The city of Hamm is characterized by its historic city center with the Pauluskirche as its center and the Datteln-Hamm Canal and the Lippe River. Due to the use of the local canoe clubs, access to the waterfront was in the past only limited to the public. To take advantage of the potential of the urban waterfront location, the water sports facilities were grouped into a water sports center and a new urban district was created near the water. This newly developed waterfront was now to be connected to the city center.
Our open space concept creates a high-quality connection between the downtown core of Hamm and the water edge of the Datteln-Hamm canal. A continuous and uniform paving creates a cohesive image from the historic city center to the new waterfront as a „canal band“. Ground markings and inscriptions along the colored clinker band in combination with new plantings of the red maple lead to the renewed canal edge.
The Nordringpark will be opened in the area of the Nordenwall via a new pedestrian walkway as well as a bastion with stairs, seating steps and a barrier-free ramp. A new adventure playground with a water theme and a „canal boat“ offers plenty of play opportunities with park-like character in the open area. In the area of the historic Lippeschleuse, a second bastion with stairs and seating steps as well as another barrier-free ramp forms the transition to Adenauerallee and the new urban district.
The transition from the park to the new urban quarter leads to an open space with flanking plantings. The generous open space and continuous paving surrounding the new water sports center with an outdoor terrace for the catering service. Specific elements of the equipment and a fountain field enable the multifunctional use of the space. The transition to the bank of the river is resolved through a staircase/ramp configuration and, in addition to barrier-free access, offers sufficient seating options with views of the Datteln-Hamm canal. The final element of the entire space ensemble is a seating area by the water, which offers users direct visual contact with the water.
Photos: Nikolai Benner