ContinentaleCascades. On a dense garden city

location:  Kassel, Germanyyear:   2023program:Densification and climate adaptation of a post-war neighbourhoodstatus:Open competitioncollaborations:Federico Bertagna (structural engineer)
Gregory Bianchi (sustainability engineer)


Wolfsanger, a post-war residential neighborhood on the border of Kassel, is poised for expansion into the neighboring countryside. This development offers a chance to reconfigure its layout to boost climate resilience and enrich communal areas. Leveraging the plot's gentle slope, we have devised a new urban plan centered on a composition with transversal axes. These axes host cascades that have the potential to both retain stormwater and function as sports facilities and playgrounds when dry. New buildings, including several towers and distinct linear blocks, are strategically interspersed among existing structures. The linear blocks feature a hybrid structure of wood and concrete and are raised on pilotis to enhance ventilation and reduce soil sealing. Nestled between these axes, linear parks with natural watercourses are designed to enhance the neighborhood’s climatic resilience and provide vibrant communal spaces for residents.