The city of Offenbach has set itself climate targets. The coalition agreement 2021-2026 of the governing coalition of Social Democrats, Greens and Liberals provides for “testing the establishment of open superblocks (sustainable, traffic-calmed urban district) on the basis of pilot projects”. A citizens’ initiative has taken this as an opportunity to prepare a study on Offenbach’s Nordend to test the feasibility of such a project.
In cooperation with the citizens’ initiative, students of the HfG Offenbach developed a superblock concept for Offenbach’s Nordend in a seminar led by Kai Vöckler. Based on the reorganisation of traffic, the modal filters (structural obstacles that influence traffic) were to be designed, such as bollards. At the same time, design affordances should be formulated and tested that improve the amenity quality in the outdoor space, in the streets. In addition, roadway and path markings play a major role in influencing the forms of use.
On Parking Day, September 16th 2022, the students presented their designs in virtual reality, making them walkable for interested parties. In this way, the discussion with the residents of the Nordend was sought and it was shown how a sustainably redesigned everyday mobility contributes to an upgrading of the urban space.
Type of project • Student project
Supervisors • Prof. Dr. Kai Vöckler, Dipl.-Des. Annika Storch
Participants • Lisa Bartz, Lea Bernhard, Till Eser, Emma Kottwitz, Tobias Mendoza, Josephine Pavesi
Status • completed
Duration • 10/2021 – 02/2022
Cooperation • Citizens‘ initiative OFBlock, Prof. Dr. Jürgen Follmann, University of Darmstadt (transport and traffic), Prof. Peter Eckart, HfG Offenbach (Integrated Design)
