Offenburg’s new access
Offenburg, Germany 2018 – 2020
Urbanisation of the historic centre. Project in course
- Architect: Carles Enrich Studio
- Collaborators: MASAad (structure)
- Client: Offenburg Town Council
- Surface area: 270 sqm
- Renders: Carles Enrich Studio
- Awards: First prize Public Space international competition
The basis of the project is the need to improve connectivity at a point in the town of Offenburg, Germany, where public space is divided in two: the potential space offered by the Mülhbach riverbed and an unbuilt strip alongside the consolidated town, with various facilities beside the market square. The strategy consists in introducing an easily identifiable public lift, tangent to the town wall, to dynamise the continuity of routes to the historic centre.
In keeping with the language of the place, and as one layer more in the history of the town wall, the lift shaft is built of brick masonry. The side walls are built with a double Flemish bond arrangement, with some bricks removed to let light through. The front wall is a latticework of perforated bricks laid on their side to offer filtered views of the itinerary. Finally, the panoramic cabin with its glazed rear allows all-round visual contact with the wall.
