For the past two decades, sustainability and creating ecological cities have become the buzz words dominating discussions on nature in the city. But these countless discussions and debates on the matter are often accompanied by a shadow of skepticism in regard to their actual implementation. Landscape architects are among the main key players — although not the only ones — who have taken on the responsibility of showing how these concepts can be applied to real-life projects.
So what are the factors that can contribute to shaping an ecological city through a landscape architecture project? The award-winning design of Offenbach Harbor (Offenbacher Hafen) shows a genuine example of how it can be done.
Offenbacher Hafen, Atelier Dreiseitl, Frankfurt, Germany.
One of the challenges standing in the way of creating ecological spaces is represented by the many factories and industrial landscapes made obsolete in the decline of heavy industry. Examples from the Ruhr and other regions of industrial Germany prove that this country stands as a pioneer in industrial revitalization.
Offenbach Harbor, located on the Main River in Frankfurt, Germany, is a former industrial port that had been utilized since the 1950s for the storage and transportation of petroleum, sand, scrap metal, and gravel. The plan to transform this area into a new commercial and residential zone has initiated a €800-million project that would change the face of the port and give it a new identity.
