Fakultät Architektur Institut für Landschaftsarchitektur, Professur Landschaftsbau

Kent State University Urban Design Collaborative

I B A Emscher Park –
a beacon approach, dealing with shrinking cities
in Germany

Claudia Schreckenbach, Christel Teschner

Dresden, 15.05.2006
contents
1 the Ruhr Valley
2 the International Construction Exhibition „IBA Emscher Park“
3 the Emscher landscape park – the leading project

4 the treatment of rainwater – a focal point

5 summary and outlook

IBA Emscher Park

1 the Ruhr Valley
1.1 location
1.2 industrial development
1.3 structural change
1.4 state of the landscape

IBA Emscher Park

1.1 location

ƒ situated in the west of

Germany Berlin

ƒ area between the rivers Ruhr

(in the south) and Lippe (in the
north)
ƒ Emscher river in the center Ruhr Valley

ƒ land area: 4432,77 km²

≈ 1710 mi²

IBA Emscher Park

Emscher Area

ƒ a so called „backyard of the Ruhr Valley"

ƒ land area: 800 km² ≈ 310 mi²
ƒ about 2,5 Mio. inhabitants
ƒ 17 cities

► highest density of population in Ruhr Valley

► part of Ruhr Valley most influenced by the industrialization period
► most ecological and social problems

IBA Emscher Park

 Emscher Area

Quelle: Industrienatur IBA Emscher Park

 1.2 industrial development

ƒ sparsely populated until 1800

ƒ rapid expansion during the era
of industrialization
ƒ developed from south to north
to form an industrial
metropolitan area

► coal and steel power house of

Germany
► large industrial landscape;
industrial villages

Quelle: Industrienatur IBA Emscher Park

ƒ armament production before and during the I. and II. world wars
► high economic growth
ƒ about 1950: expansion of infrastructure
► highest concentration of motorways in Europe
ƒ about 1960: highest level in production and employment

► the Ruhr Valley is the biggest industrial area in Europe

IBA Emscher Park

 1.3 structural change

„change without growth"

Ruhr Valley on the way to a post industrial era

ƒ about 1950: coal crisis

ƒ about 1970: steel crisis
ƒ until today continuous drop of employment
in coal mining, iron and steel industries
ƒ loss of inhabitants, regress in population

reason: global effects on big industries

Quelle: Industrienatur IBA Emscher Park

1.4 state of the landscape

ƒ torn up landscape with isolated open spaces

ƒ scattered former coal mines and derelict steelworks
ƒ high amount of impervious surfaces (about 40 mi² completely sealed)

IBA Emscher Park

ƒ degraded stream system of 400 km length; watercourses used for
sewage transport (straightened, channalized)

IBA Emscher Park

ƒ man made hillsides in the former level Emscher area (dumps
and mine spoils of up to 100 m high)
ƒ tailing ponds throughout the area caused by mining

► artificially stabilized and technically controlled landscape

IBA Emscher Park

 ƒ environmental pollution

starting over 100 years ago:

river polution and

drinking water pollution
causing epidemics

air polution through

smoke, soot and coal dust

Quelle: Industrienatur IBA Emscher Park

2 the International Construction Exhibition
„IBA Emscher Park“

2.1 structure and organization

2.2 fields of work

IBA Emscher Park

2.1 structure and organisation

ƒ period of planning: 1989 - 1999

ƒ location: Emscher area/northern Ruhr Valley
310 mi²;17 cities

ƒ 120 projects:

1 national, 2 regional garden exhibitions,

planning for 115 mi² green space, landscape parks
reshape of 350 km open sewage channels
17 new technogy centres
housing development projects with 2500 new and 3000 existing flats

ƒ public and private investments of approximately five billion DM

IBA Emscher Park

2.2 fields of work

1. rebuild ecological and scenic qualities through the Emscher

landscape park

2. regenerate a system of natural waters; with special focus on the

„nature cycle“ treatment of rainwater

3. development of new industries, trade points and technology

centers on abandoned industrial sites

4. rehabilitation of historic neighborhoods, new development

sites, restorations on brownfields

5. preservation and adaptive uses of industrial structures

(industrial archaeology)

IBA Emscher Park

3 the Emscher landscape park –
the lead project

3.1 a structure with 3 levels

3.2 selected examples

IBA Emscher Park

3.1 a structure with 3 levels

ƒ a connected exhibit park covering the entire Emscher area

(east-west-distance 70km) – connecting the remaining open
spaces between the industrial cities
ƒ about 115 mi² (Emscher area = 310 mi²)
ƒ park development (30-40 years)

level 1: the exhibit park

level 2: a regional open space-system
level 3: individual projects

IBA Emscher Park

level 1: the exhibit park

ƒ integration of open spaces and agriculture

ƒ east-west-open spaces along the river Emscher
ƒ development goals for the Emscher area; regional development strategy

IBA Emscher Park

 level 2: a regional open space-system

ƒ park project organized in 7 regional greenways (A-G)

ƒ open space from south to north (parallel to the historical development of
industry)
ƒ 3-5 cities belong to one greenway (common planning, projects and
measures)

Quelle: Industrienatur IBA Emscher Park

 level 3: individual projects

ƒ landscape design, biotope management, forest planting, housing

construction projects, art projects etc.
ƒ system of new bikeways and footpaths

Quelle: Industrienatur
 3.4 selected examples

1. Landscape Park Duisburg North - landscape park formed by

industry

ƒ on the former site of a

coal mine and a smelter
ƒ some areas are still used by
industry today
ƒ related to housing projects
ƒ about 500 acres

Quelle: Industrienatur IBA Emscher Park

 idea:

integration of existing industrial plants

and buildings into a new landscape

ƒ small projects, incremental improvements

ƒ adressing soil contamination
ƒ reflection of industrial heritage

esthetic qualities + using variety

Quelle: Industrienatur IBA Emscher Park

Quelle: Industrienatur IBA Emscher Park
 places between furnaces used for open air
events, cinema, concerts, theater

Quelle: Industrienatur IBA Emscher Park

derelict smelter used as observation tower - offering
prospects of the industrial landscape

IBA Emscher Park

 symbolic gardens in
abandoned storage
bunkers

Quelle: Industrienatur IBA Emscher Park

 playgrounds:
climbing in the former ore bunkers and
diving in a gas tank filled with water

Quelle: Industrienatur IBA Emscher Park

 lighting project by
an English light
artist

Quelle: Industrienatur IBA Emscher Park

 3.4 selected examples

2. Ruderal Park Frintrop, Essen - wild industrial forest/

fallow land park

ƒ at the fallow area on a former goods station

ƒ park with ruderal pionier vegetation
ƒ natural succession
ƒ ca. 60 acres

sparse coverage, regeneration for inhabitants

Quelle: Parkbericht Emscher Landschaftspark IBA Emscher Park

 plant successions and planted vegetation on train tracks

Quelle: Parkbericht Emscher Landschaftspark IBA Emscher Park

 3. coal mine Zollverein XII, Essen - industrial forest growth/
fallow land park

ƒ abandoned spoil area on a former mining area

ƒ nature develops by itself with a little human care
ƒ combination of open space development, art
and wildlife conservation
ƒ open to the public, but with less infrastructure
ƒ 62 acres size

public relations, guided tours, excursions

Quelle: Industrienatur IBA Emscher Park

 successional forest of birch trees and willows

Quelle: Industrienatur IBA Emscher Park

 3.4 selected examples

4. spoil bank – event area

„Emscherblick“ in Bottrop -
spoil areas/landmark

ƒ former mine spoil

ƒ 65 meters high
ƒ with a system of trail
ƒ art feature: steel tetrahedron

using for recovery and observation tower

Quelle: Industrienatur IBA Emscher Park

 pyramid made of triangles:
50 meters high,
sites 60 meters

on top: tetrahedron
overview platform

Quelle: Industrienatur IBA Emscher Park

 Questions?

Quelle: Industrienatur IBA Emscher Park

4. Treatment of rainwater - a focal point
4.1 problems and approaches
4.2 rainwater in urban planning
4.3 open space planning and landscape architecture
4.4 rainwater use in housing developments
4.5 rainwater at old industrial site

IBA Emscher Park

4.1 problems and approaches
problem: interruption of the hydrologic cycle
ƒ runoff in combined sewer systems
ƒ runoff peaks and flood control
ƒ Lack of recognition of rainwater as a natural element

approach: discussions about sustainable development

ƒ a new understanding of nature
ƒ on-site systems of watercycles as a solution

goal: make rainwater visible

ƒ to display the course from the paved surfaces to receiving waters
ƒ make watercourses visible in an indirect way

IBA Emscher Park

4.2 rainwater in urban planning
possibilties for inclusion

ƒ conveyance networks
ƒ Water surface as a dominant design element

IBA Emscher Park

4.2.1 conveyance networks

Idea: as a spine for the open space structure ranging from private gardens
over parks to the undeveloped landscape

looking for open conveyance systems to receiving rivers and lakes

as a rationale for urban development patterns with a high volume of

vegetation

IBA Emscher Park

Garden city WELHEIM BOTTROP
drainage swale retrofitting

miner housing estate (built 1913-1923)

block pattern with gardens, yards and
public open spaces

drainage concept:
from rooftops and streets into open trench
channels and drainage swales

nearly 30% of the paved surfaces are served

IBA Emscher Park

Garden city SESEKE AUE
Open drainage and landscape design

old industrial area

since 1995/97 a garden city
infrastructure is arranged in a horseshoe pattern
many public open spaces

function of the rainwater:

generation of streams and ponds

IBA Emscher Park

Garden city SESEKE AUE
sources Drainage concept

paved surfaces > drainage

combinitation of evaporation, infiltration and

retention

the treatment train:

sedimentation pond
sedimentation cleaning zone
cleaning retention pond
retention

IBA Emscher Park

Forms of design

left: central pond

right: trench systems

IBA Emscher Park

4.2.2 Water as the dominant design feature

idea: Revitalization of public spaces

opportunities: integration of big pools

functions: structuring of the housing layout
accentuating architecture
creation of structure

special
objective: maintain a nonfluctuating water level

IBA Emscher Park

Old mine area HOLLAND
visualizing the course of
water

now: business- and housing „park“

tracing the way:

from the raindrop
to the watershed
to trench drains
to water surfaces

IBA Emscher Park

Old mine area HOLLAND
drainage concept

objective:
collect water from roofs, yards,
public spaces

retention ponds and disposal

through evaporation

IBA Emscher Park

Old mine area HOLLAND

formal drainage swale retention pond

IBA Emscher Park

4.3 open space planning and landscape architecture
Integration of function and design

idea: meeting places and playgrounds

accentuating the border between private und public // natural and
built form
creating biotopes
creating a visible „silver string“ or water network
improve quality of life and ecology

using: surfaces swales trenching

channel drains waterspectacle combinitations

IBA Emscher Park

Examples of measures

IBA Emscher Park

Housing development KÜPPERSBUSCH
green roofs, central swales, trenches

former industrial area

now: new housing development

flats, row houses, detached houses

examples of unusual solutions

IBA Emscher Park

Housing development KÜPPERSBUSCH

typical new garden city

independent part of the city

IBA Emscher Park

IBA Emscher Park
4.4 Rainwater use in housing developments
all projects of the IBA are urban
many projects continue the tradition of garden cities

measures in housing developments:

- green roofs as an ecological system
- raingardens for owners and tenants
- new maintenance responsibilities
- public retention- and infiltration areas
- restricted automobile access – better infiltration

IBA Emscher Park

SCHÜNGELBERG
rainwater collection;
existing and new developments;
swales and trenches

IBA Emscher Park

SCHÜNGELBERG
drainage concept

existing neighborhood:
infiltration
connection of roofs drains to channel
garden site into swale-trench-system

new neighborhood:
swale-trench-system
roof drains into street culvert flowing into swales and
constructed stream

IBA Emscher Park

4.5 Rainwater at old industrial site
Principles

Idea: Finding new ways for site drainage and

ecological treatment of rainwater

guiding principle: maximum infiltration, minimum discharge

IBA Emscher Park

old mine area ERIN
service industries, business- and park
New uses and water as a main
design element

new uses:
civil service, service industries,
business park

main design element:

axis of water

IBA Emscher Park

old mine area ERIN
service industries, business- and park

IBA Emscher Park

old mine area ERIN
service industries, business- and livingpark

drainage concept

western part: seperate

drainage

IBA Emscher Park

5. Results and outlook

„The immense task to change from open sewers in concrete channels

to a system of naturalized streams has been brought on its way, and
we can now look at the first examples of restord streams. The region
has learned that in doing, so it is essential to work with rainwater and
sustainable urban drainage systems.“

H. Beierlorzer in:
WERNER, Frank R.: Szyskowitz + Kowalski. Räume und Freiräume.
Wohnsiedlung Küppersbuschgelände Gelsenkirchen. Graz 1999.

IBA Emscher Park

A conclusion:

ƒ derelict industrial areas have value

ƒ protect existing structures
ƒ new uses are essential
ƒ new implementation methods are needed
ƒ establish a financial framework before you start
ƒ place emphasis on the long range

IBA Emscher Park

Literature
DETTMAR, Jörg; GANSER, Karl (Hrsg.): Industrienatur. Ökologie und Gartenkunst im
Emscher Park. Stuttgart 1999.
KOMMUNALVERBAND RUHRGEBIET (Hrsg.): Leitplanung Emscher Landschaftspark.
Parkbericht Emscher Landschaftspark. Essen 1996.
LONDONG, Dieter; NOTHNAGEL, Annette (Hrsg.): Bauen mit dem Regenwasser. Aus der
Praxis von Projekten. München, Wien, Oldenbourg 1990.
SACK, Manfred: Siebzig Kilometer Hoffnung. Die IBA Emscher-Park - Erneuerung eines
Industriegebiets. Stuttgart 1999.
WERNER, Frank R.: Szyskowitz + Kowalski. Räume und Freiräume. Wohnsiedlung
Küppersbuschgelände Gelsenkirchen. Graz 1999.

www.iba-nrw.de

IBA Emscher Park