Introduction: With the Rhine-Ruhr Express (RRX) project, DB Netz AG is implementing one of the most important rail infrastructure projects in North Rhine-Westphalia in order to upgrade regional transport on the core route of the Ruhr region and the central Rhineland from Dortmund via Essen, Duisburg and Düsseldorf to Cologne by increasing both the frequency of service and the transport capacity. As a result, the RRX brings major transport benefits to the city of Düsseldorf.
Summary: On the one hand, the necessary infrastructure expansion is in the public interest, but on the other hand it also generates a large number of affected entities in the Düsseldorf urban area. Particularly in the area of the additional tracks required for the RRX route, there is a legal obligation to ensure active noise protection to a considerable extent. In addition, route widening, extensions of underpasses and the restriction of sight lines to platforms are the result. In comparison to the other cities on the RRX route network with a large investment volume, Düsseldorf is the city where the most construction work is being implemented.
The planned construction of new noise barriers, usually 4 – 5 m height, covering a total area of about 125,000 square metres over a length of more than 25 km within the densely populated urban area of the state capital Düsseldorf, as well as the above-mentioned measures are, in addition to the major improvements in noise protection, both a challenge in terms of urban planning and design. At the same time, there are opportunities for innovative, aesthetically pleasing and ecologically forward-looking solutions that can develop into a lighthouse project for Düsseldorf. For this complex task, an experienced, interdisciplinary thinking and
working team from the fields of art, urban planning, architecture,
engineering, ecology and research must be found based on a design competition. In addition to the required noise protection, its contributions are expected to take equal account of the factors of architecture/form/aesthetics, ecology and urban space policy – while paying regard to hazard-free railway operation.
The goal is to develop an innovative and visionary design idea which is meaningful and functional for the entire city, which is accepted and supported by large parts of the urban society, which is representative of sustainability and climate neutrality and at the same time develops supra-regional appeal, allowing for transformation into a both feasible and financially viable concept in a timely manner after the planning approval decisions.
The overall concept is to be presented based on three specific focal areas, which are an elevated suburban railway station, an area in the open in an embankment location, and at another location in level terrain of free choice.
Download the information related to this competition here.
