Stuttgart Rosenstein | Platform to Park: A Thoughtful Transformation

Platform to Park: A Thoughtful Transformation

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Our idea for Manfred-Rommel-Platz is to transform the existing platform into a vibrant, sustainable, and flexible space for a variety of diverse activities, while celebrating Stuttgart’s history in an inviting, playful ­environment for everyone.

Team name: Alfred Rein Ingenieure GmbH
Authors: Alfred Rein, Alexander Hub, Grant Galloway, Athina Kotrozou, Samuel Slezák, Filipe Alexandre Fernandes, Germany

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Our idea is to transform the existing platform structure to create a park that is ­fundamentally unique without extensive redevelopment. By repurposing the current framework, we minimize the need for new materials and reduce the project’s environmental impact, while creating a space that is not only clever and economical but also rich in history.

Most importantly, Manfred-Rommel-Platz should be a space for all. For this reason, it will need to be a flexible space, designed to host a variety of events and uses simultaneously. Whether it’s a cultural event, a playground, a market, or a sports activity, the structure should adapt seamlessly. Imagine a shared space where art installations float above and children splash through a fountain below.

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With its long bays along the rail axes, the existing platform structure also allows us to organize the park into various intertwined zones for different use cases. Each bay can serve a unique purpose, creating an environment where activities coexist and diverse groups of people come together. One bay might be a lush community garden, while another is a flowing skatepark.

A key feature of the park is its playfulness. ­Picture a giant jungle gym for all ages, with ­access to different levels and viewpoints. This isn’t just a space to pass through but a place to explore and enjoy from new perspectives. ­Removing parts of the existing roof and replacing them with a plant canopy will make the space airy and inviting, allowing natural light to fill the area. Grapevines could climb throughout the structure, celebrating Stuttgart’s long history of winemaking while adding a unique touch to the greenery.

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Nostalgia also plays a significant role in our idea. By repurposing a structure that has been ignored for years, we honor its history while transforming it into something people will cherish. Our hope is that locals will hardly recognize the old platform, marveling at its new beauty and utility. We want to save the existing structure not only because of its material benefits but also because we believe it’s important to preserve and add value to the fragments of a city that tell its story. In the same way that the curve of the Eberhardstraße is a remnant of the old city walls or the high arches of the Metropol on Bolzstraße are the old facade of the city’s 19th-century train station, the transformed platform structure would allow visitors to trace back Stuttgart’s evolution as a city.

In summary, our idea merges sustainability, ­flexibility, playfulness, and nostalgia into a single vision. The park will be an example of embracing the past while looking responsibly into the future, inviting everyone to experience the joy of a reimagined urban landscape. Manfred-­Rommel-Platz doesn’t need to be the end of the line for Stuttgart’s old platform hall; instead, it can be its rebirth, transforming the area into a vibrant and dynamic community hub.