Martina Winandi

A Village in Progress – Futurable Concepts for Schophoven and the Indeland

Purpose of the Study

“Schophoven” is situated at the edge of the brown coal open cast Inden, located in the mining area between Aachen and Cologne. In this region, mainly affected by agriculture, the mining causes a big change of the landscape, over decades. Due to the large scale movement of the cast, not only a couple of villages were resettled. The ongoing working progress affects the proximate rural communities by noise, dust and land use. After the close down in 2030 the area is planned to be transformed into the largest lake in NRW. The inflation of the pit will enquire another 30 years.

During these years Schophoven will be under permanent modification. The water to fill the lake will be taken from the river “Rur” and piped thought the village, causing a gap between two housing areas.

Concept

To attractivate the location for the inhabitants and potential constructors the transitional landscape should be designed and made accessible. Activities as well as agricultural and energetic test areas will be established on the different construction levels of the former cast.
The village structure will be transformed in three steps. First, Schophoven will be supplemented with infrastructure, for example a farmer’s shop, to compensate the insufficient supply of necessary goods. In the second step, building sites close to the future lake will be traded to expanse the village in this direction and finally, create a new harbour area.

WaterAxis

To close the newly formed gap in the village, the interspace will be designed as a green axis, featured with several thematic gazebos, a water basin and gastronomy. This new space should create a meeting point for both parts of the village and make them grow together. 

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