SPECIAL MENTION

BOAT HOUSE

Project Description by Team: The proposal reinforces an existing pedestrian axis between town centre and harbour. A road shaded by trees connects the recreation areas of Pfänder Mountain and Lake Constance. From a redesigned intersection at Landstraße, the revitalised Bahnhofstraße passes green spaces and a proposed municipal agricultural co-op in the heart of the town, fostering access to commons. At the train station a shared space allows cyclists, motorists and pedestrians to interact safely. The adjoining plaza turns the station into a multi-modal hub, for local trips by bus, a stroll by the lake or inter-regional journeys. The spirit of the marina is reinvigorated by restoring the Old Ferry through community participation and building a boathouse that doubles up as a cultural space by the lake front.

Jury Statement:This project proposes a boathouse for the boat, which is seen as keeping within the narrative of the site. It speaks of community and offers many different functions. It is very much to the point and realistically achievable in an incremental way. But lifting the boat would be too expensive. [...] In a wider context, a link between the lake and the mountain is proposed, talking about incorporating large parts of the landscape as part of the experience, where you can linger and understand more about the culture of this place.

Team Statement: "Lochau's potential is only partially tapped into at the moment. It is very attractive due to its natural assets: the Pfänder mountain access to the lakefront and the lush green meadows in its centre as well as the protected natural habitats. What's more it has a historic centre and profits from the vicinity to both Bregenz and Lindau. However, these promising pieces are currently not bound by a coherent spatial strategy.
This is why it was very interesting for us to work on the town as planners and try to find solutions for its future development. It occurred to us that the most pressing task is to join the centre of town with the harbour and provide access. Our design proposes a new axis from the water to the city centre and envisions a pedestrian crossing opening up the marina to pedestrians. The historic ferry is revitalized as a cultural hub and landmark for Lochau. Under a light-weight canopy citizens are invited to participate in the restoration of the boat in an inclusive process. This is turning the momentum at the lakefront into an impulse for bonding and belonging. The spirit of community is then carried onwards in the many activities the boat and its shelter can house."