constructed elements and materials. The playground’s layout takes advantage of the topography and existing trees to create a secluded yet challenging play landscape, composed of wooden decking and various impact absorbing surfaces. Horizontal wooden decks create lounge areas, at the same time protecting the tree’s sensitive root area. Vertical wooden elements include playground equipment. The playground’s highlight is the elastic rubber slope with a stainless steel slide. Some vigorously coloured items accentuate otherwise earthy colours.
Landhauspark today amounts to a versatile municipal park that is amazingly frequented and appreciated both by residents spending their lunch breaks as well as strolling tourists.
promenade
Main goal concerning the Promenade was to purge. Lost spatial coherence was to be regained and developed. A discreet backdrop of a few carefully chosen materials now makes the architecture’s qualities stand out. By creating an open expanse of pavement, just interrupted by the necessary lighting fixtures and the occasional lift accessing the underground parking, the Promenade’s facades now emanate their individuality unhindered.
The promenade’s material is granite from a local quarry. Its unusual elongated dimensions are inspired by wooden parquet and presented a technical challenge. The result is a locally based pavement that still stands out from other urban spaces in the city, distinguishing the Promenade from other urban spaces. During the design process use of cheap imported granite kept coming up as a means of cutting costs. Luckily, the amount of pavement installed, made it possible to choose the more sustainable solution and stay inside economical range nevertheless.
The Promenade’s illumination relies upon of one row of cylindrical luminous columns. These cover required traffic illumination, as well as sidewalk and façade lightening all in one element. A similar type of lighting fixture continues the concept into the park. The columns provide rhythm and unity both at night and in daylight.
evaluation
Whereas the park is property of the country of Upper Austria, the street surface belongs to the municipality of Linz. Therefore the project’s success was based upon the unusual cooperative collaboration with and between the clients. Their joint effort at an early point in the project’s development made it possible that the initial concept could be carried through design and construction towards realisation.
Concerted material choices and an overall lighting concept consolidate the comprehensive identity.
Adjacent residents could be enlisted for their respective collaboration, thus enriching the space by additional values, as the “Schanigarten” outside the restaurant Wiener Wald.
The unexpected discovery of the ancient rampart’s bridge provided additional historical depth. By means of thorough reconcilement between client and State Office for Historical Monuments the find could be integrated in an impressive way.
After the initially dismissive response of residents, one year after inauguration, it is felt that everyone is very pleased with the result. Where in the past parked cars and garbage disposal sites accounted for the site’s look, now children play, couples kiss and we have been greeted happily by our critics in the park. This amazing transformation has influenced the citizen’s relationship toward their city favourably.
