A concrete landscape that conjures smiles on faces
By Axel Schütze (Dipl.-Ing. AKNW / BDLA / Landschaftsarchitekturbüro Axel Schütze)
The Takufeld BMX bike park: ramps, curbs, ledges and more around the 'salad bowl' in Cologne.
Takufeld recreation ground in the Ehrenfeld district of Cologne has been the venue for stunt riding, spectacular tricks and fast-paced riding on BMX bikes since the mid-1990s. Here had been constructed a BMX bike park extending to some 1000 m2 that, over the years, had begun to show significant traces of wear and tear. In order to ensure that it remained safe for future users, the park underwent a radical refurbishment in summer 2015. Since being reopened in December 2015, it has proved to be a major attraction for the local BMX community.
Since the 1990s, the 'Takufeld' park in Cologne's Ehrenfeld district has been providing a surface area of nearly 1000 m2 on which various roller sports could be undertaken, with the emphasis on BMX biking. Cologne is home to a large number of BMX biking fans, meaning that the extensive use of the facility had resulted in its deterioration to an extent that could no longer be ignored so that renovation had become a matter of some urgency. Members of the local biker association R.I.D.E. e.V. formed in 2013 got in touch with the local authority with a request that the park should be overhauled and offering to help with the design; the authority decided to commission the landscape architect firm Schütze based in Cologne to undertake the planning.
The project was thus initiated to renovate the Takufeld park - known familiarly to the local biking fraternity as the 'salad bowl' because of the large stainless steel shell embedded in the ground that dominates the facility. The aim was to create an attraction that conformed to a wide range of different expectations and needs and thus would offer optimal conditions for practising a sport that is continuously growing in popularity in Cologne. Providing extensive voluntary input and working in collaboration with the various child and juvenile authorities in Cologne, R.I.D.E. e.V. made various suggestions for how the Takufeld park could be improved.
The concepts were elaborated by landscape architect firm Schütze and the construction work was initiated in summer 2015. In addition to the implementation of the suggestions for improvement made by the BMX bikers, the need for upgrading of the Takufeld park was necessary because the concrete surfacing of the feature had been made uneven as the roots of neighbouring trees had continued to develop, making use of the park potentially dangerous. Another problem was the insufficient drainage, particularly in the 'salad bowl' area, so that standing water represented a further potential risk. The stainless steel shell had tended to fill with water after heavy rainfall, becoming a possible hazard to children playing there. During the renovation work, particular emphasis was placed on creating a facility that would be exceptionally versatile. The design was adapted to the wishes of the BMX bikers so that the focus was on providing for freestyle riding - here dexterity and nerve are required to carry out the various range of wheel tricks.
The garden and landscaping firm of Lorenz Garten- und Landschaftsbau based in Bergisch-Gladbach undertook the underlying modelling of the site and put in place the gravel base layers. The concrete surfacing was installed on-site. Yamato Living Ramps May / Beckmann GbR was hired for this purpose - a company with the suitable know-how as its founders are themselves committed BMX bikers and skaters. The eight weeks of work resulted in the creation on the nearly 900 m2 site of a quarter pipe, a subbox, a free-floating penny bank, a Jersey barrier, various pads, curbs, banks and rails. As principal feature, the 'salad bowl' was also reconstructed as it had become something of a landmark within the Takufeld roller sport park. In place of the semicircular steel shell previously used by bikers to gain the necessary acceleration for jumps and flips, the new bowl was made of concrete. This meant that it was possible to avoid problems with the boundary areas where different materials come together. A total of 170 m3 of concrete was employed that was filled carefully into the prepared formwork elements and then smoothed laboriously by hand. On completion of the concrete surfacing, Lorenz undertook construction of the benches and the laying out of grassed and planted areas.
Within just over two years, it has thus been possible thanks to the dedicated and close collaboration between all those involved to make the facility conform to the needs of the latest sport standards. After the suggestions of the BMX fraternity had been collected and given expression in model form, planning commenced in 2014 and the construction work was carried out in 2015. It was due to the generosity of the City of Cologne that the project was practicable - the work cost €230,000.
The park was opened in December 2015 and the fans of this fast-paced sport were able to once again take possession of this unique public attraction in Cologne. The feature is even a focus of interest beyond the borders of Cologne and serves as the venue for various events, including the Schüsseljam BMX competition. Present at the official opening together with the architects and representatives of R.I.D.E. e.V was the mayor of Ehrenfeld, Josef Wirges. "I am certain that this is worthwhile investment that will enhance not only the attractiveness of our district," he said.
"Cologne has never before had such a versatile roller sport park," added Ingo Kraus of the Verein Rigorose Interessengemeinschaft Kölner Extremsportler (Ride e.V.).
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