Design |New Stages of the City of Cologn

Written Consolidation | No address - Can Architecture contribute to the Social Participation of Homeless People?

Graduate | Julia Timpert

Supervisor design | Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Susanne Gross, Chair of Design and Building Science

Supervisor written specialization | Deputy Prof. Dr. Roland Busch, Chair of Economics of Planning and Building

Abstract  This master's thesis "No address. Can architecture contribute to the social participation of homeless people?" was prepared in connection with a design assignment. The thesis dealt with the upgrading of Breslauer Platz, located north of Cologne Central Station, in the form of a hybrid building ensemble which, in addition to the function of the stage house, offers a place for accommodation, catering and employment for people in need. Against this background, the aim of this thesis was to answer the question of whether architecture can contribute to the social participation of homeless people and in what form space can be made available to those affected in order to improve their quality of life as independently as possible on the one hand and to promote a supportive urban culture on the other. With this in mind, a theoretical introduction to the topic of homelessness and homelessness assistance was first provided, as well as a discussion of the current situation. This highlighted the importance of social participation for homeless people and resulted in corresponding space requirements as well as political and social trends in the form of research criteria. On this basis, a best-practice analysis and expert interviews were used to gain insights from a planning perspective, which were then compared and classified with the help of user surveys. Against this background, success factors and action strategies were identified for the spatial planning and implementation of integrative participation services and concepts for homelessness support services. The results were then transferred to the design at Breslauer Platz in Cologne in order to provide a realistic example. A summary conclusion with regard to the research question mentioned at the beginning summarized the most important findings of the work and rounded off the research work.

Transparent manufactory - success factors and added value of publicly accessible production facilities

Graduate | Aslihan Sancak-Müjde

Supervisor | Deputy Prof. Dr. Roland Busch, Chair of Economics of Planning and Building

Abstract  Production facilities are at the heart of the economy. Products are manufactured by people with the help of machines for people. The transparency of production facilities, especially of processes, plays an important role in many respects. The aim of this thesis was to work out the success factors and added value of publicly accessible production facilities, taking transparency and architecture into account. To this end, the research question was investigated as to which factors lead to a successful publicly accessible production facility and what added value the companies and visitors can gain from this. Three different research methods were used to answer the research question. First, case studies were presented and analyzed. Subsequently, guideline-based expert interviews were conducted, explicitly asking about the success factors and added value of publicly accessible production sites. In addition, visitor surveys were conducted on the perception, significance and impact of publicly accessible production sites on and for visitors. Based on the aforementioned research methods, several factors such as architecture, transparency and the product have emerged for successful public production facilities. In addition, various added values and trust were identified for both the companies and the visitors.

Market concept wholesale market hall Cologne | Investigation of success factors for an effective revitalization

Graduate | Tim Hecker

Supervisor | Deputy Prof. Dr. Ing. Roland Busch | Dipl.-Ing. Heike Neumann, Chair of Economics of Planning and Building

                      Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Susanne Gross, Chair of Building Science and Design

Abstract  The basis of this in-depth scientific study is the design analysis of an existing wholesale market hall in the south of Cologne, which aims to convert the existing wholesale market situation into a publicly usable market hall as a new social and cultural center of Parkstadt Süd. The newly developed utilization concept was examined within the thesis with regard to the success factors for current market concepts in order to be able to draw conclusions as to which aspects are relevant for an effective market concept today. In order to provide a theoretical introduction to the topic, the historical development of market halls was first explained and best-practice examples were analyzed. The user survey conducted as part of this master's thesis was then evaluated in order to draw conclusions about user behavior. Based on the results obtained, the utilization concept of the wholesale market hall in Cologne was examined with regard to various operator and tenant models. The thesis then aimed to define which success factors are relevant for the successful development of a market concept and how these can be transferred to an architectural design in today's world.

Hybrid school concepts - analysis of location factors and market potentials

Design topic | International Cathedral Singing School Cologne

Graduate | Stefanie an der Brügge

Supervisor | Deputy Prof. Dr. Ing. Roland Busch, Chair of Economics of Planning and Building

                      Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Ulrich Königs, Chair of Construction and Design

Abstract  In this Master's thesis "Hybrid school concepts - analysis of location factors and market potentials", a hybrid concept approach was developed for a private music high school in a central location at Cologne's main railway station. To this end, the concept of hybridity was first clarified and existing concepts for mixed use were identified. The location and market potential were then examined and the framework for a utilization concept was formed so that it can function for the specific environment in Cologne's central location.