Geisenheim is to become greener: the first step towards achieving this is the "Green Geisenheim" project at the western approach to the university town. The second is the redesign of the Rüdesheimer Strasse roundabout. The winning design in a university-wide competition for young landscape architects selected by public vote will be put in place this year: last December, members of the public cast their votes on three designs that had been pre-selected by a panel of experts. The result of the vote was officially announced at University Town Geisenheim's New Year's reception in the Rheingau Atrium on January 17, 2020. The "Viticulture and Safflowers in the Rheingau" design by Eva Orpel and Julian Treffler, students at Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences, received 46 percent of the votes to emerge as the winner of the competition.
The winning design, which will earn the students prize money totalling 750 euros takes its cue from the close connection between the town of Geisenheim and wine-growing. Instead of the current gravel surface, curved vineyard posts will form the striking centerpiece of the roundabout, which are surrounded by a varied composition of plants. Only plants that can be found in vineyards are used, such as mullein, yarrow, poppy, thyme and speedwell, with different types of safflower providing additional color highlights. At night, the installation on the roundabout will be illuminated by lamps arranged in a ring. To ensure road safety, the young planners chose lightweight posts with a predetermined breaking point just above the ground clearance of an average-sized car.
"The competition shows that the next generation of landscape architects is keen to tackle the topic of urban green spaces in a creative and solutions-based manner. It has also encouraged many members of the public to address this issue, which is particularly important in the context of climate change.This means the competition is not only an asset for Green Geisenheim, but has also played a role in extending the public debate to the everyday reality of our own lives," said Professor Alexander von Birgelen, Professor for Plant Use and head of the "Grünes Geisenheim" project at Hochschule Geisenheim University.
"I am pleased that the initial step in the 'Grünes Geisenheim' project has now been taken thanks to this student competition and participation by the public and that it is to be put in place without delay. Together we have succeeded in enhancing the western approach to our town. The winning design also creates a great association with the region. I hope it will be welcomed by the public and look forward to future initiatives to make Geisenheim greener," added Christian Assmann, Mayor of Geisenheim.
Members of the public were able to vote for their favorite bid over a period of twelve days in December. They had the possibility to select their preferred design online, or to cast their vote directly in the town hall. Just under 1,300 people voted, thereby demonstrating their interest in the "Green Geisenheim" project. The winning design will be put in place before the end of this year. The project is partly financed by funds from the "Zukunft Stadtgrün" program.
Overview of the competition results
1st place – Viticulture and Safflowers in the Rheingau, Eva Orpel and Julian Treffler, Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences, prize money: 750 euros (46 percent of votes cast)
2nd place – pflanzen/GESELLSCHAFT, Martina Heims and Kai Faust, Hochschule Geisenheim University, prize money: 500 euros (37 percent of votes cast)
3rd place – R(h)einer Wein, Felix Brugger, Technical University of Munich, prize money: 250 euros (17 percent of votes cast)
