Architect
products & services
hollow-stones ● paving-stones ● slabs
Location
Bühlstraße, Austraße, 96149 Breitengüßbach, Germany
The transformation of Breitengüßbach’s town centre stands as a benchmark for contemporary placemaking. By removing large sealed traffic surfaces and revitalising the Güßbach stream, the project has created a vibrant public realm that is now recognised across Germany as a forward thinking model for urban renewal.
Its impact was underscored by winning the public choice award in the national urban development photography competition. For the project, BESCO supplied light coloured belgrano® natural stone, which connects the historic architecture with a modern landscape concept through a calm and cohesive material language.
What was once dominated by fragmented traffic areas has been transformed into a unified civic space. Light coloured belgrano® granite forms the architectural foundation that ties together the town hall, church and parish centre. For the planners at Grieger Harzer Dvorak, natural stone was essential in giving the historic core a renewed sense of identity and permanence. The warm tones of the granite create an inviting atmosphere and provide a deliberate contrast to the cool blue green planting areas surrounding the site.
More than 1,000 tonnes of natural stone were installed across a project area of approximately 3,200 square metres, requiring around 40 heavy truck deliveries. The granite paving was designed to withstand the demands of trafficked areas while maintaining the high quality appearance and atmosphere of a contemporary public space.
At the heart of the design concept is the idea of a Blue Green Corridor, bringing water back into the urban environment as both a functional and visual element. Where the Güßbach stream cannot remain open, its path is reflected through dense planting. The light coloured belgrano® granite absorbs less heat in direct sunlight than darker paving materials, helping to reduce heat build up around the stream corridor.
Drainage was also carefully integrated into the overall design. Open channels direct rainwater away in a controlled manner, while a dedicated low water channel keeps the reopened section of the Güßbach visibly flowing even during periods of low water levels.
Accessibility was embedded into the design from the very beginning. Tactile paving elements and 22 metres of custom made belgrano® channel stones with integrated tactile edges blend seamlessly into the church square paving and support intuitive wayfinding throughout the public space. Together with the newly added ramps at St. Leonhard Church, the project creates an environment that is safe, accessible and welcoming for people of all generations while maintaining a calm and refined material aesthetic.
With belgrano® natural stone, the new town centre was designed with long term value in mind. As a natural material, stone is exceptionally durable and can be reused even after decades of use. If the public space is ever redesigned in the future, the paving can be carefully lifted and installed again elsewhere. The project in Breitengüßbach demonstrates how contemporary infrastructure can coexist with and strengthen the historic identity of a place over time.
Find out more about the use and range of applications of natural stone.
Pedestrian zones & city squares
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