The Spine Auguste Victoria Mine 3/7

The Spine is based on the reinforcement and clarification of the existing structure and spatial organization of the Auguste Victoria Mine 3/7. Without depending on or compromising the existing buildings and open spaces, the recognition and development of the transversal streets as the main structural element will allow the future uses to be positioned with great flexibility, maximizing opportunities and minimizing costs. The proposal aims to break the segragated condition of production areas towards an integrated model, blurring the perception and definition of borders.

Regional implementation

Currently the regional connectivity of the site is mainly produced by the junction of the 52 highway through Carl DuisbergStraβe. This connection implies an undesired use of the Carl DuisbergStraβe through the existing neighbourhoods and an unclear access to the site.

Therefore a connection with the 52 is advised at HülsbergStraβe, leading to NordStraβe and directly to the middle of the site forming a clear relationship with the Chemipark. The clear intersection of the NordStraβe with Carl DuisbergStraβe becomes a strong and recognizable corner, the central gate of the future Production Park.

Local articulation

21st century production areas cannot be solely understood as isolated areas independent from city life. The multiplication of uses and the diversity of services that will be placed in this mixed space will be used by the Production Park users as well as the rest of the city of Marl, becoming a new collective space in the mind of the citizens. New Pedestrian and bike paths will be integrated into the already existing urban tissue, forming a continuous chain of public uses and involving the future development of the open Production Park.

Starting point

The starting point of The Spine is the reinforcement and clarification of the existing structure and spatial organization of the Auguste Victoria Mine 3/7. Without depending on or compromising the existing buildings and open spaces, the recognition and development of transversal streets as the main structural element will allow the future uses to be positioned with great flexibility, maximizing opportunities and minimizing costs.

From segregation to nature integration

Due to its functional needs and its aggressiveness towards the landscape, the Auguste Victoria Mine 3/7 area has been understood as a segregated zone in complete contrast with the surrounding nature, a cut out piece of land. Zoning and land use plans have also contributed to thinking in terms of specialization, drawing clear lines of division. The proposal aims to break this mental and physical division towards an integrated model where built forms, empty artificial spaces and natural spaces are combined in a rich mixture of urban situations, blurring the perception and definition of borders. Rather than being separated, production and nature will coexist side by side.

From closed plot layouts to an open system

In the past, production areas have often been organized with a systemic spread of grids and rigid plot shapes. This model implies an abusive use of the land space, multiplying and over dimensioning roads and residual empty spaces. The 21st century production model must rethink this model, aiming for a more flexible way to organize the future uses, where open spaces and the uncertain future buildings work together in an open system. The use of open streets instead of closed grids maximizes the services to the future buildings with the minimum cost/land use with the maximum flexibility.

Urban process

Uncertainty of how the production-commercial area will evolve and develop in the future, as well as the different changing interests on the site, raises the need to define a flexible process, adaptable to any future scenario. Here each individual street of the main spine becomes the basic project unit, allowing to develop each one of them with independency and flexibility. Each street will provide access and service to a specific area without large-scale investment, and at the same time maximize options and opportunities to generate future uses.

South area

Middle area

North area

Urban metabolism

Flexible organization of future uses

Between streets… and nature

Functional diagrams