Linus Hermann

The Ruhr region: Germany‘s largest conurbation, the center of the Blue Banana, the MegaCity Ruhrstadt. These superlatives could give the impression that the Ruhr is a densely built-up urban landscape, networked by efficient local public transport. But no other European metropolitan region is so heavily dependent on cars. The S-Bahn Rhein Ruhr is the only cross-city public transport system that connects the polycentric settlement structure and is therefore an important puzzle piece for a climate-friendly future of the region. At the same time, the S-Bahn is a multi-layered structure that goes far beyond its mobility function. The work attempts to do justice to the various aspects by means of an encyclopaedic collection in the form of an Abecedarium. This compilation makes it clear that a change in the status quo of transport in the Ruhr region is only possible by addressing and linking a wide range of factors and challenges. “Clean solutions“ in the form of master plans and large-scale projects have failed in the past and will probably continue to fail in the future due to the political and bureaucratic fragmentation of the Ruhr region. Finally, an answer is sought in a short film. Following the Idea of Perspektivischem Inkrementalismus, the designs shown in the video are individual proposals for improving the Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn. Individual small interventions link the “letters” of the Abecedarium with the specific locations and thus create a possible future.

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