A new vision for Cologne's Neustadt district

Cologne, 27th September 2024 - Dr. Ermelinda Di Chiara, the first recipient of the Gottfried Böhm Scholarship, presented the results of her one-year project at a reception hosted by Lord Mayor Reker in Cologne's Historic City Hall. Her work focuses on the connection between architecture and nature as well as the use of existing empty spaces for a sustainable redesign of Cologne's Neustadt district.

Dr. Di Chiara's project outline “THE VOID FOR A SUSTAINABLE CITY” focuses on five aspects relating to the green belt on the left bank of the Rhine. Firstly, it aims to transform Cologne's Neustadt district into a completely car-free zone with new green spaces, with the exception of major arterial roads leading into the city, such as Bonner Straße, Vorgebirgstraße, Luxemburger Straße and Aachener Straße. In doing so, she typologizes the streets of Neustadt and gives them different green and open space character. Secondly, the green belt is to be bordered in the direction of the outer districts with high-rise buildings that frame the main arterial roads. Thirdly, the green belt is to be demarcated in the direction of Neustadt by partially building over the railroad embankment with a total of eight mobility stations. In future, these buildings will act as traffic hubs for the traffic-calmed Neustadt. Fourthly, the blocks of flats in Neustadt are to be structurally extended in the direction of the railroad embankment so that enclosed green inner courtyards can be created. And fifthly, a new residential district is to be created in August-Sander-Park, as Dr. Di Chiara believes that the park is currently a hidden, forgotten void in the city. “This will create better architectural edges to the existing architecture and the urban space of the Neustadt,” says Dr. Di Chiara. “We are creating a clearer and more legible urban structure that will become a model of sustainability and is in line with global challenges.”

Reception in the historic town hall
The reception was opened by the Mayor of Cologne, Henriette Reker. In her welcoming address she emphasized the importance of sustainable urban development and highlighted how important innovative architectural concepts are for the future of Cologne: “It is a great honor for me to have known Gottfried Böhm personally. His alert and modern spirit has always impressed me. That is why the scholarship was a very special gift to mark the 100th birthday of Gottfried Böhm. The scholarship holders engage with Cologne and provide new inspiration to make our city even better. I congratulate Dr. Di Chiara on her work.”
The introductory words were followed by statements from Professor Sylvia Heuchemer, President of the Cologne University of Applied Sciences, and Susanne Fabry, Chairwoman of the Association of Friends and Sponsors of the Cologne University of Applied Sciences., who emphasized the importance of the Gottfried Böhm Scholarship as a platform for creative urban development approaches. “With her work, Dr. Di Chiara will continue to have a lasting impact on the scholarship in the future and thus achieve a great deal for Cologne,” says Susanne Fabry.

Prof. Paul Böhm, son of the late architect Gottfried Böhm, paid tribute to Dr. Di Chiara's work in his closing remarks: “It is important that we look at Cologne with an open and unbiased mind. That's why the scholarship is so valuable. It helps to steer our thinking in other directions and give us more courage and innovation. That will be necessary if we want to master the challenges in our city. And that is exactly what Dr. Di Chiara has succeeded in doing.”

The exhibition is open to the public free of charge in the Spanish Building of the Historic Town Hall until October 15, 2024 and offers all interested parties the opportunity to experience Dr. Di Chiara's vision of a sustainable Cologne Neustadt.

 

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Press contact: Thomas Müller, mueller@dieprberater.de, 0049 151 629 09973

About the Gottfried Böhm Scholarship
The Gottfried Böhm Scholarship supports architects in the post-graduate phase who are particularly interested in the connection between architecture and urban planning. Under the patronage of Cologne's Lord Mayor Henriette Reker, the one-year residency scholarship takes place in the metropolis of Cologne. The scholarship holder is given the opportunity to work for a year on creative and visionary architectural and urban development projects for Cologne and its periphery. For this period, he or she will receive free accommodation, a workplace in a creative environment in the heart of the city and a monthly grant totaling 2,500 euros. The scholarship is offered and supervised by the Association of Friends and Sponsors of the Cologne University of Applied Sciences. With this scholarship, the City of Cologne and the sponsors of the scholarship want to honor the Pritzker Prize winner, who died in 2021.