| Land Restoration Renaturation Smart City |
November 2020 | RMPSL LA BUGA City of Rostock |
together with Sabelo Jeebe Mohamed Amer |
Intro
The BUGA (ger. Bundesgartenschau) is a biennial federal horticulture show in Germany, covering topics like landscaping, water management, and climate resilience, recently often intertwined with urban renewal and city planning. Rostock has applied to host the 2025 edition, with project costs estimated at EUR 800 million by 2022, of which the restoration of a former landfill was only a part.
From November 2018 to July 2021, I worked at RMPSL, a leading landscape architecture design office established in 1951. At RMPSL, we focused on creating concepts that prioritize usability and positive experiences, catering to humans as individuals, societies as groups, and nature as a non-human client.
Design Process
Landscape architecture is often seen as “making a pretty visualization” or “planting some trees”, but the reality is much more complicated. The diagram below illustrates the design process when working on a public competition in landscape architecture. It does not differ much from work in any other design field, although it is usually more complex.
About the project
The project area was planned to be both the centerpiece of the BUGA and part of integrated urban renewal concept, including projects such as a pedestrian and bicycle bridge across the Warnow River, a new housing development north and east of the former landfill, and the reconstruction of boulevards and the harbor on the Warnow’s southern bank
Since its reclamation, the former Dierkow landfill has transformed into a near-natural succession area. Despite its “dirty” past, the landfill now blends seamlessly into the Hechtgraben lowlands and surroundings. That’s why, although covering approximately 50 hectares and situated opposite Rostock’s historic Old Town, it remains largely unnoticed.
As part of the Warnow Circular Path (Warnowrundweg), the future park will be the centerpiece of the city’s new open space framework, serving as a local recreation area and connecting the northern districts.
Concept
The concept envisions developing a largely extensive landscape city park (Stadtpark), with a ring-shaped outer area (Park Shell, Parkschale) that is spatially and functionally linked to the surrounding areas. Radial paths from the entrance areas penetrate the Extensive Belt (Extensivgürtel) leading to the central Leisure Plateau (Freizeitplateau). South-facing terraces (Landscape Terraces, Landschaftsterrassen) extend from the plateau toward the Warnow, offering various perspectives of the Old Town. Along the Warnow, the terracing meets the Warnowband, providing numerous quieter leisure opportunities.
The park is accessed by various circular paths, offering a variety of activities and experiences with diverse themes and atmospheres. The Warnowband connects the park to the inter-district Warnow Circular Path, where users can explore water-related themes at the intersection of city, harbor, and landscape. Within the city park, the Warnow Circular Path merges with the Landfill Loop (Deponieloop), making the former landfill’s spatial edges legible. The Landfill Loop interweaves with adjacent areas (Hechtgraben and Speckgraben wildlife area, reed wetlands, Warnow River, and Warnowquartier housing project), offering a range of nature and environmental education experiences. The Inner Circular Path (Innere Rundweg), running alongside the other circular paths near the “Old Town View” (Altstadtblick) jetty, defines the park’s central, intensively used area. The Leisure Plateau is framed by the Leisure Loop.
Leisure Plateau
The central leisure area is characterized by intensive usage with various free sport and play activities. Visitors always have the central play and viewing sculpture, the Climate Lighthouse (Klimaleuchtturm), in view. This landmark can be seen from all directions, both from the northern districts and from the old town. As a play sculpture made of interlocking aluminum profile tubes and nets, it represents a lightweight solution that is compatible with the sensitive ground despite its considerable height. The nets are designed on several levels as closed “bubbles” with connecting net tubes, which ensures safe playability. The upper levels are inclined to the south and thus represent large “viewing hammocks”. As a discreetly illuminated landmark with an information terminal, the climate lighthouse is also integrated into the park’s smart environmental concept.
The central leisure area is a hub of activity, featuring numerous sports and play options. Its focal point is the Climate Lighthouse (Klimaleuchtturm), a play sculpture made of interlocking aluminum tubes and nets. Visible from both the northern districts and the Old Town, this lightweight structure is designed to minimize ground impact. The nets form closed “bubbles” connected by net tubes, ensuring safe play, while the upper levels serve as south-facing “viewing hammocks.” Discreetly illuminated and equipped with an information terminal, the Climate Lighthouse integrates seamlessly into the park’s smart environmental concept.
The plateau is effectively “shielded” from the residential areas to the north-east by moundwalls. These earthwalls are integrated into the design as tribunes and play areas. The plateau is divided into different usage areas for different user groups.
- Youth Activity Area – features an exercise course, skating facilities, climbing wall, and slacklines, catering to teens.
- Fun Sports Area – the area with multifunctional sports fields, calisthenics, table tennis etc., that offers a wide range of opportunities for formal sports as well as entertainment sports.
- Play and Sport Lawn – a spacious sports lawn offering more flexibility that can be used as a football pitch, playing field for volleyball and much more.
- Lifecycle Playground – a themed playground focused on environmental topics for children.
- Fitness Zone – fitness equipment, boules lanes etc. – an active recreation for older population.
- A centrally-located kiosk with equipment rental and a toilet.
Landscape Terraces
The Landscape Terraces form the park’s quieter, yet still intensively used central area. The terraced southern slope offers various levels with views of the Warnow River and Rostock’s Old Town. Paths with gabion seats provide peaceful recreational spots, shaded by multi-stemmed solitary trees and trees clusters. Sun loungers on the slopes add comfort. Integrated into the lowest terrace near the Warnowband, the Green Amphitheater features seating on recessed steps and grass embankments. Beyond formal events, it serves as a Speakers Corner and provides excellent views.
Warnowband and Altstadtblick
The Warnowband between the landfill and the shoreline area, as part of the Warnow Circular Path, is a key park area, combining water experiences, recreation, play, and nature. To protect the biotope, water access is limited to specific areas only, with the path running along the top of the embankment.
The highlight is the Altstadtblick jetty, extending from the high bank promenade above the protected reed wetland to the river. It offers diverse recreational zones, including the elevated Warnow Tribune (Warnowtribüne) with panoramic views of the Old Town and St. Mary’s Church. A lower terrace provides barrier-free water access and seating steps. The jetty also accommodates water sports enthusiasts, connecting the Warnowband to the water while minimizing impact on the wetland.
Park Shell and Landfill Loop
The Park Shell forms the park’s Outer Ring (Äußere Ring), connecting it to surrounding residential and natural areas by creating semi-public, semi-private, and semi-accessible spaces. The Landfill Loop connects these uses as a thematic adventure trail and makes the dimensions of the former landfill site visible in terms of design.
Utilization Pockets (Nutzungspockets), located in the Shell, focus on recycling and anthropogenic soils, forming an educational trail about the landfill’s history. A small playground at the Warnowquartier entrance playfully addresses these themes.
In the west, the Landfill Loop offers extensive nature areas, a viewing platform bridge (Landschaftsbalkon), and the Primelberg view opening (Primelbergfenster), showcasing views of historic Primelberg settlement. An information station brings the village’s history to life.
The northwest corner has entrance square with a playground themed around a “lake trading center” (Seehandelspielplatz).
The northern part of the Shell along the Landfill Loop features gardens, urban beekeeping, and orchards. The northeast corner includes a linear square where a restaurant with an outdoor area could be integrated. The eastern part contrasts with the Extensive Belt through more intensive usage.
Extensive Belt
The Extensive Belt, situated between the Park Shell and the Leisure Plateau, is an open landscape shaped by natural succession, reflecting its anthropogenic past. This area is divided into zones with varied management, such as seasonal mowing, sheep grazing, and perennial fallow land. It features habitat pockets with low-maintenance plants like wild shrubs, roses, blackberries, sloes, and sea buckthorn, extending from the edges into the belt. Rubble-paved mule tracks allow visitors to explore this otherwise untouched natural area.
Vegetation and Landscape Concepts
The existing vegetation on the landfill site is seen as a valuable, mature biotope appropriate to the location. Preserving existing vegetation with targeted interventions is optimal for creating a sustainable, low-maintenance urban park and is cost-effective. In order to increase biodiversity the area will be enriched with structural and habitat pockets of different types:
- Green Pockets: Wildflowers, bushes, and fruit-bearing shrubs like sea buckthorn, rose hips, and sloes.
- Bog Pockets: Swampy areas in lowered terrain with impermeable subsoil.
- Construction Rubble Pockets: Habitats for ruderal plants, reptiles, and amphibians, also recalling the site’s history.
- Sand Pockets: Ideal nesting sites for wild bees and insects.
These habitat pockets enhance the ecological value and integrate with the environmental nature trail theme. Flexible maintenance concepts, including varied mowing intervals, fallow periods, and sheep grazing, are proposed. Reed and lowland areas along Hechtgraben, Speckgraben, and Unterwarnow remain untouched, with minimal disturbance foreseen during the Altstadtblick jetty construction.
Large trees and shrubs are avoided in the extensive landfill areas. Shallow-rooting large trees and shrubs are reserved for the intensively used Leisure Plateau only.
Sustainability and environmental education
The project’s main goal is to create a modern, smart, sustainable city park that raises environmental and nature awareness. Located on a former landfill in an ecologically valuable area, the park will highlight natural ecosystems and biodiversity as well as urban ecology, pollution, climate change, and recycling themes.
Throughout the park, especially along the Landfill Loop, Interaction Points will feature benches, information boards, interactive elements, and links to an app system, providing themed environmental information. These points are connected via a sensor network that supplies data for environmental education, academic research, park maintenance, and development planning.
The Climate Lighthouse serves as the visual center of the education system, with a central terminal offering information on all interaction points and the city’s resource consumption. LED lights discreetly indicate progress on environmental challenges and goals tracked by the app. The park is powered by decentralized renewable energy sources, including solar panels, small wind turbines, and batteries.
Integration with the surroundings
The park is a key part of the new Warnow Circular Path, serving both as the green-blue open space heart of Rostock and a local recreation area for the northern districts. It has a special connection with the emerging Warnowquartier residential area to the east.The important cycling path connections running through the area for commuters to the city center, for local leisure cyclists around the Warnow and also for long-distance cyclists, especially on the Berlin-Copenhagen route, should also be noted.
BUGA 2025 Exhibition Concept
For the 2025 BUGA Rostock, the park will play a central role, highlighting the transformation of the former landfill. This evolution – from the Hechtgraben natural landscape, through agricultural use, landfill construction, recultivation, and finally, a modern sustainable city park – offers a unique narrative for visitors. The park will contrast with the urban area around the new museum and the market hall with its flower show on the opposite side of the Warnow.
Visitor excitement will peak along the large BUGA-Loop connecting the city harbor and the former landfill, enhanced by visual links between thematic areas, such as views from the city harbor to the distant Climate Lighthouse or from the flower slope to the Altstadtblick. Within the landfill, the Landfill Loop and Leisure Loop offer diverse and contrasting themes, like nature vs. modern Lighthouse.
The three loops can be combined into a full-day trip or explored in stages. A shuttle service along the Warnow Circular Path connects key points, and additional mobility stations ensure easy access to remote park areas.
The Result and Key Learnings
Our project was chosen the winner, securing not only the prize of 64,000 EUR but also the contract for its implementation. The local media enthusiastically embraced our vision. The original competition boards are displayed below.
Given that the project concerns an area formerly used as a landfill with multiple technical and legal restrictions, we initially conducted pre-research brainstorming sessions before familiarizing ourselves with the formal requirements. This approach allowed us to generate bold ideas without being influenced by constraints. These daring solutions remained with us throughout the competition.
Throughout the project development, we performed numerous “double checks” and changed our strategies while retaining copies of concepts we decided not to follow. Ultimately, we returned to one of our earliest ideas and implemented it, underscoring the importance of not making hasty design decisions and the value of periodic revisions.
| ROLES | DELIVERABLES | DURATION AND TOOLS |
|---|---|---|
| User Research User Experience Design Graphic Design Landscape Design |
7 x A0 boards Cost calculation Explanatory text Area coverage indicators |
project duration: 2 months Photoshop, Illustrator & InDesign Field Trip Hand Drawing |
Credits
- Copyrights for all the plans and graphics belong to RMPSL unless stated otherwise
- The English translations shown on the plans as neon green typing on a dark background were added by the Author of this case study and are not part of the original plans