Europabogen – An Entrance for Baden-Baden
Master’s thesis Summer 2023

Published by the Institute of Design and Urban Development (Prof. Dr. Annette Rudolph-Cleff).

As one approaches Baden-Baden from the highway, one must look twice, discovering the world-renowned, elegant spa and festival city from a completely different perspective: beside a tree-lined expressway and a bridge-supported highway, one finds car dealerships, industrial businesses, former military housing, office buildings, vacant lots, and a residential former model house settlement, all accompanied by the course of the small Schwarzwald stream, Oos. The students, as part of their master's thesis, explored how a forward-thinking district could be developed at this location to serve as a new city entrance for Baden-Baden, one that innovatively and sustainably integrates commerce, housing, leisure, nature, and landscape.

The project “Baden-Baden macht gesund – Active & Inclusive Street Design” aims to strengthen the city’s image as a health-promoting and restorative place. Given the young user group within the planning area, the focus of the health concept is on prevention rather than regeneration. For our target group, this means: on one hand, increasing activity, and on the other, promoting inclusion.

The core of the project is the creation of a public recreational space that runs through the entire district, connected by attractive pedestrian and cycling paths with green and blue spaces over the Europaring.

The Europastraße, known as the “green entrance,” which has previously been used as a high-speed route for driving through the city center, is now transformed into a slower urban street with low vegetation and separate bike lanes. This directs the attention of drivers toward the district, allowing for pleasant strolling for pedestrians. Wide sidewalks, seating areas, plants, and attractive facades contribute to a high-quality experience.

In this way, simple urban planning measures successfully motivate people to go outside and engage in physical activity. Additionally, a space is created where people from different generations can meet and interact.