Super-Cycle-Highway and Densification as Tools for Sustainable Urban Development

The Rosenstein District, in the heart of Stuttgart, is one of the largest ongoing urban development projects: 16,000 people will live and work on 90 hectares by 2038.

In the third phase of the international competition "Rosenstein - Ideas for the New City District" (Ideen für den neuen Stadtteil), Laux Architects and Team were invited to further develop their vision for a resilient and sustainable district of the future. The backbone of the design, a “super-cycle highway”, was completed with spatial solutions that ensure a pleasant accessibility to the park. The hyper-urban and densely populated "Uptown" district, at the border with the Schlossgarten and Rosensteinpark, was adjusted but is still embedded in an "Urban Forest".

The guiding principles such as circular economy, hybrid construction techniques and social participation have been detailed with concrete measures, e.g. the implementation of 5% commonly shared spaces in every private building.

Creative Climate Cities supported Laux/Terra Nova Architects in this phase of the competition by enriching the masterplan with a process design to allow for adaptive, dynamic urban developments.

The process suggested by CCC is built on the acknowledgement of a constantly growing data set of ideas, values and actors. It includes a multitude of co-creation formats and envisions the establishment of a cross-sector solutions kit that aims at linking spatial and digital measures. Experimental spaces and “Socio-Space-Tech Solutions” were suggested to pursue sustainability through the promotion of an adaptive urban planning culture.

Laux Architects website

Link to the international competition