0A. 4 UNESCO WELTKULTURERBE KLOSTER LORSCH

Lorsch,

Important aspects

Topography -

Points of view -

Creation of a stageHistory as a landscapeMonument preservation.

“Lorsch Abbey” in Southern Hesse was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1991. From a historical point of view, the monastery gained spiritual and economic influence an abbey was built nearby on a huge glacial dune. The complex became important for restoring antiquity’s cultural memory/inheritance.

In 2009 an interdisciplinary competition aimed at redesigning the area by connecting landscape and architecture while strictly following the regulations of monument preservation.

The central idea followed by the designers it was to render history visible as a landscape. Unlike the former, often historicizing visualizations, the design approach focused on the ground plane. With the help of careful and subtle topographic interventions, the spare remains were accentuated. Thus, we mainly provided a “stage” for the site to present itself.

There were established different points of view through the definition of different lines, to the creation of an immersive experience for the visitors. The design has resulted in an unobtrusive layout that respects topography, architecture, and archaeological findings at the same time.

WHAT IF ?

The Emilia-Romagna region decide to invest their public funding in the mountain’s sustainable re-infrastructure?

To Promote

New accessibility able to combine and reinforce the socio-cultural relations between the different altitude environments, from a perspective focused on the community habitability and the tourist attraction.