Rhein-Main Regional Park

Regional parks as informal tool of spatial planning at the example of Rhein-Main metropolitan area

Name	Regional park Rhein-Main
Place	Rhein-Main metropolitan area
Country	Germany
Topic	landscape management,regional parks, agglomerations
Author(s)	Nils Pudewills
Completion	1990 - undetermined
Client	Agglomeration planning associaton Regional park Rhein-Main and subregional publicy owned companies
Project costs	since 1996 approx.30 Million €
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Rationale: Why is this case study interesting?

"My baby came down from romania She was the queen of transylvania But now we live in suburbia Without any friends buzzing you" (Shantel, Disko Partizani)

Suburbia is well known and described as residential areas around cities. The growth of these faceless, arbitrary, convertible and replaceable settlements is a phenomena around the world due the ongoing urbanisation. The growth of suburbia is related with the growth of the worldwide population and the citizens' hope to find a better life within urban areas. The question how to handle, describe, understand and how to develop these areas in a more sustainable way keep planners busy all over the world .

Urban agglomerations are growing at the expense of the surrounding landscape. Ongoing fragmentation of the landscape and loss of biodiversity are some of the consequences. One way to protect the remaining open spaces and the ecologically valuable parts of the landscape is provided by the instruments nature protection legislation. This is a passive way to protect and save the remaining open spaces between the settlements.

If Landscape is understood as a combined work of nature and man, the conflict between landscape conservation and human needs can be solved.

The Regional-park concept as active management strategy was conceived to save the remaining open spaces in between the settlements in Rhine-Main agglomeration. Basic idea is to connect local highlights with a grid of foot- and cycle paths.

Regional park Rhine-Main is an example how highly attractive open spaces can be achieved by inter local collaboration.

Author's perspective

Rhine-Main as urban agglomeration provides a well established infrastructure such as public transport systems, shopping possibilities, universities and much more. For me, as an inhabitant of the Rhine-Main region the usage of all these facilities and possibilities is more or less self-evident. Due to the infrastructure its possible to overbear long distances to get to work, for recreation or visiting friends within less than an hour [1]. Outside of agglomerations it would take much longer to overbear comparable distances.

Though specialized in private garden design and garden construction surveillance my interests go beyond private garden design. First I got in contact with the idea of Regional parks during the studies of IMLA (International Master or Landscape Architecture) [2].

To gather information about the Regional park Rhine-Main and to understand the idea behind is my personal interest during the following case study. An additional question is: Why is the concept of Regional parks so innovative?

Landscape and/or urban context

Natural spatial classification

Main features of the landscape surrounding lowland Rhein Main are low mountain ranges and the biggest rivers Rhine and Main. North-west of Rhine-Main lowland is the northern edge of the upper Rhine valley, the Taunus. In the east the Vogelsberg and the Spessart. South of the river Main is the Odenwald. The western edge of the Rhine-Main region is formed by Hunsrück and south-west as intersection with the Rhine-Neckar region the Pfalz. [3]

The whole region is named by the rivers Rhine and Main. River Rhine crosses the Rhine-Main region from the south to the north. River Main flows from the east into the river Rhine.

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  Main topographical features are the low mountain ranges and the lowlands. Graphic: Pudewills Basis: Googleearth

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  Main rivers in the region: the rivers Rhine and Main. Graphic: Pudewills Basis: Googleearth

Urban context

Embedded into the global network of economy the urban context needs to be seen on seperate correlating levels.

On the level of the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main Conurbation Planning Association the region is defined due a politically defined [4] by the conglomeration act. "The Frankfurt/Rhine-Main metropolitan area is defined as the area extending from Kreis (district) Gießen to Kreis Bergstraße (from North to South) and from Kreis Mainz-Bingen to Kreis Aschaffenburg (from West to East). Since 2008 the district of Fulda belongs to the region .... With its polycentric structure the region convers parts of three Bundesländer (German federal states): Hessen (Hesse), Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate) and Bayern (Bavaria)". (Frankfurt/Rhine-Main Conurbation Planning Association, Regional monitoring report 2008).

A short english summary of the regional monitoring report can be read at the homepage of the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main Conurbation Planning Association: [5] Following graphic illustrates the contour of Frankfurt/Rhine-Main Conurbation Planning Association: [6]

Core cities next Frankfurt are Offenbach, Wiesbaden, Darmstadt and Mainz.

On the planning level of State of Hesse Frankfurt/Rhine-Main is summarized into the planning area Hesse south. [7]

Frankfurt/Rhine-Main area is an economical location with national, international and intercontinental meaning. South of the region interacts with the region Rhine-Neckar. As region with a dynamic economy Frankfurt/Rhine-Main gets influenced by the globalisation processes. Frankfurt/Rhine-Main competes together with European metropolitan areas for investments.

Frankfurt/Rhine-Main region is among other organisations member of the Network of European Metropolitan Regions and Areas (METREX) METREX .... provides a platform for the exchange of knowledge, expertise and experience on metropolitan affairs, and joint action on issues of common interest. [8].

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  Rhine-Main area is located next to the metropolitan area Rhine-Neckar. Graphic: Pudewills Basis: Googleearth

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  Core Cities in the region. Graphic: Pudewills Basis: Googleearth

Cultural/social/political context

Administrational structure

Frankfurt Rhine/Main is a politically and administration fragmented space and shared between 3 federal states of Germany: Hesse, Bavaria and Rhineland-Palatinate. These three federal states have a different administration structure. The fragmentation is a result of historical processes. A map from 1929 [9] and from 1999 [10] illustrate the administration fragmentation of the region. On the area of the state of Hesse the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main Conurbation Planning Association combines the interests of the membership municipalities [11].

Economy

• Brief explanation of culture, political economy, legal framework

Illustration: Bullet points, image, background notes

History

Based on the engagement of the joint planning association agglomeration Rhine-Main is the concept of the Regional park beeing realized since the early 90s. Mile stones in the history of the Regional park Rhine-Main were:

Administrational history:

• 1994 Resolution of the planning association Umlandverband Frankfurt (UVF) to implement a Regional park in Rhine-Main agglomeration

• 1995 Foundation of the intermediary company Regional park Rhine Main Pilot gGmbH

• 1997 Foundation of the intermediary company Regional park RhineMain southwest GmbH

• 2000 Foundation of the intermediary company Regional park RhineMain Kornberg / Schwalbach GmbH

• 2001 Foundation of the intermediary company Regional park RhineMain Taunushang GmbH

• 2003 The joint planning association Rhine Main gets project partner in the European Union support programme Interreg III B SAUL (Sustainable and Accessible Urban Landscapes) and SOS II (Sustainable Open Spaces)

• 2004 Foundation of the intermediary company Regional park Hohe Straße GmbH together with the planning association Rhine Main

• 2005 Foundation of the umbrella company Regional park Agglomeration Rhine-Main GmbH. Due legislation the joint planning association Rhine Main is no longer responsible for the Regional park. The new founded umbrella company follows up the concept of a Regional park Rhine Main.

History of the projects:

• How did the area/project/plan at the focus of the case study evolve?

Illustration: Table or time line

Spatial analysis of area/project/plan

• What are the main structural features?
• How has it been shaped? Were there any critical decisions?

Illustration: Map/diagram/sketches photos and background notes

Core Questions Working Group Green Structure Planning

How does funding influence the planning and use of public space?

Funding influences the implementation speed of Regional park routes and the realization of projects. Resources are used more sparingly.

The realization of the Regional park concept is based on several funding pillars. Regional park projects have had an total expense of ca. 30 million Euros yet. The pillars are [12] [13]:

• Joint planning associaton (Planungsverband Ballungsraum Frankfurt/Rhein-Main) ca. 39%
• Partner municipalities (16 %)
• State of Hesse (8 %)
• Sponsorship money (29 %)
• Subsidies from European Union (8 %)

How are spaces within the site used both currently and projected?

Project areas are open spaces in the whole Rhine-Main Agglomeration. Therefore existing open spaces such as parks, woods, meadows agricultural land and allotted special features in the landscape.

Projected is a grid of paths shaped like park paths connecting the existing green axes and the special features.

The grid of paths will be realized as a long termed, project oriented vision. Regional park routes and local Regional park projects are implemented step by step. As informal planning instrument the Regional park concept can only on cooperative basis with all parties concerned and involved.

The steps of realiszation and the development of concepts are consigned by Separate organizations, a umbrella association and implementation association in cooperation with all parties involved.

Consensus planning aims are:

• Save remaining open spaces.
• Creating very attractive open spaces for recreational purposes.
• Accentuation of the beauty of the landscape.
• Creating regional interrelationship.

How can the historic elements / layers be integrated?

The historical development of Rhine-Main region is a combination of circumstances related to natural landscape elements, settlement history and transport development. Settlement development followed the line of the rivers. Trade routes connected these settlements, often they get along the rivers.

River Rhine is till today a major trade route from north to south. River Main is a trade route from west to east. Located at the intersection of the trade routes the conditions of settlement development were convenient. Historical traces in Rhine-Main area reach back to New Stone Age (Neolithic).

Traces from past eras are readable in the Landscape of Rhine-Main-region such as celtic cairns, roman limes, trade routes, castles, historic parks, industrial sites. Historical elements and layers are one integrative part of the Regional-Park concept. Rediscovered and brought back into consciousness a grid of Regional-park routes connect them as destinations. Visible sites are made accessible and hidden traces are often designed by artist or explained via tables or guided tours.

How do the contributing elements of water relate to the project?

The region is named Rhine Main in relation to the both rivers. These rivers are the main water features since the beginning of the settlement history. They're used as resource for water catchment, fishing, for transportation purposes and for recreation.

Water in the Regional park concept need to be considered in two scales. In regional scale and local scale the rivers are a key element in the Regional Park. They're a natural connecting element cross communities and are part of regional green axes. Rhine and Main and its confluences are a natural connecting element. Paths and tracks besides the rivers are embedded into the concept and used as walking and cycling paths.

Small smaller lakes and quarry ponds are also part of the landscape and embedded into the concept. Water as part of a open design is also often a component in the Regional park on a specific site.

How does the built environment relate to the landscape around it?

Rhine Mine region is an metropolitan area in Germany:

• 5.5 million inhabitants (2007)
• Area of 14.755,1 km2
  • Core Cities: 1186 km2
• Density of inhabitants: 372 Inhabitans/km2
• 8,3 of Germanys gross value added is generated in Rhine Main.
• Intersection of several traffic systems.

Core Cities are: Aschaffenburg, Darmstadt, Frankfurt a. M., Fulda, Gießen, Hanau, Limburg, Mainz, Offenbach a. M., Wiesbaden und Worms (IHK Rhein-Main)

Main features of the landscape surrounding lowland Rhein Main are low mountain ranges and the biggest rivers Rhine and Main. Rhine Main is a polycentric area around the core city Frankfurt a.M.

Main issues in terms of green structure planning are the loss of open spaces, the loss of biodiversity and the increasing fragmentation of the landscape. Major driving forces are continuous suburbanization, economical growth and the global competition about investments.

With the establishment of a Regional park and the necessary cooperation and processes of participation the goal of a regional identity can be reached.

Analysis of program/function

• What are the main functional characteristics?
• How have they been expressed or incorporated?

Illustration: Map/diagram/sketches photos and background notes

Analysis of design/planning process

• How was the area/project/plan formulated and implemented?
• Were there any important consultations/collaborations?

Illustration: Map/diagram/sketches photos and background notes

Analysis of use/users

• How is the area/project/plan used and by whom?
• Is the use changing? Are there any issues?

Illustration: Map/diagram/sketches photos and background notes

Future development directions

• How is the area/project/plan evolving?
• Are there any future goals?

Illustration: Map/diagram/sketches photos and background notes

Peer reviews or critique

• Has the area/ project/plan been reviewed by academic or professional reviewers?
• What were their main evaluations?

Pleas add references, quotes...

Points of success and limitations

• What do you see as the main points of success and limitations of the area/project/plan?

Illustration: Summary table

What can be generalized from this case study?

• Are there any important theoretical insights?

Short statement plus background notes

Which research questions does it generate?

Short statement plus background notes

Image Gallery

Cooperate design elements

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  Picture: Pudewills

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  Picture: Pudewills

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Projects

Over 100 projects within the concept of the Regional park Rhine-Main are realized. The following compilation is not chronological regarding the year of completation. It's only a short insight into the Regional park Rhine-Main. Each of the projects would be a case study for itself, a detailed description of the projects would go beyond the scope of the case study Regional park Rhine Main. For a deeper insight please visit: [14] [15]

Swelling park Kronthal

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  View into the Swelling park an old english designed park from 1833. Picture: Pudewills

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  One of the swellings. Picture: Pudewills

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  Wooden bridge, a matter of sustainable design. Picture: Pudewills

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  Picnic facilities Picture: Pudewills

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  View from aside the valley. Picture: Pudewills

El-Lissitzky-Alley

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  Bridge over a street, it connects the swelling park with the El-Lissitzky-Alley. Picture: Pudewills

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  Approach to El-Lissitzky-Alley. El-Lissitzky (1890-1941) was an russian artist, architect, designer and photographer. Picture: Pudewills

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  Concrete pillars, designed by Professor Gerhard Schweizer, Darmstadt Picture: Pudewills

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  Concrete pillars, designed by Professor Gerhard Schweizer, Darmstadt Picture: Pudewills

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  Concrete pillars, designed by Professor Gerhard Schweizer, Darmstadt Picture: Pudewills

Pole pyramid

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  One of the Highlights in the Regional park Rhine-Main. A pyramide made out of wooden poles. Picture: Pudewills

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  It's a landmark opposite of the radar of Rhine-Main airport. Picture: Pudewills

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  Picture: Pudewills

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  It is a acessable art object. Picture: Pudewills

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  Isn't it beautiful? Picture: Pudewills

Goethe tower

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  Goethe tower,one of the highest (43m) wooden towers in Germany Picture: Pudewills

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  View from the tower to the skyline of Frankfurt. The wood in the foreground is part of the green belt Frankfurt. Picture: Pudewills

Airfield Bonames

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  Part of the Bonames airfield plan Picture: Pudewills

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  The bridge connects the Frankfurt green belt over the river Nidda with the Regional park. Picture: Pudewills

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  The airfield is part of the flooding area of the river Nidda again. Picture: Pudewills

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  A lookout made out of used concrete slabs. The slabs were used for helicopter landing areas. Picture: Pudewills

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  Only a small path reminds on the past -a landing strip for military airplanes. Picture: Pudewills

Nature protection area Mönchbruch

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  Hauntig lodge Mönchbruch Picture: Pudewills

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  Lookout tower into the nature protection area. Picture: Pudewills

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  View into the nature protection area. Picture: Pudewills

References

Please add literature, documentations and weblinks

Documentations:

UNESCO (2005) Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Paris. Page 83.

Links in English:

http://www.saulproject.net/

http://www.frm-united.com/Home.9.0.html?&L=1

http://www.imla-campus.eu/

Links in German:

http://www.regionalpark-rheinmain.de/

http://www.planungsverband.de/

http://www.frankfurt.de

http://www.rhein-mainische-forschung.de/atlas/

http://hanau.ihk.de

http://www.frm-united.com/Home.9.0.html

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