Urban developement Mettlach 3.0, Mettlach (GER)

project Mettlach 3.0 – package of measures for urban redevelopment awarding authority Community of Mettlach in cooperation with Villeroy & Boch (GER) team WW+, Esch-sur-Alzette/Trier (LUX/GER), ernst+partner landschaftsarchitekten, Trier (GER) rendering Rendertaxi, Aachen (GER) total area 90 ha competition phase 1st and 2nd phase 09/2014 - 01/2015 multiple commission participation (without ranking)

Mettlach without the presence of global company V&B is barely conceivable from a historical point of view as well as an economic point of view, both now and in the future – not to mention how V&B has defined Mettlach’s townscape. Similarly, V&B without the long-standing partnership it has forged with the city is just as inconceivable! As a result, both the required urban redevelopment and the reorganisation and successful safeguarding of V&B as a landmark within the long-established location of Mettlach must not be undertaken one without the other – something both players have long been aware of.

‘Mettlach 3.0 – package of measures for urban redevelopment’ is the title of the present concept and is a suitable stage heading for the updating and detailing of the previously defined joint vision of objectives for the future. The urban planning and design solutions that it sets out are very specific and can be gradually implemented in the short to medium term. Nevertheless, Mettlach 3.0 also contains a visionary component, which incorporates the existing endogenous potential of the city and the group, further developing it in a win-win approach and – in an overriding, long-term global vision – offering it to the participating players in an act of guidance also in courageous location choices.

The featured solutions are characterised by robustness and flexibility so as to respond to changing framework conditions within the planning process and to meet the high requirements in the context of the complex decision-making processes involving the city and V&B. The Mettlach 3.0 concept introduces – initially for six key locations – urban planning and design solutions, the purpose of which is to formalise and update the partial spatial development concept of the city as well as the concept development of V&B. They include: city promenade; Mettlach nature park; salt bath terrace and pedestrian zone; old abbey and new free space hub (‘corridor’); DRK area – hospital, Bahnhofstraße and surroundings and existing fire brigade premises; mosaic factory redevelopment area.
The reorganisation of stationary traffic, the optimisation and completion of existing pedestrian and cycling path connections, the enhancement of nature spaces and monuments and the urban restructuring and upgrading of specific areas all pursue the objective of vitalising Mettlach in its entirety. The already emerging tourism sector is deemed a potential that is embraced and further developed, without a monostructural direction being adopted.

As a second economic factor, the opportunities arising from the abandoned premises and large-scale structures of V&B and in particular of the mosaic factory are taken into consideration. RESET-capable structures in the city area are localised and conceptually reassessed, instead of the tabula rasa approach of demolition and rebuild. Characteristic features of Mettlach’s architectural past, steeped in industrial history and defining the townscape, are to be kept alive, while others will be weeded out and replaced. This will happen gradually and in an acceptable fashion in accordance with Mettlach’s current restricted creative and economic potential and in consideration of the fact that the demand for residential and commercial premises in light of the great availability of land has so far not been present or quantifiable.

Loop concept

The open space concept is based on a so-called ‘loop concept‘, consisting of an inner and outer loop. The inner loop connects the attraction areas of Villeroy & Boch and Mettlach through improved or new connecting routes. The outer loop provides access to the three main nature parks ‘Abteipark’ (abbey park), ‘Park Schloss Saareck’ (Saareck castle park), and ‘Park Schloss Ziegelberg’ (Ziegelberg castle park).