Wangen Landscape Design Exhibition 2024 by lohrer.hochrein landschaftsarchitekten und stadtplaner gmbh

Urban Regeneration in a Historic Context
Wangen im Allgäu exemplifies the archetypal small town: a compact historic core, well-preserved architectural layers, and scenic surroundings. Yet, the 2024 landscape exhibition became the catalyst for a comprehensive urban redevelopment—centered on the ERBA site, a former textile factory complex on the edge of the old town.

This 19th-century industrial enclave had become a brownfield after production ceased in 1992. With failed private redevelopment attempts and increasing structural decay, the city acquired the site in 2009. The transformation of this complex, and its reintegration into the urban and ecological fabric, became the foundation of Wangen’s landscape exhibition proposal.

Planning Strategy and Process
The master plan, based on a 2014 urban and landscape design competition, pursued three interwoven objectives: adaptive reuse and urban restructuring, river revitalization, and creation of a continuous public realm. Over 80 sub-projects were developed and realized step-by-step, involving a broad range of stakeholders and funding sources, including urban renewal programs, climate resilience initiatives, and private investors. Early public participation and transparent communication were integral throughout.

ERBA Quarter: Adaptive Reuse as Urban Strategy
North of the mill canal, the ERBA quarter translates industrial heritage into a contemporary mixed-use fabric. Key historic structures—especially the prominent spinning mills—were retained, structurally stabilized, and repurposed. New infill buildings were designed within the existing urban grammar, creating a dense, walkable neighbourhood with housing, a hotel, event spaces, workshops, and a community garage.

The internal circulation forms a ring of narrow alleys, green pockets, and small-scale squares. Car traffic is minimized; most parking is consolidated in the central garage. Formerly disconnected paths were reconnected with bridges, narrow passages, and a canal crossing, re-integrating the area into the surrounding urban tissue.

Auwiesen Quarter: Ecological and Social Housing
To the south, derelict housing and contaminated soils were cleared. The site was reimagined as a socially mixed and ecologically forward residential district. Timber construction, green roofs, and on-site water retention shape the environmental profile. A diversity of housing typologies fosters demographic variety and family-friendly living. Parking is handled via integrated carports and underground garages. The Argen riverbike route provides direct access to the city center.

River Revitalization: Designing with Water
The Argen River, previously hidden behind flood protection structures, is now a central design element. As part of a standalone project integrated into the overall strategy, riverbanks were softened, floodplains reestablished, and structural barriers removed. New bridges were elevated, riparian zones restructured, and visual and physical accessibility enhanced. Former flood-prone buildings were removed, and dynamic retention zones now coexist with newly designed park spaces. Materials and landscaping were carefully coordinated across the project.

A New Urban Landscape Corridor
The river corridor connects the historic core and the ERBA quarter, transforming a patchwork of underused plots—former parking lots, storage areas, and lawns—into a coherent green infrastructure system. The linear park consists of differentiated subspaces: city park, sport park, meadow gardens, and river lawns. The design favors naturalistic planting, permeable surfaces, and robust, low-maintenance materials. Few fixed structures were introduced; instead, ecological processes and user flexibility dominate. Climate-adapted species enhance biodiversity and seasonal variation.

Conclusion: A Long-Term Urban Catalyst
With the State Garden Show opening in spring 2024, Wangen presents a model for long-term, multi-scalar urban transformation. The 40-hectare development, with a total investment of €25 million, demonstrates how a temporary event can act as a planning instrument—accelerating implementation, integrating disparate initiatives, and ensuring architectural and ecological quality. The slow, iterative approach proved advantageous, allowing layered synergies between public, private, and civil society actors. From autumn 2024 onward, the project has now transitioned into its permanent role: a resilient urban landscape, deeply anchored in local identity and future-oriented design.

• All landscape architecture offices involved in the design of landscape:
lohrer.hochrein landschaftsarchitekten und stadtplaner gmbh
Großberger Beyhl Partner Landschaftsarchitekten mbB
Henning Larsen Überlingen
Geitz Landschaftsarchitekten

• All architecture offices involved in the design:
Arge Ramboll Dreiseitl
Koch Ingenieure
Fassnacht Ingenieure
Miebach Ingenieure
SBP
A + R Architekten
Angerhofer + Braun Architekten
Grath Architekten
krehl.gierke Architekten
hausen Architekten
Hermann + Bosch Architekten
Mind AC
Nagler Architekten
Rogg Architekten
Steimle Architekten
Institute for Computional Design and Construction
Wassung Bader Architekten

• Other credits:
1. Light planning: Day & Light, Munich
2. Photography: ©Thorsten Jochim
3. Sustainability consultant: 365° Freiraum + umwelt, Überlingen