Project ‘Big City – little wilderness’ Hamburg-Osdorf - project by Landscape Architect to improve access to and use of green space for disadvantaged groups
Big City – little wilderness (By bdla, Germany)
Project “Big City – little wilderness’ (Kleine Wildnis) is a 3ha area in Hamburg-Osdorf which was more or less left alone for many years. The initiative was welcome by many citizens as well as the district administration because it favoured biodiversity on the site. On the other hand, side access was not easy for the people with difficulties with walking on uneven ground on in a wheel-chair. It is a designated public park and part of the second green belt in Hamburg.
Therefore the planning process had to consider the issues of safety, accessibility for all, nature conservation and recreation. The area was supposed to remain rather “wild” in character, with only few interventions. Also it should retain its function of conserving nature.
So the planning phase for the Little Wilderness in Osdorf set out to bring together biodiversity and recreation in the green space.
A concept for the distribution of uses on the site was then developed. Play and recreation areas were created as small ‘nests’ integrated into the existing vegetation. Wild
areas are protected by hedges made from dead wood (Benjescheken), man made elements create contrasting accents. Many paths are now accessible to all.
The project was developed in collaboration with Landscape Architect Berthold Eckebrecht from Hamburg.
Photo credits: Walter Schieβwohl
