Urban Identity of the Ring

To enhance the intuitive understanding of the site we equipped the ring with a recognizable urban element. This simple element creates a sensual experience along the path by a change in materiality, density and function. It is improving the area’s own identity. Approaching the historic site from the new train station one will experience a gradient change from corten steel, to concrete and finally to stone. Just by seeing, touching or hitting it with a guiding stick everybody immediately understands their location within the area. The same element also provides a soft, indirect and non blinding lighting during the night. Facility entrances are indicated with a change of materiality on the floor and a special element causing a very unique soundscape and also providing extra tactile information.

Senses Providing Navigation

In our search for a simple navigation system, accessible to all and very easy to understand, we looked for a strong component for the site. Instead we found that the site itself already connects every facility by a set of paths looped into a ring. Yet not very evident by looking on a floor plan, it is very strong element for creating a mental map of the site, which is a simplified abstraction of the geometry of the scene. The mental map is a main key for people with vision impairment and we decided to enhance the ring and make it more understandable for everyone. We wanted to incorporate all the five senses in the site and created a multi-sensorial navigation. By analyzing the area we determined five different zones. The visitor senses the deferent aspects of zones (such as different use of materials) as he walks around the area. The ring itself has its own identity and differs from the other paths and spaces on the site.