BILATERAL DESIGN COMPETITION - Spatial concepts for the connection of the border towns Bad Radkersburg and Gornja Radgona

POINT OF DEPARTURE

Bad Radkersburg and Gornja Radgona have the chance to grow together without the barrier of the boarder. For this reason both cities are searching for tools to communicate in a prospering way.

STRATEGY AND GOAL

The development of the Mura-river, and its proliferating surroundings in between of the two settlements, is to become the pattern of connection.

ANALYSIS

Our project is based on an analysis of the existing situation.
The survey of the area follows specific criterias:

- private space
- “green” public space + agricultural area + Mura river
- public space: roads, pathes, public buildings, schools and sport facilities

These criterias get linked with red, green and blue – [RGB]
A grid of 1hectare fields is superimposed on the area. Each single field is evaluated concerning the criterias and the appearing color is the result of the mix of the relations. The final outcome is a visualisation of the occupation of land. Out of this image, specific information is filtered. The procedure shows the green pixel-points as the only continuous pattern connecting red and blue islands.

= THE PATTERN OF CONNECTION

The pattern is a campaign to grow one common Mura-park into the urban realm and becomes the substructure for new >infrastructural landscape elements<.

CATALOGE OF INFRASTRUCTURAL LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS

New bridges

- newly created places direct in front of the cities are linked by a new central bridge for pedestrians and cyclists. ( shaped pre - stressed concrete construction )

- west Bad Radkersburg embankment and east Bad Radkersburg embankment are connected by a new wooden by-pass-bridge, detouring the complicate and insufficient situation, under and next to the existing bridge.

- the access to the existing “border-bridge” is reduced to the necessity for two car-lanes and one pedestrian - and cycle lane.

- In the extension of the “track-park” a new bridge in steel framework connects the sports areas on both sides.

Sunset line Bad Radkersburg

In our project we decided to keep the inherent qualities of the moat meadows.
To gain even more qualities out of the situation we create a “sunset line” on the western city-wall. A very narrow ( ~3m ) but long square along the wall is furnished with a wooden bench as long as the square. Wall-lights light the immediate situation. This new zone can be a frequently used area day and night. Sit and watch, play, meet, read,.. It emphasises the relation of the old town to its surrounding areas – spa, hotels, …

Waterfront Gornja Radgona

to emphasise the relation of Gornja Radgona and the Mura-river we totally reorganize the former border crossing area. By using the Mura-park-pattern we create an “in between” situation – city / mura.
Most of this area gets occupied by an urban meadow.
The transition to the city is defined by Tree-islands with different programs: market, playground, meeting under trees, outdoor café and restaurant areas. The transition to the Mura is defined by terracing the height difference from water surface to city level. A floating platform ( boat landing ) is the lowest element of the terraced shore. Direct access, even for bathing, from the city to the water is provided The surface of the meadow is crossed by footpaths and the new by-pass-road of the old city centre. Consequently the Kerenciceva street turns into a pedestrian area, which is a catalyser for intense street life – comunication, shopping, ..

Stadtpark Bad Radkersburg

The Stadtpark as an connecting element between spa and old town is extended on one side to the spa - reduced car parking in front of the spa, and on the other side to the front of the city and the Langgasse. For this reason the tax office building is substituted by the Stadtpark. This intervention also connects Austria and Slovenia in a visual sense. The condition of the stadtparks trees is registrated in a tree catastre. This is a tool to ensure the tree condition for the future.

Car parking

Additional car-parking is located at the “Hasenheide”.
This parking location is also a strategic point in terms of connecting spa
and old town.

Castle

The castle is reconnected to the city-level by extending the castle`s park to the base of the castle-hill. This extension is accompanied by a barrier free footpath.

Track park

the embankment of the former railway will be rearranged as a linear park. A new building structure forms the transition to the neighbouring fairground area.

Hotel densification Bad Radkersburg

Housing densification at the former factory Elrad (Gornja Radgona). We propose a low rise court yard building structure.

Sport park

The Gornja Radgona sport park is rearranged. The speedway track is the connecting element.

Mura renaturalization

The creation of a spreading river-character is also an expansion of the Mura. This action not only reduces the transporting ability of the water by reducing the flow speed, but rises the ecological functionality.
Small bridges make the islands walk able for swimming, relaxing, tracking and fishing.