Magdeburg, situated in central Germany and in close proximity to Berlin, has historically been a pivotal hub for industry and education within the country. Presently, it seeks to actively engage in the ongoing technological revolution by attracting global companies to its vicinity.
Formerly the Royal Railways Main Workshop, the sprawling 26-hectare post-industrial site known as RAW had long been neglected until emerging as Magdeburg’s largest reclamation endeavor. The "RAMSBURG" project, conceived during its design phase, meticulously adhered to user-centered design principles at both urban and architectural scales. Despite its abandonment, the existing RAW area retains a profound significance in the city's collective memory, embodying its industrial heritage. Therefore, the primary objective of the project is to rejuvenate the area for urban use while conserving its industrial character. Central to this vision is the adaptive reuse of existing structures, forming the cornerstone of the endeavor.
Moreover, the project capitalizes on strategic advantages such as its connectivity to the city's major transportation arteries, including railway and tram lines, as well as the impending establishment of a new train station and the anticipated contribution of INTEL's forthcoming campus to the area's development.
Within this framework, the project establishes a clear hierarchy: historical buildings and hangars occupy the central focus, with two primary pedestrian axes intersecting this core, serving as the project's backbone. Along these axes, a variety of public amenities cater to the community, including market areas, museums, event spaces, sports halls, co-working spaces, service apartments, eateries, and recreational zones.
Residential quarters encompassing primarily 4-7-story buildings encircle the central hub and the backbone area, fostering a harmonious balance between daytime and nighttime activities within the region and its adjacent public spaces. Notably, residential structures along the thoroughfare for vehicles and trams have been kept low to maintain uninterrupted vistas of the historic water tower.
To enhance visual diversity and identity within the expansive area, residential facades have been meticulously designed with multifaceted compositions and varied sections, employing an array of materials and industrial color palettes. Furthermore, the preservation of hobby gardens along the existing railway line within the green belt, alongside afforestation efforts, aids in visually and acoustically buffering the project area from the railway.
Through precise attention to these fundamental principles, the masterplan for RAMSBURG has been thoroughly crafted, aspiring not to be merely an architectural feat but to seamlessly integrate as a vibrant extension of the city, catalyzing the development and prosperity of Magdeburg as a whole.
