How can we create a resilient city centre for future generations?
Grevenbroich City Centre Framework Plan
A resilient city centre is one that is strengthened based on its own identity and can adapt to change. In Grevenbroich, this involves making use of the city centre's compact structure, establishing closer connections between the city and the River Erft landscape, and creating climate-active public spaces that provide cooling, shelter and a place to linger. These steps will better align the city centre with daily life, offering short distances between housing, amenities, and recreation areas, as well as an atmosphere that exudes identity and connection. In joint workshops, residents collaborated with administrators and politicians on a large-scale city model. Action Cards helped to visualize ideas, anchor them spatially and encourage an open discussion of interests. The workshops resulted in the establishment of specific priorities: enhancing the River Erft, expanding green spaces and recreational facilities, improving bicycle routes, and alleviating congestion on major traffic arteries. Based on these aims, a spatial-strategic structural concept was developed, focusing on densification in the right places, mixed-use development, the reuse of existing buildings and creating attractive public spaces. The city centre will become more pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly, with safer routes and a more vibrant urban life, which will benefit commerce, hospitality and social gatherings. Such measures are what gradually makes a city centre more resilient: in other words, adaptive, climate-resilient and community-led.
data
- Location
- Grevenbroich, DE
- Size
- 32 ha
- Client
- Stadt Grevenbroich
- Discipline
- Research, Urban Design
- Program
- Culture, Housing, Master Planning, Public Buildings, Urbanization Strategy
- Period
- 2024-2025
- Status
- In Development
The initial situation and context
Like many medium-sized German cities, Grevenbroich is facing the challenges of radical structural change. Its central location in the Rheinisches Revier, a region in transition, brings environmental and economic changes, as well as raising new questions about the future development of cities and their centres. Grevenbroich’s city centre plays a pivotal role in this, serving as a hub for daily life, a catchment area, a social meeting place and a vehicle for the identity of the urban community.
However, it also reflects current issues, such as vacancy, functional monotony, fragmented spaces and declining residential quality, all of which negatively impact visitor numbers, density and quality of life. Climate change, evolving mobility needs and the transformation of the retail sector further exacerbate this situation.
Action Cards for the participation process
Working together on a future-proof city centre
The redevelopment of the city centre was designed as an open, co-creative process. Residents, administrators and designers jointly explored ways to make the city centre more attractive and climate-resilient and better suited to daily life. A key component of the participatory process was the creation of a large-scale urban model to be used as a collaborative work environment. This was complemented by Action Cards, which bundled concrete themes, spatial approaches and strategies, such as green and public space quality, mobility, mixed-use development and activated plinths. In small groups, these maps were positioned spatially in cross-sections, discussed directly on the model and developed further into spatial sketches.
Concrete initiatives were developed, including strengthening the Erft River as a landscape feature, increasing greenery, improving the recreational quality of public spaces, enhancing bicycle connections and adding crossings to busy traffic routes. At the same time, vacant properties in existing buildings and barriers to the route network were identified. Based on this information, initial urban design variants were developed, along with a structural concept for the city centre focusing on densification, mixed-use development and climate-resilient public spaces.
A natural and lively promenade along the Erft
The sustainable enhancement of existing public spaces
Optimal connections in the city centre for all road users
The Ostwall as an inviting, identity-defining city boulevard
Optimal use of housing potential in the city centre
Sustainable development of new construction, reuse, and reconstruction
A vision for a resilient city centre
Grevenbroich’s city centre has significant spatial, functional and atmospheric development potential. Its compact structure, scenic location on the River Erft and various transformation sites provide a solid basis for a future-proof city centre. Vacant plots, repurposed buildings, and the short distances between residential, commercial and recreational areas offer excellent opportunities to strengthen the city centre sustainably. The goal is to increase vibrancy through new housing options, high-quality public spaces and a more attractive tourism profile, balanced with retail, hospitality and socializing. Six themes form the core of the urban development framework: green and open spaces, public spaces, connections, the Ostwall, housing potential, and sustainable development. The structural concept serves as a dynamic roadmap that provides direction while also allowing room for adaptation and growth.
Plan/map showing a supply street converted into a residential street.
Plan/map showing the redevelopment of the Erft riverbank.
Visualization showing the redevelopment of the Erft riverbank.
Key locations as drivers of change
Based on spatial analysis and participatory processes, various focus areas have been defined in the city centre. These are locations with high development pressure, great potential or strategic significance. These areas demonstrate where urban renewal can begin in practice, with tangible projects that can be initiated in the short term and implemented in the medium term for a long-term impact. These spatial levels link vision, strategy and implementation. They offer an opportunity to transform the city centre in a targeted and visible manner.
Visualization showing a supply street converted into a residential street.
