Redesign of the squares in Chorweiler

Building on a participation process in 2016 and the resulting redesign of three centrally located squares, public space is taking on a new meaning. The squares Pariser Platz, Liverpooler Platz and Lyoner Platz were inaugurated last year and have since formed an important part of social interaction.

Chorweiler was created at the beginning of the 1970s in line with the then guiding principle of "urbanity through density" as the urban planning and design center of the so-called "New City." However, the neglect over many years of the management and maintenance of part of the housing stock by new financial investors has caused a modernization backlog that has negatively shaped Chorweiler's image.

As part of the project "Liveable Chorweiler - A Center in Transition," participation procedures were initiated to redesign the public space. This includes, to a large extent, the redesign of the three centrally located squares, Pariser Platz and Liverpooler Platz, as well as the Lyoner Passage, in line with the model of the time when they were created. In 2016, the citizens of Cologne were able to contribute their ideas and suggestions in two ideas workshops. Based on these ideas, the planning was further developed and finalized.

The square areas were largely completed as early as spring 2020 and have since been open to the public.

Liverpooler Platz has been given a colored asphalt and is framed by bluebell trees. By reducing the size of the parking lot, free areas for space, sports and events have been added. The Pariser Platz gets a colored clinker pavement. A water feature consisting of ground fountains will be created in the center of the square. Lyoner Passage is getting seating steps and a bouldering wall for climbing in front of the city center shopping mall. In total, the city is planting 150 new trees. Benches and seating steps are being created along a length of around 450 meters.