Where aeroplanes once took off and carried passengers to faraway places, recreation and fun are now the order of the day. Opened in 1911, Butzweilerhof Airport was closed in 1995. All that remains is the airport building and the runway in front of it. To breathe new life into the huge airport site, it became the centrepiece of an urban development area in the Ossendorf district.

The Office for Landscape Conservation and Green Spaces planned a public green space with extensive play and exercise facilities on a 17,000 m² triangular area. The Office for Children, Youth and Family was responsible for the educational concept and the planning of the play areas. Förder Landscape Architects were responsible for the landscape design and implementation. Their task was to develop a facility that would do justice to this special location and its diverse usage requirements.

When planning, the first thing to clarify was: What makes this place special? One key feature is undoubtedly the airport building. The unobstructed expanse and the accompanying spaciousness are also characteristic features. These characteristics are reinforced by the planned spatial structure of the complex: green arches created by tree plantings, wooded cushions and accompanying paths trace the northern and southern boundaries to the traffic routes, thus densifying these sides of the triangle. The remaining third side to the east remains free of taller vegetation and draws the eye to the listed building. This open triangle creates a spacious lawn in its centre. A circle of columnar trees and masts with windsocks reinforces this area as the centre of the park.

A circular path connects play and recreation areas and links the park to all important connection and crossing points in the surrounding area. The playgrounds, primarily for older children, take up themes related to the former use of the airport. Signs with black symbols on a yellow background serve as signposts. A landing aeroplane, for example, points to the "Arrivals – Runway" area. Here, an asphalted area invites visitors to go inline skating, scootering and cycling. Play equipment with black rubber straps is reminiscent of baggage drop-off and collection at the airport and encourages balancing and turning. The "tower" in the form of a 6-metre-high spatial net forms the conclusion: here you can enjoy the view. With a reduced material and colour concept that underlines the simplicity of the airport building, a calm overall picture is created that effectively recalls the former use of the site. 

www.foerder-landschaftsarchitekten.de

Photography Credits:

Johannes Zell
www.johanneszell.com

(From CUBE Cologne Bonn 01|20)