Metzingen Between Old Town and Outlet City

BACHELOR THESIS 2018 Architecture and Urban Design Program

ROUBAIR ASHRAF GEORGE 34-11255 PRESENTED TO THE GERMAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO

DECLARATION This is to certify that: (i) The thesis comprises only my original work towards the Bachelor Degree. (ii) Due acknowledgement has been made in the text to all other material used.

Signature of the Author 07.08.2018

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Bachelor Thesis 2018 Metzingen - Between Old Town and Outlet City

Author:

Roubair Ashraf George

Supervisor

Prof.Dr. Helmut Bott

Reviewers

Dipl.-Ing. Ina Ketterer MSc. Mostafa Aboughali

Examination Committee:

Prof.Dr. Helmut Bott Prof.Dr. Thomas Loeffler Dipl.-Ing. Raphael Dietz

Guest Critiques:

Prof.Dr. Thomas Loeffler Dipl.-Ing. Raphael Dietz

Examination Date

27.07.2018

Submission Date:

30.08.2018

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Table of Contents:

1. ABSTRACT

6

2. INTRODUCTION

7

3. CONCEPTUAL APPROACH

11

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3.1 FIRST INTUITION

11

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3.2 STRATEGIES ON TWO SCALES

12

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3.3 READING REALITY (LARGE SCALE)

13

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3.4 READING REALITY (SMALL SCALE)

14

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3.5 SWOT ANALYSIS

16

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3.6 PHOTO ANALYSIS

17

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3.7 VISON SKETCHES

19

4. URBAN DESIGN

20

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4.1 URBAN MAPS

20

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4.2 DIAGRAMS

25

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4.3 URBAN DESIGN PROPOSAL

26

4

5. INDIVIDUAL ARCHITECTURE

30

5.1 DEFINITION OF FRAGMENTS

30

5.2 FIRST FRAGMENT

31

•

5.2.1 CONCEPT

32

•

5.2.2 PROJECT DRAWINGS

34

•

5.2.3 PROJECT SHOTS

37

5.3 SECOND FRAGMENT

38

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5.3.1 ARCHITECTURE PLANS

39

•

5.3.2 ELEVATION AND SECTION

42

•

5.3.3 ISOMETRIC SECTION

43

•

5.3.4 PROJECT SHOTS

44

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1.ABSTRACT This bachelor thesis is a documented journey through transitioning from urban planning to urban design to architecture design, shifting between different urban scales and studies on the city of Metzingen.

Metzingen is located in the middle of the Ermstal, surrounded by vineyards and typical regional orchards.

In collaboration with my colleagues Youssef Rafik Mohammed, we propose a solution to the current urban problem.

Moreover Metzingen is a city that is easily identifiable nowadays by its shopping environment and modern stores and brands. With our perception at the Outlet City we identified the language and the difference between the outlet city and the old town.

Taking this into consideration and emulating the situation at the outlet city along with the difference in architecture and density in the city, we proposed a design to create visual connections, spatial order and hierarchy along the river to activate it and blend the old town with the new outlet.

Throughout the design process that we have established, we aim to connect the old town to the modern outlet city by blending it along the river bank.

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2.INTRODUCTION Metzingen Metzingen is situated in the region of Reutlingen strategically placed around 30 km south of Stuttgart at the foot of the Swabian Alb. Situated in a solid business area with more than 10,000 jobss and around 22,000 inhabitants.

The historic Kelternplatz with the seven presses is considered the landmark of the city and testifies to the centuries-old winemaking tradition in Metzingen. Since the 18th century, textile and tannery companies settled in Metzingen, which used the water of the Erms stream for production.

Other main branches in addition to the textile industry are mechanical engineering and, increasingly, precision mechanics and electronics.

Outlet City These days, Metzingen is overall known as a shopping outlet district and draws in countless consistently. Everything began by when the enormous brand Hugo Boss began offering old season design items. As Hugo supervisor pulled in numerous individuals, it turned into an impetus to other enormous and medium size brands to open their outlet shops. Right now, the outlet city is developing relentlessly.

In contrast to the vast majority of other outlet locations, which were located on the „Green Meadow“ near the motorway junction, the Outletcity Metzingen was created outside the textile factories in the middle of the city.

The enormous increase in retail space and the huge number of visitors coming to Metzingen every day created many changes in the city structure, appearance and social fabric.

With more than 3.5 million visitors from 185 nations every year, Outletcity Metzingen is now one of the most successful outlets in Europe. Over a third of the visitors come from abroad and visit more than 70 outlets of exclusive and well-known brand manufacturers. Outletcity Metzingen attracts most of its shoppers from China, Switzerland, and Russia.

Outletcity is being developed by Holy AG, which as real estate owner generates the land and real estate and leases it to the fashion companies.

Over 60 stores have merged into the term Outletcity Metzingen and are managed by the Holy AG.

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Figure. Country map

Country map of Metzingen location in Germany

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Figure. Metzingen location

Metzingen location and its borders with the outlet city

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Figure. City map

City scale map of Metzingen

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3.CONCEPTUAL APPROACH 3.1 FIRST INTUITION With the start of the course, we started analyzing the site. Upon this we mapped the city of Metzingen, their edges and their surrounding streets. We realized that the city was literally divided by the river with difference in architecture on both sides. By looking deeply into the city we realized some important features that makes it significant: - In the 1970s the first factory sales of local clothing and textile manufacturers started establishing themselves in Metzingen.

- Lindenplatz, which was redesigned into the central hinge between the city center and outlet city, was inaugurated.

- More than 3.5 million visitors from 185 nations every year, Outletcity Metzingen is now one of the most successful outlets in Europe.

Upon arriving in Metzingen, we visited the different plazas and experienced them in reality.

While walking along the river and looking to both sides, we found that the city also had significantly different ages of architecture and planning that varies from being modern and massive like outlet shops that are scattered through the city, and older smaller buildings like the houses and old mixed use buildings which are significantly differentiated by its pitched clay roofs.

This helped us to position ourselves within the town and the outlet city and suddenly generated the sense of what we call the dialogue between the old and new city.

Figure. Outlet city photo

Figure. Old town photo

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3.2 STRATEGIES ON THE TWO SCALES (L,S)

After visiting the site and reaching the observation of the river connection within the city, we decided to approach the stratetgy of connecting the city in three different scales: In the large scale map, we analyzed the city’s main entrances and highlighted them in order to be able to establish the visual links and sense of connection through the city.

As for the small scale, we analysed the different open spaces and their uses in the city and the different functions in the buildings. So we chose this door to act upon and achieve the link between the city and the hill.

Figure. City analysis

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3.3 READING REALITY LARGE SCALE

Figure. City analysis

Figure. City analysis

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3.4 READING REALITY SMALL SCALE

This shows how the solids and voids of the city and the density in different areas throughout the city.

Figure. Urban analysis

This shows how the street hierarchy and the different means of transport if pedestrians or car streets.

Figure. Urban analysis

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This shows how the different plazas and open spaces with its level of privacy and use.

Figure. Urban analysis

This shows how the functions and their distribution and locations.

Figure. Urban analysis

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3.4 SWOT ANALYSIS.

Figure. Swot analysis

STRENGTH River connection as a common unused precious element in the middle of the city.

Figure. Swot analysis WEAKNESS Difficult access to eastern part of site and many bridges hiding and blocking the view to the river

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3.5 SWOT ANALYSIS.

Figure. Swot analysis OPPORTUNITY Opportunity for mixed use along the river to activate it and along the main streets to block the noise and have an enclosed plaza for gathering.

Figure. Swot analysis OPPORTUNITY Joop! Building being a highrise and the tallest structure in Metzingen, it acts as a landmark and navigating tower to define your location from the outlet city.

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3.6 PHOTO ANALYSIS.

Figure. photos

We started analyzing the river by taking photos and studying the depth of the river bank and how residents preferred walking their dogs and enjoying the river and how buildings laid along the river and blocking it causing the river to be abandoned.

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3.7 VISION SKETCHES.

Figure. sketches

Sketches were made to define our concept and imagine our vision and what we are working to achieve and how we visualize the environment.

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4. URBAN DESIGN 4.1 URBAN MAPS

Fig.Solid and Void Map

Solid and Void Map This Map shows the Existing building around our site In Gray and the new buildings we added according to our design in black. It also show the river as it’s the main aim for our design. Moreover, It show that the buildings we added are not represented as aliens in the site but are blending with the buildings surround them.

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Figure. Functions Map

Functions Map This Map shows the functions of the buildings surrounding our plot as well as that for the new buildings we added according to our urban design. Further more, It shows how the functions are separated into a public and private spaces. Public on the left and Private on the right.

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Figure. Open Spaces Map

Open Spaces Map This Map shows the different types of open-spaces in our plot. They are divided into public, semi-public and private spaces. The diagram also shows the river walks found on the river level. Furthermore, shows the active spaces, plazas, public and private green spaces.

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Figure. Circulation Map

Circulation Map This Map shows all kinds of circulations moving around and through our plot starting from the human circulation to the car movement around the plot. Red arrows represent the public circulation and the different flow density. Blue arrows shows the private circulation in the private residential area. Gray arrow represent the car movement around the plot.

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Figure. Urban Framework Map

Urban Framework Map This Map shows all the previous maps all combined in one. It shows the solid and void , open spaces (public and private), functions of the building inside and outside the plot and the circulation of residence and public users, as well as the car movement around the plot

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4.2 DIAGRAMS

Ground Floor level.

River Floor level.

Figure.Dagrams

These Diagrams show how the plot was cut in a way to create interesting spaces in the river level where people can be attracted to move through and enjoy the commercial, restaurants, plazas and green spaces found on the river level .

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4.3 URBAN DESIGN PROPOSAL

Figure. Ground level plan

The main concept for our Design was to revive the river, which was clearly looked at as an obstacle through out the site, and make it the main promenade that connects the two sides of our plot. The right side of the plot is a private residential area on the ground level and a commercial public area on the river level. However on the left side of the site it’s a completely public commercial area with direct access to the river, Most of the important existing buildings are left as it is.

Only new buildings were added to create a better enclosed public plaza separated from the main street.

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Figure. River level plan

This is the river level plan and it shows the river promenade the connects the two sides of the plot. Furthermore, it shows the shops found on the private part’s river level and the restaurants ,plaza found on the public river level. Under ground parking are also shown here that covers the usage of the residence and public users

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Perspective Sections

Figure. Setions

These are two sections taken in the public and private parts of the plot that shows the functions vertically along the buildings and it relation with the river,

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Perspective Sections

Figure. 3Ds

Virtual visualization for the public and private parts in our plot and its relation with the river

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5. INDIVIDUAL ARCHITECTURE 5.1 DEFINITION OF FRAGMENTS After the master plan was defined, it was divided into two parts, each is a fragment dealing with a specific issue but all were designed to serve the main concept of the masterplan.

The first fragment (blue), is the private residential block. It is the point where it connects the neighbours from 3 isolated building by sharing a common private courtyard. Enclosing a green courtyard, it achieves high privacy for residents and sharing a space for socializing.

The second fragment (red), is the river view apartments. It is the part in the door of the residential area which deals more with the horizontality of the buildings to be able to achieve maximum view on the river. It redirects the flow along the river with implemented mixed use shopping on the river bank.

Figure. Functions Map

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5.2 FIRST FRAGMENT

THE COURTARD DESIGN CONSISTS OF 3 BUILDINS WHICH ARE DIAGONALLY ORIENTED TOWARDS THE NORTH SO THAT MORE FACES OF THE BUILDINGS ARE EXPOSED TO THE SOUTH DIRECTION FOR MOST LIGHT.

Figure. Top 3D

THE BUILDINGS ARE DIVIDED INTO SIMPLE MODULES ALONG THE BUILDING’S DEPTH THAT REPEAT ALONG THE LENGTH.

Figure. Space Destribution

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5.2.1 CONCEPT

THE MODULES ARE DIVIDED BY 5.4 GRID FOR THE MAXIMUM DISTANCE LIGHT CAN REACH INSIDE A BUILDING AND A WELL ORGANIZED UNDERGROUND GARAGE. Figure. grid

THE DUPLEX IS DIVIDED DIAGONALLY TO ALLOW EQUAL SUNLIGHT TO ALL APARTMENTS AND VISUAL CONNECTION INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE COURTYARD.

Figure. Module plans

THE BUILDING IS ELEVATED 1M ABOVE GROUND TO ALLOW VENTILATION AND NATURAL LIGHTING INTO THE UNDERGROUND PARKING TO SAVE ENERGY USED FOR ARTIFITIAL VENTILATION AND LIGHTING. Figure. Module sections

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THE MODULES ARE FLEXIBLE ACCORDING TO ITS LOCATION IN THE BUILDING CREATING 3 SUB MODULES. THE MODULE CONSISTS OF A GROUND FLOOR APARTMENT WITH A TERRACE AND A GARDEN AND UPPER FLOORS ARE A DUPEX WITH A TERRACE ON EACH FLOOR ALONG WITH A ROOF GARDEN.

Figure. Exploded isometric

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5.2.2 PROJECT DRAWINGS

Figure. Ground floor plan

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Figure. First floor plan

Figure. sections

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Figure. Second floor plan

Figure. Elevations

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5.2.3 PROJECT SHOTS (VISUALIZATION)

Figure. Shots

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5.3 SECOND FRAGMENT

Designed by my colleague Youssef Rafik.

Our aim was to offer different typologies of residential buildings for people in Mitzengen and out of Mitzengen to have the variety of housing units + apartments to rent and to have a direct connection with the city, outlet and the river promenade itself

Figure.Solid and Void Map

Solid and Void Map

Figure. Concept

The Two buildings offer different typologies of apartments-duplexs on the top floors and has shops on the river level. The taller building has a coffee shop on its ground floor to act as an attraction point for the public to reach the river promenade and experience the greenery and plazas on the water feature. They also have a direct connection with the river

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5.3.1 ARCHITECTURE PLANS

Figure. River plan

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Figure. Ground floor plan

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Figure. Typical plan

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5.3.2 ELEVATION AND SECTION

Figure. Sections and elevations

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5.3.3 ISOMETRIC SECTION

Figure. Exploded isometric

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5.2.3 PROJECT SHOTS (VISUALIZATION)

Figure. Shots

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6. APENDEX Figure. Country map

wikipedia.org

Figure. Metzingen location

metzingen.de

Figure. City map

einkaufsgutsch einmetzingen.de

Figure. Exploded isometric

Author

Figure. Ground floor plan

Author

Figure. First floor plan

Author

Figure. sections

Author Author

Figure. Outlet city photo

Author

Figure. Old town photo

Author

Figure. City analysis

Author

Figure. Urban analysis

Author

Figure. Second floor plan

Figure. Swot analysis

Author

Figure. Elevations

Author

Figure. photos

Author

Figure. sketches

Author

Figure. Shots

Author

Fig.Solid and Void Map

Author

Figure. Functions Map

Author

Figure. Concept

Youssef Rafik

Figure. Open Spaces Map

Author

Figure. River plan

Youssef Rafik

Figure. Circulation Map

Author

Youssef Rafik

Figure. Urban Framework Map

Author

Figure. Ground floor plan Figure. Typical plan

Youssef Rafik

Figure.Dagrams

Author

Figure. Ground level plan

Author

Youssef Rafik

Figure. River level plan

Author

Figure. Sections and elevations

Figure. Setions

Author

Youssef Rafik

Figure. 3Ds

Author

Figure. Exploded isometric

Figure. Fragments Map

Author

Figure. Shots

Youssef Rafik

Figure. Top 3D

Author

Figure. Space Destribution

Author

Figure. grid

Author

Figure. Module plans

Author

Figure. Module sections

Author

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BACHELOR THESIS 2018 Architecture and Urban Design Program

ROUBAIR ASHRAF GEORGE 34-11255 PRESENTED TO THE GERMAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO