Thomas Walta

Location and situation

The city port of Münster is located beside the "Dortmund-Ems-Kanal". Today its use as a trading centre for cargo transport is limited. Huge cornlofts still testify to the former busy corn trade. These cornlofts, which actually are the home of artists and galleries mainly influence the atmosphere and the attraction of the port area.
The design refers to the northern part of the port basin. The area is about 10 ha and within walking distance of the main station and the centre of Münster.
Unused trade structures prevent a sustainable development of the design area. The close position of some of these buildings to the port bassin make a continuous promenade along the water impossible.

Design

Idea
• Development of a "culture quay" along the port bassin
• Creation of a new entrance situation including a visual axis to the cornlofts
• Connection of green area and Dortmund-Ems-Kanal through restoration of "port-walk"
• Upgrading of design area by setup of new canals
• Preservation and rounding off of existing block-structure
• Identification with the port area through visual relationship to the port and the canals

The "culture-quay"
• Emphasis of "solitary-structure" through accentuation of old cornlofts
• Continuation of "solitary-structure" on the newly vacated areas
• Definition of space of the "culture-quay" through completion of the "solitary-structure" with housing structure to a continuous scene

Housing scheme
• Water as a basic element for the identity of the backward structure
• Simple orientation through the positioning of houses along the canals
• Car limited housing scheme with parking ground for handicapped and carsharing (collective parking ground at the entrance of the area)
• Clear hierachy of spaces
• Cubic building shapes according to the existing cornloft architecture
• High housing quality in multi-story appartment buildings through semi-private terraces connected to an open staircase in front of the appartments
• Variety of floorplans (12 types 48 -144 m2) through combinable modules over 1 or 2 levels
• Swimming platforms as "water gardens" for the appartments in the ground floor with reeds for greater privacy

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