Rabbi Rülf Square

Client: City of Saarbrücken

Area: 3800 sqm

Construction time: 2011 to 2013

Scope/phases: LPH 1-8

Collaborators: lanscape architect Rolf Martin and consulting engineering WSV

Rabbi Rülf Square is located on the crossing between the Berliner Promenade and Bahnhofstrasse. This privileged location allowings it to intertwine the innercity with the green open space along the Saar. This connection is strengthened by the redesign of the Berliner Promenade and a new, spacious staircase to the Saar's shore area.

The square maintains a trapezoidal shape, positioned between the Saarcenter and the part of Dudweilerstrasse that opens onto Wilhelm Heinrich Bridge. As a result of this spatial context, the square is fundamentally divided into two explicit zones. To the city-facing side along Bahnhofstrasse, Rabbi Rülf Square is unstructured. Indicating this opening serves to mitigate the bottleneck between the Bahnhofstrasse and the exit of the Diskonto Passage. From the Berliner Promenade side, the square is defined by three rows of trees, enabling passersby a view of the open space along the Saar on both banks, simultaneously inviting them to linger in the square.

By arranging the trees in three rows, the basic geometry of the square is empasised and the new road connections strengthened. The trees serve as transition and intermediary between the city and the green space along the Saar riverbank.

Closing the square to traffic is and important part of the redesign. Taxi traffic and existing handicap parking spaces will be moved to Betzenstrasse and Dudweilerstrasse. Delivery for the neighboring businesses wil take place loading zones, the first is created by lengthening the bus stop on Dudweilerstrasse and the second is placed on Dudweilerstrasse in front of the Diskonto building. Only fire access is allowed on the square.

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