Metro Campus
DBCO
The traditional functional city is a thing of the past. Inner cities are collapsing, office locations are under pressure, and climate change requires new solutions for the development of sustainable city districts. In this time of change and challenges, METRO PROPERTIES, in cooperation with the state capital Düsseldorf, initiated the urban development competition for the METRO Campus area. The aim is to develop an innovative concept that intertwines all areas of life in a small space and uses the flow level as a basic structure.
Flow City
A new concept for coming together: In the Flow City concept, the focus is on exchange. The quarter offers space for housing, life, work, production, leisure, consumption, art, culture and digital space. There is only one premise: All uses are aimed at exchange and generate publicity and frequency. The public spaces are accessible to all residents without access restrictions or commercial use and serve as a basis for a sustainable coming together.
The importance of the mix of uses
Flow level management is required to ensure a functioning mix of uses. The solution lies in the fact that different areas of life are closely intertwined and complement each other. The once separate areas such as living, working and leisure are merging into a harmonious whole. Generation Z, the digital natives, are already exemplifying this new approach by no longer separating real and digital or between life and work.
METRO Campus: A promising approach
METRO PROPERTIES has created a flagship project with the METRO Campus Areal. Six finalists were selected through the urban planning competition, who will present their visionary designs. The area offers the opportunity to develop an urban, diversified quarter of the future. The designs testify to a wide range of implementation ideas and show how different focal points can be set.
Citizen participation and experimentation
An important part of the project is citizen participation. The public has the opportunity to actively participate in the development process and to contribute comments and ideas to the finalist designs. Space is created for experiments to try out new solutions and create opportunities. Innovative concepts for the sustainable development of urban districts can only come about through openness and a willingness to experiment.
Conclusion
Flow City represents a paradigm shift in urban development. The interweaving of living, working, leisure and culture in a small space creates new opportunities for coming together and exchange and contributes to creating lively and livable quarters. The idea of the flow level, which runs through the entire area as a structure and aims for exchange, ensures that public spaces are accessible and usable for everyone. This promotes an open and inclusive society in which people of different backgrounds and interests can meet and benefit from one another. The importance of the flow level is reinforced by the current developments in our society. Generation Z, who grew up with digital technologies, no longer think in rigid boundaries between real and digital, life and work. The permanent exchange and change, the flow, characterize our everyday life more and more and become a basis of our coexistence. In the face of these changes, we must embrace experimentation and create space for new possibilities.
The METRO Campus project is a promising example of how urban districts can be developed in a sustainable manner. The urban development competition and the involvement of the public creates a wide range of ideas and perspectives that can be incorporated into the design of the quarter. Deciding on the winning design will show which concept best meets people's requirements and needs. The creation of flow cities in which living, working, leisure and culture are intertwined can make a positive contribution to overcoming the current challenges. The reduction of resource consumption through short distances and the promotion of exchange and encounters contribute to climate protection and social integration. By creating lively neighborhoods where people of different generations and backgrounds come together, the quality of life and well-being of residents can be increased.