Exemplary Remodelling: Kassel
Goethestrasse’s Transformation into a Boulevard
Crucial to the redesign of Goethestrasse in western Kassel was the merging of the vehicle lanes with the tram line to create a single lane in each direction. Space was then freed up for a generous promenade to be built with a two-way cycle lane. Perpendicular parking spaces were arranged along the road to the south of the tree line to meet high demand. The once enormous pedestrian crossings were rearranged, creating new public squares. All this served to revitalise the area by creating high quality public space, enriching everyday life in the “Vorderer Westen” Wilhelminian-era neighbourhood.
The former streetscape
Goethestrasse in Kassel is an eminent street in the heritage-protected “Vorderer Westen” district, providing a visual counterpoint to the monumental Baroque sculpture of Hercules on Wilhelmshöhe. The redesign of this prominent street was vital to curb its waning ability to cater to residents with its retail offering plummeting, in part due to its role as a primary thoroughfare for cars.
Redistributing the street space
The renovation of Kassel’s Goethestrasse involved a complete redistribution of the street space. The road now features a large promenade with a ten-metre-wide pavement on the sunlit north side. There is a two-way cycle lane and an additional cycle lane on the south side of the street.
© Planungsgemeinschaft Landschaft + Freiraum
© Planungsgemeinschaft Landschaft + Freiraum
A partition by Joseph Beuys
The street needed redesigning due to the increasing vacancy rate in the commercial units and in order to keep the eminent road’s appeal. These “Beuys trees” now separate traffic from the 300 metre long promenade.
Goethestrasse after reconstruction
Robert Bischer, Christoph Pelka, Jan Piecha
© Jan Piecha/Planungsgemeinschaft Landschaft + Freiraum
Office
The Kassel-based planning consortium Landschaft + Freiraum, founded in 1981, mainly works on projects in public spaces with a focus on urban greening and the reclamation of traffic areas. The Goethestraße/Germaniastraße extension project received a German Urban Development Award in 2014.