Wittstock needs a physical and a social change. The challenge consists of helping the town recuperate economic strength and to provide a social instrument to stop the loss of its population even further.

We believe the right move for Wittstock is to go back to a more concentrated space, developing concentric circles starting from the centre to regain identity and avoid degradation.

Wittstock needs to pull its strength from where it has the highest potential: its city centre.

Every movement needs to be routed there, due to the fact that the qualities and the value of the town resides in it, in its heart. The centre of Wittstock is made to be dense and there is still room in the centre to close the gaps.

The thought behind this strategy is that the more we can concentrate in the centre, the more liveliness we can bring to it.

Life brings rejuvenation, regeneration and dynamism. A dynamic space generates more opportunities for businesses, culture, education and care.

A bigger social cohesion arises and the potential for settlement grows.

Our proposal is to redesign the entrances, re-direct the traffic and create a new ring including the river and the park around the station. We intentionally force every movement to point towards the centre.

It will work as a magnet for visitors and inhabitants. We bring new life in, and then we close it around. We create an attractive, upgraded, improved, intimate and lively space for Wittstock, a new stage for a successful performance.

SUMMARY

Location: Wittstock, Germany

Program: Urban park, parking, public facilities and housing

Client: Municipality of Wittstock

Area: 250 ha.

Architect: Kartonkraft & laura alvarez architecture

Team: Laura Alvarez, Marta Roy

Year: 2011

Status: Europan Competition