The pedestrian zone between Marktplatz and Leopoldstrasse in Pforzheim has animated the city centre for over 30 years. City officials decided to undertake extensive measures to revamp the urban area in order to bring it back up to a modern standard that would meet modern requirements.
Versatile use
Landscape architects Prof. Schmidt – Treiber – Partner based in Leonberg coordinated the project in the work phases from the preliminary design to the award of the contract. Weber-Ingenieure GmbH from Pforzheim was also involved in supervising the project. The pedestrian zone, which features a row of trees, was given a relaxing 9 m wide recreation area, which was furnished with striking public seating somewhat organically arranged, consisting of concrete substructures and broad wooden benches. A spacious 8 m wide traffic route for pedestrians and cyclists was also included in the design. The entire zone comprises about 5,400 m². Of this, around 3,000 m² were covered with concrete blocks, 1,750 m² with large concrete slabs and 500 m² with concrete paving. The new tiling picks up the colour scheme of the existing pavement at Marktplatz – rosé, ochre and sand shades – and continues it throughout the pedestrian zone. Simple light columns positioned at the axis of each lime tree along the zone add to the rhythm of the greenery. And the LED lights, which illuminate the trees from below, lend the recreation area a modern ambiance in the evening and night-time.
Discreet, functional and custom-made
A custom-made solution was needed in order to provide reliable drainage that is also as discreet as possible for the public space in the city centre. Not a problem: Richard Brink GmbH & Co. KG was able to manufacture and deliver a custom-made solution with ease. In total, 441 m of Fortis concrete channels were used in this project. They were installed by employees of Harsch Bau GmbH based in Bretten. The channels from Richard Brink meet load class D 400 requirements and will withstand the weight of delivery vehicles driving over them in the pedestrian zone over the long term. The concrete channels were covered with heavy-duty slotted attachments made from stainless steel. What’s more, 42 custom-made drainage units and 42 flush boxes ensure easy cleaning of the discreet drainage system. These units and boxes are sealed using paved inlays filled with the same flooring material found in the surrounding area.
Impressive quality
The fitters on site were impressed with the products from Richard Brink. Installation and integration of the channels, drainage units and flush boxes were easy. First a concrete foundation was laid for the concrete channels to anchor them securely in the ground. Once the heavy-duty slotted attachments were fitted, the channel combinations could then be encased in precisely-fitting concrete.
The end result is a discreet, hardly noticeable and yet functional drainage solution, just as requested. The high-quality products from Richard Brink contributed much to the discreet look. ‘Thanks to their sleek design and quality craftsmanship, the slotted attachments of the channels blend in ideally with the surrounding surface. All of the parts and materials installed have met the criteria set for them,’ the foreman Andreas Rauscher from Harsch Bau GmbH concluded.
