Transformation urbaner Wasserlagen am Rhein zwischen Bonn und Duisburg

• Transformation of urban waterside locations along the river Rhine between Bonn and Duisburg

Korus, Christine; Wachten, Kunibert (Thesis advisor); Lohrberg, Frank (Thesis advisor)

Aachen (2016)
Dissertation / PhD Thesis

Dissertation, RWTH Aachen, 2016

Abstract

Urban waterside locations - researched in the big cities of Bonn, Cologne, Leverkusen, Neuss, Düsseldorf, Krefeld and Duisburg - are regionally significant and functionally important urban spaces as well as landscapes which shape the spine of the Rhine section in North-Rhine-Westphalia in a regional scale. Whereas the big cities consistently deal with the functions and design of urban waterside locations in context of urban master plans as well as individual projects, there aren´t any planning authority or planning instruments so far focusing exclusively on functions and design of urban waterside locations in context of the cultural landscape "Rheinschiene". The research emanates from two theses: 1_Based on the historical urban development, individual imprints of urban waterside locations in the researched big cities influence the as a priority pursued municipal planning goals and transformations of urban waterside locations.2_As a result of the industrialization the researched river section is being seen from the view of higher administrative levels as a connected economic region with the river Rhine as a transportation link. Municipal unique features take a back seat. (Sectoral) Planning on a higher administrative level derives in many ways from the sum of local development goals, not least because those plans evolve from existing relationships and dependencies (concerning economic and transport, nature and landscape) mapped and converted into spatial-functional concepts (Trans-European networks, metropolitan area, cultural landscape). Nevertheless, planning conflicts arise from the different perspectives in particular as regards:• the quality of the heterogeneous types of use, • the sustainability of the transport systems, • the resilience of risk areas, • the qualities of a cultural landscape vs. a constantly transformed urban landscape,• local and regional competitions and synergies.Against the background of a large number of congruent local development interests, unresolved contradictions between local and higher-level plans, resulting challenges and tasks for the future and not least in view of subspaces whose urban spatial and functional integration cannot satisfy, there is a regional need for action. As a result of the research the following components of regional cooperation for a sustainable transformation of urban waterside locations are recommended: • an agreement of the Rhine residents between Bonn and Duisburg on a Rhine Charter "Rheinschiene", • the implementation of a "Regionale Rheinschiene", focusing on the cultural landscape "Rheinschiene", • the creation of a regional master plan "urban waterside locations" • a legally binding safeguard of regional planning expertise for the transformation of urban waterside locations.Perspectively to aim is a regional planning expertise for both the cultural landscape "Rheinschiene" and for the economic area "Rheinland/Rhein-schiene". Looking at the early, regional planning approaches in the Rhineland and the already practiced by Regional Cooperations regional planning based on municipal initiative and interests seems to play an important role for a successful transformation of urban waterside locations.

Institutions

• Chair of Urban Design and Institute for Urban Design and European Urbanism [212410]