"Hofer Himmel"<br>Hof / GER
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28. March 2024

"Hofer Himmel"

Project data

"Hofer Himmel"
Client Town Planning Office City of Hof
Award 1. place (divided), Assignment for Realization
Region Europe
Typology Public Spaces / Landscape Planning
Art Workshop / Competition
Planungszeitraum 2007 - 2009
Field size 1,2 ha
Cooperation partner
  • SBP - Schlaich, Bergermann und Partner, Stuttgart

Revaluation of the City – „Hofer Himmel“

In December 2007 the city of Hof, together with its retailers and property owners, conducted a workshop to obtain alternative proposals for the revaluation of the public space of the “Altstadt”. In this manner, hallmarks in the form of covered pesdestiran walkways are to be created. After winning joint 1st prize in this workshop, the ISA Internationales Stadtbauatelier together with the office Schlaich, Bergermann and Partner were with working out the design. The design envisions creating a middle zone in the exceptionally wide street space of the “Altstadt”. In this middle zone tridimensional signs and urban city furniture strengthens the relationship between the “Altstadt”, the surrounding greenbelts and the river Saale and establish a connection to the adjacent shopping streets. The location and form of the canopies is determined by several factors: because of the particular width of the street it is divided into a calm middle-zone and two “stroling zones” along the shop fronts. The canopies keep the view free to view  partly historical buildings along the street and move away from the facades  for fire prevention and static reasons.

The aim  was to employ  the visible hallmarks as a  point of attraction from all directions and vieuwpoints  and to sluice the visitors into the pedestrian zone. Simultaneously they function as the joint and bridge to the bordering shopping streets. The canopies become  new signs of identification for the city center of Hof because of their expressive appearance. The sculptural form of the construction is consciously silhouetted against the existing buildings in order to preserve their individual character. With its new appearance, the space under the canopies offers a central zone for varied uses. Service facilities like lockboxes or an information point, open air gastronomy and generous free space for festivities offers a varied program for all.