Despite its central location near the train station and close proximity to the water, the Hörn area only has a medium quality of stay. The area is to be upgraded and the connection between the east and west banks strengthened by structural changes. Since the city administration wants to expand the cycle path network and the number of cyclists in the Hörn area is increasing, there are preliminary considerations about creating another crossing of the Hörn in addition to the existing bascule bridge.
The administration approached the Institute for Construction at Kiel University of Applied Sciences for fresh ideas: students should plan a pedestrian and cycle path bridge and integrate it into an overall concept to upgrade the area. Civil engineering students in the fourth semester worked on this challenging task as part of the Civil Engineering Project module in the summer semester of 2023. They worked in three groups, each of which created a solution under particular conditions. In addition to economic efficiency as the main priority, the groups focused on urban integration as well as sustainability aspects in order to achieve the lowest possible CO₂ footprint.
In a second phase, a team consisting of the three students Ahmet Can Akdal, Arij Almhamed and Anne Sophie Hering carried out a holistic analysis based on the three individual variants and comparatively examined all variants with regard to technical, economic, urban planning and design aspects. The three were supported by student Benjamin Grunwald from the Faculty of Media, who integrated the plan into a 3D model. The result is a wave-shaped, curved steel bridge with mast-shaped pylons, whose name 'Sailing Bridge' refers to the city marketing theme of Kiel Sailing.City.
The urban development requirements resulting from the redesign of the Hörn and the interactions between the existing Hörn Bridge and the surrounding development were also integrated into the design. The bridge itself has lounge areas and provides greenery via raised plant beds.
The bank zones of the Hörn area were also included in the planning. A restaurant and event platform in the Hörn area, play areas, toilets, drinking fountains and concepts for green spaces and green facades were proposed among other things. Other ideas from the project team included a container park with pop-up information and making the history of the city and the topic of marine protection visible through an educational route.
All of these measures were developed technically and with accessibility in mind. A construction schedule, a cost estimate and the calculation of the CO₂ footprint were also included in the final planning. The results were presented to high-ranking representatives of the city's urban planning and civil engineering departments on Friday, 15th December 2023. They were very impressed by the students' 45-minute presentation and discussed the plans in a very lively manner. Above all, the comprehensive approach as well as the subsequent elaboration and visual representation were highly praised. Detailed solutions were also particularly well received, such as the removable middle element of the bridge, which allows the structure to be flexibly converted into a viewing platform for spending time and observing.
The city administration wants to use the planning results of the UAS students and their 3D visualisation as a basis for further committee votes. The city has invited the four students to present their plans again to a wider audience. For the students at Kiel University of Applied Sciences, the project was an excellent opportunity to gain an impression of real planning processes. By presenting their work and their course of study, they had the opportunity to make valuable contacts for their professional futures. (jkl)
Fly-by-Video of the Sailing Bridge
