Jury meeting 17th and 18th April 2008 Venue: Elementary School Bad Radkersburg, 8490 Bad Radkersburg, Austria Start Jury Day 1: 17th April, 10:45, am End Jury Day 1: 7:45 pm Start Jury Day 2: 18th April 9:30 am, End Jury Day 2: 9:00 pm Attendees: Acc. to attendance list. Attending judges: Prof. Dipl. Ing. Andrea Cejka (chairwoman), professor for landscape architecture at the HSR Hochschule für Technik Rapperswil, Switzerland; landscape architect, Vienna-Berlin Dipl. Ing. Stanka Dešnik, udika, landscape architect (ZAPS), manager of the Gorieko regional park Dipl. Ing. Aleksander Ostan, udia, architect, Ljubljana (ZAPS), IODAL, DUPPS, Urbosvet LJ, Commission for Arch. and Design (MK) Dipl. Ing. Dr. Andreas Mayer, architect, Graz Peter Merlini, Mayor of Bad Radkersburg Anton Kampuš, Mayor of Gornja Radgona Dr. Franz Gmeindl, retired director of municipal offices Dr. Dipl. Ing. Tatjana Fulder, director of development agency (PORA) O. Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Richard Stiles, landscape architect, manager of the Institut für Städtebau, Landschaftsarchitektur und Entwerfen, TU Vienna (18. 4.) Attending consultants: Dr. Norbert Baumann, Styrian State Government Office, Dept. 19 B Defence Water Management and Soil Budgeting Mag. Rok Fazarinc, univ. dipl. inz. grad. IZV DI Daniel Kampus, design counsellor for Bad Radkersburg, Styrian State Government Office, Dept. 13B Building Regulations and Physical Planning Regulations DI Jože Novak, ARSO (Agencija Republike Slovenije za okolje) Sabina Franko, udika, landscape architect, MOP, directorate spatial planning DI Barbara Strenitz, architect, Graz, deputy juror Unable to attend: Prof. Jean-Marie Corneille Meuwissen, main judge, excused Prof. Richard Stiles, deputy judge, excused on 17th April, present on 18th April Mag. Ina Šuklje, main judge, excused, represented by deputy judge DI Stanka Dešnik DI Daniel Kampus, counsellor Spatial Planning, Office of the Styrian Regional Government, excused on 18th April, present on 17th April Josef Novak, counsellor Water Management, excused on 17th April, present on 18th April Natalija Fon Boštjančič, counsellor, represented by deputy counsellor Sabina Franko Damjan Holc, pre-auditor, excused Neva Urek Sulic, counsellor Protection of Historic Monuments, no-show Miran Krivec, counsellor Protection of Historic Monuments, no-show Igor Pivec, counsellor Urban Planning Gornja Radgona, no-show Simultaneous translation: Ms. Evelyn Dreo, Allesprachen, Graz Keeping of the minutes by Dipl. Ing. Agnes Feigl, freiland Umweltconsulting ZT-GmbH Agenda Jury Day 1: 1. Confirmation of Prof. Cejka as chairwoman of the jury 2. Opening of the meeting by Prof. Cejka 3. Determination of attendance 4. Determination of quorum 5. Exclusion of prejudice 6. Specification of language 7. Round of introductions and statement of voting rights 8. Determination of procedure Prof. Cejka is unanimously confirmed as chairwoman of the jury in place of Prof. Jean-Marie Corneille Meuwissen, who is ill. Due to the short-notice of Prof. Meuwissen’s cancellation, it was not possible for deputy judge Prof. Richard Stiles to arrive on time. Question of bias: No member of the jury is prejudiced. Language regulation for the jury meeting: Each member of the jury will speak in his/her own language. Ms. Dreo will translate Slovenian-German. Determination of procedure: – Presentation of project data without assessment by pre-audit. – Arch. Mayer proposes the submission and presentation of a brief project description. The jury accepts the offer of the pre-jury to submit a brief description and give a brief presentation without assessment of the project. – 30 minutes individual intense study of the competition entries: Each judge discusses 1-2 projects in the jury panel, taking into account as the assessment criteria. – 2nd round: in a subsequent procedure, the projects for the 2nd round are to be determined. The possibility to retrieve individual projects is unanimously approved. The voting for the awardees is to be done in ascending order: 3 – 2 – 1 Division of the awards: Acc. to the tender, redistributions are basically possible, Cejka recommends clear procedure according to textual, qualitative assessment criteria. Ostan argues for awarding 1-2-3 prizes in both categories. Next is the report of the pre-audit. Anonymity: All submitted projects are presented to the jury for decision making anonymously. After a brief discussion, Prof. Cejka proposes the following: all projects remain in evaluation for the first round. Vote: unanimously adopted Further procedure: 30 minutes of individual study of the project (analysis, recording, preparation of a project assessment) to prepare for the first assessment and exclusion round according to the agreed assessment criteria. Ostan proposes that a discussion should be possible after each project review. Following deliberations, this procedure is unanimously agreed with. 1st round: The projects 1001, 1002, 1003, 1005, 1007 are discussed in detail. The meeting is adjourned at 7.45 pm. The meeting is scheduled to continue at 9 am on 18th April. End of first day. Jury Day 2 Start: 9:30 am Address of welcome by Richard Stiles. He declares himself to be unprejudiced. Continuation of the discussions regarding projects 1006, 1004, 1008, 1009, 1010, 1011. Ending of the project presentation round. Counsellors Baumann and Novak take their leave at 12.50 pm. Subsequent procedure: the judges name all projects, which are to be further discussed in the second round. For those not named, jury member Mayer proposes to exclude the projects 1001, 1002, 1008. Proposal unanimously adopted. The following projects remain under evaluation: 1003, 1004, 1005, 1006, 1007, 1009, 1010, 1011. Next is the discussion concerning the award of the recognition prizes. Cejka proposes a recognition prize for project 1006 for the location-specific, artistic approach. Vote: 8 positive, 1 abstention. Mayer proposes to award project 1010 a recognition prize for the socio-political approach, and the proposal to aim for a connection of the cities not only on an urbanistic and open space planning level, and as a confirmation of the already conducted communication and voting process of the communities. Vote: 3 positive, 4 dissenting votes, 2 abstentions Award of a recognition prize to project 1010 rejected. Proposal Ostan: recognition prize for project 1004 for the superordinate concept as process-generating idea, integrating the population and private spaces. Vote: 5 positive, 1 dissenting vote, 3 abstentions – proposal adopted. Proposal Cejka for the award of a recognition prize for project 1005 for the contextual, analytical approach to the task regarding topography, climate, water, urban development, landscape structures for both urban areas. Vote: 4 positive, 1 dissenting vote, 4 abstentions – proposal adopted. Proposal Stiles for a recognition prize for project 1009 for the methodical approach to analysis and for addressing the sensual level such as e.g. experiencing the sunset at a particular location. Vote: 5 positive, 4 dissenting votes – proposal adopted. A total of 4 recognition prizes-special category: Projects 1004, 1005, 1006, 1009 Proposal Kampuš: 3rd place for the category subordinate concept 1:5000 urbanism/landscape: project 1003 Proposal unanimously adopted. Proposal Kampuš: 3rd place for project 1003 in the category open space design 1:1000. Vote: 7 positive, 1 dissenting vote, 1 abstention. Proposal Merlini: 2nd prize in the category subordinate concept: project 1007 There follows a break in the meeting from 1.30 to 2 pm. The projects 1007 and 1011 selected for the 1st and 2nd prizes are once more discussed in detail according to the assessment criteria. Assessment criteria: – Conceptual criteria – Urban planning & design criteria and open space planning & design criteria – Economic and ecologic criteria Voting of the 1st prizes in both categories. Proposal Kampuš: award of the 1st prize in the category subordinate concept to project 1007. Proposal unanimously adopted. Proposal Kampuš: 1st price in the category open space design goes to project 1011. Proposal unanimously adopted. Proposal Merlini: 2nd prize for the subordinate concept to project 1011. Proposal unanimously adopted. Proposal Merlini: 2nd prize in the category open space design to project 1007. Unanimously adopted Mayor Kampuš leaves the meeting at 4 pm. A. Ostan is designated as deputy. After drawing up the brief descriptions for all projects, the requirements for both winning projects are formulated, read out and recorded in separate minutes. After reading out the rankings, the drafter letters are opened and the winners of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prices notified by phone or email. Chairwoman Cejka closes the meeting at 9 pm. The Jury’s Assessment of the Projects Project 1001 The principle concept takes into account all requirements and proposes to connect the two cities with three new bridges, a lift up to the castle, green spaces, a wider river catchment, a cultural programme, sports areas, moorings and visual links.The urbanistic concept is only simplistically illustrated and with a scale of 1:5000 not concretised.The landscape design is only vaguely illustrated as green areas. Economic development is proposed with the construction of shopping centres in Bad Radkersburg only, these are, however, overdimensioned.As a positive ecological point of view, the widening of the river on both shores is projected. Project 1002 The project offers conceptive utilisation proposals for both urban areas, from which, however, no significant positive innovations for recreational and cultural enhancement can be derived. Still no reason has been given for the costly proposal to tear down the bridge between Bad Radkersburg and Gorna Radgona and to reconstruct it in a deviated position, a solution which would lead in the wrong direction for Bad Radkersburg from an urbanistic and traffic planning point of view. No specific designs are formulated concerning urban planning and landscape architecture. Project 1003 The principles for a holistic and sustainable development of both cities are reasonably illustrated in the project, but not designed in more detail. The project very thoroughly considers the closer environment resulting in high quality solution proposals such as for example the reconstruction of the historic castle gardens in Gornja Radgona with contemporary means. The system proposal for relief of traffic congestions is not realisable at the time being. The proposal for a uniform illumination of both cities’ key structures and their links was positively rated. Project 1004 The project drafters assume that the project is only the first step to the connection of the cities and that the process requires more than just urban planning measures. The project is based on 3 elements: the planting of 7000 cherry trees, the piling up of 7000 basalt blocks, the construction of a Europe mosaic at the former border crossings. The project promotes the joint efforts of the communities for an independent positioning. There are no specific proposals for the positioning of the blocks and trees, although these are a strong design element. The method to copy and paste from already implemented projects in Japan and Germany used by the project drafters is irreproducible for Bad Radkersburg and Gornja Radgona. Project 1005 – Tracing Traces The project stands out with its thorough analysis of the general urbanistic and landscape conditions. Particular consideration was given to the topographic and cultural traces. The subordinate concept proposes two new bridges, one road bridge on the path of the old train connection and a somewhat questionable pedestrian bridge leading diagonally from the thermal spring area to the renaturated floodplains of the river Mur. The way the moat and the municipal park were dealt with is marked with a strong geometric dissection in partial areas, severely disrupting the oneness of the constructions with their restless impact. The proposal to erect an open air stage on the castle mount in Gornja Radgona – together with a new viewing terrace – brings interesting new approaches. The new footpaths from the banks of the river Mur to the castle mount are not realistic because of the climbing gradient. The proposal for a new footbridge beneath the Mur bridge is interesting. Overall, the project has too little specific proposals to reunite the two separated “city halves” on both sides of the river Mur. Project 1006 With the lighting concept and the new market square in Gornja Radgona, the project places a strong emphasis on the two cities as a collective organism. The focus is on the staging of the border bridge with light engineering means. The river Mur is accentuated as connecting element. Urban and nature-oriented segments of the Mur banks are differentiated with illuminations of different intensities. The proposal is positively rated as impetus for the further transformation process of the two city parts. Project 1007 The overall concept essentially covers all areas which were specified, although with different intensity, but mostly with a clearly recognisable structure. The concept furthers the merging of the sectors and important buildings in the bilateral area by opening up visual links. The designs of the river banks very effectively change between very dominant urban shapes and nature-oriented shapes, petering out into the natural floodplain area to the West and East of both cities. The central and unchangeable spot – the present bridge – was confirmed in its function and new functional areas were added on both sides, which gain a new importance as the border stations and buildings are no longer necessary. Although to bring the important special agricultural cultivation of wine to the castle mount also on the northern slope and to make it visible has little chances of being realisable, but it is a strong indication that the topic of wine should distinguish the two cities as it did in the past centuries and can make considerable contributions from a tourism point of view. The waterfront of Gornja Radgona shows a very urban design and – together with the Old Town – would internationally signal a claim to be the hub of the entire region. The filling of the south-eastern area of Gornja Radgona is a practical concept, which can be gradually realised. Although the areas, where the river Mur is to be widened on the West and East of the city are only vaguely shown in the design, they create a good starting position to develop final projects together with the responsible parties of the water management departments in both countries. Project 1008 The project pursues an ergonomic concept for the convergence of the two cities, which is intended to be expressed by organic shapes made up of expanses of water and green spaces. Both cities should do more for pedestrians, also engaging in sports activities. Autochthonous plants for non-intensive maintenance are proposed. The project also provides extensive sports and playgrounds for youths. The water dam is remodelled and could provide green spaces to be used for games. From ecological points of view, a widening of the river Mur is implied, this proposal, however, leaves too many questions unanswered to allow a positive assessment. The urbanistic design is not convincing. Project 1009 The drafters show the importance of public green spaces for the urban structure through a methodological analysis. To this end, different measures are proposed for specific situations, among which a «sunset line’ and an expansion of the castle gardens to the existing bridge. Positive. Project 1010 – Public Dictionary The project Public Dictionary does not attempt to create a connection between the two city parts with planning measures, but mainly with socio-political approaches (language, economy, psycho-geographic morphology). Project 1011 Project 1011 distinguished itself with an intensive consideration of the major green spaces of the two cities, which are analysed both on a large scale (S1:5000) as well as on a detailed scale (S1:1000) and brought to link with each other with simple means. The design concepts reach from specific measures in the moat, municipal park, castle mount and tree rows as well as avenues as characteristic urban elements to detailed proposals, clearly illustrating the ambiance strived for. The proposed traffic solution with the existing bridge as pedestrian zone and the traffic bridge constructed as a substitute at the old train path represent an interesting urbanistic approach, which, however, does not seem realisable in near future due to the current situation. Results of the competition procedure After the elimination of anonymity by opening the drafters’ letters during the jury’s meeting, the results are as follows: Na tem mestu je v objavi uporabljena tabela ali kakšen drug element, ki ni tekst. Takšen element je viden v PDF datoteki! Publication of the competition results The competition projects will be exhibited for the public from 5th to 29th June 2008 on the border bridge between Bad Radkersburg and Gornja Radgona. The exhibition will be opened on 5th June at 6 pm. Responsible for the correctness of the content: Secretary Arch. DI Aleksander Ostan Deputy secretary Dr. DI Andreas Mayer