With most cities across the globe witnessing a similar thread of developmental infrastructural projects—a lot of which are built using the same materials and embody comparable aesthetics as the rest of the world, or at least the proximal region—it becomes necessary to ascertain that certain cultural and material aspects of the place can serve as distinct landmarks. While historical anecdotes, key occurrences and legendary personalities associated with cities are often adopted as the moniker for key spots in a city, thus heralding a unique and historically relevant identity to the said town, it is also essential to demarcate anew certain spaces that not only serve as visual markers of the region but also make space for residents to indulge in myriad activities and build memories. Such third spaces, which typically come to be in an organic and non-systematic manner, often ensue amid civic projects that are accessible to the larger populace of the city.

One such project that I came across recently—and which reminds me of a specific footbridge in my city—is a parking garage, bridge and tower in Neuenburg am Rhein, in southern Germany. Although not originally conceived as a landmark, the three conjoined spaces, conceived by Berlin-based MONO Architekten, come together to create a defining niche in the city, which not only bears the potential of visually demarcating the city but also opens up ample avenues for residents to loiter and freely experience the space. This dual capacity, of serving as a third space and landmark architecture, exemplifies the merits of treating public space design as more than an arbitrary civic project and in a manner such that it can revive and help enliven spots across the city.

The city of Neuenburg am Rhein holds an important spatial location, in the tri-border region of France, Germany and Switzerland. In an attempt to spatially enhance the city and create solutions for a pre-existing topographical issue in the area, the town, as part of the State Garden Exhibition 2022, undertook projects to reorganise several areas within the city. The Parking garage at the Rhine Gate, the Zähringer Bridge and the Berthold Tower, conceptualised by MONO Architekten, are placed on the site referred to as Am Kronenrain, which is located between the city centre and the redesigned green space Stadtpark am Wuhrloch.

Elaborating upon the issues that existed on site before MONO Architekten's involvement in the project, the studio shares, “There was no direct, barrier-free connection between the city centre and the public green space (Wuhrlochpark). The height difference of over nine metres between the road and the city level provided a very unsatisfactory urban situation. Also, the connection to the Rhine (which historically gave name to the city) was not present anymore, as the river had been moved much further to the west. Areal am Kronenrain looked more like a rear area than the city’s entrance. Furthermore, inner-city traffic and the parking situation in general was dissatisfying.”

MONO Architekten got involved in this project to create the ensemble of a parking garage, public space, bridge and tower, which not only fills the gap between the city centre and the green area but also helps link the two zones. Since this public architecture is positioned at the edge of the city, it also serves as an impressive city entrance, with the tower visible from afar. In conjunction with the connecting bridge and the parking garage, the structure appears monumental and worthy of being delegated an auxiliary status next to the city centre. “The areas behind the parking garage serve as a base for the new public space: the Münsterplatz. From here, one can access the Bertholdturm via the bridge or continue the journey further down to the park and the Rhine. In addition to being an access point to the park, the tower offers an observation platform with views of the picturesque landscape,” the studio shares.

The tower stands tall at 36 metres on a nearly square footprint, with one access point from the bridge, at the city level and the other entrance via the level of the park. One can either take the centrally placed elevator or the stairs to reach the intermediary floor that leads to the parking garage or move to the top to reach the viewing station. Additionally, the intermediary floor, too, offers an extended junction that serves as a viewing point. Within the tower are information boards that delineate the history of the town and refer to other important landmarks in the region. The architects also intend to extend the bridge as a ramp leading down to the parking level, hence providing an extra barrier-free connection between the two structures, in addition to the elevator, which is also sized for bicycles.

The parking garage, with a terrace that is open for public usage and can alternatively be used as a viewing station, is a three-storey structure designed to accommodate 231 parking spaces. The perforated facade of the parking garage makes leeway for the influx of ample daylight and ventilation. The structure, built out of rammed concrete, has walls that are nearly 40 centimetres deep, which helps avoid the ingress of water when it rains. “If water does enter during heavy rainfall events, it is drained away via sloping roadways and gutter systems,” the studio shares. Additionally, its placement near the city centre helps avert the inner-city traffic. “The Münsterplatz was created on top of the parking garage. The previously abruptly ending street layouts now merge into a well-proportioned plaza. At the same time, the city plan accrues harmonious completion with the new western edge. In the future, densification through small parcelling and mixed-use is planned,” the studio shares. This mixed usage area will be barrier-free, designated especially for the elderly, close to the city centre.

For the project, MONO Architekten references the proximal architectural style. “The design of the parking garage is inspired by the course of the former city wall. The red-tinted rammed concrete is inspired by the traditional use of red sandstone in this region and the sedimentary layers of the material on the perforated facade are inspired by the former riverbank of the Rhine,” the German architecture studio shares. The simple craftsmanship-oriented construction technique utilised by the German architects and the decision to install rammed concrete walls ensured that less cement was required for the overall process. The walls were built using a layer-by-layer compaction of a moist mixture, which helped create the stacked facade pattern. Since the walls also did not require reinforcement via steel, the net carbon footprint of the project was further reduced, as compared to conventional reinforced concrete.

Project Details

Name: Parking garage, bridge and tower in Am Kronenrain
Location: Am Kronenrain, 79395 Neuenburg am Rhein, Germany
Year of completion: 2023
Architect: MONO Architekten
Project lead: Daniel Schilp
Design team: André Schmidt, Jonas Greubel, Mariana Varela, Zsofia Mester, Peter Heckeroth, Eric Zapel, Lisa van Heyden, Noah Ehlers, Dorit Schneider-Maas
Client: City of Neuenburg am Rhein