Uploaded on 2014-10-18 by kasiaos

[1]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/1413671307890108.jpg In this photograph we see a view of Cologne from an office building on the outer edge of the city. The two church towers that are visible in the background belong to the city cathedral (Dom). Apart from this distinctive structure, there are several high rise buildings and a TV-tower that pop up on the horizon. A further thing that cannot be omitted, is the thick layer of green treetops jammed between the back and front part of the picture. As we move to the foreground we mostly see newly build housing blocks with west oriented balconies and photovoltaic equipment on the rooftop. What is invisible in this picture is the fact that there are ringroads and high-speed aches for motorised traffic that form Cologne's circulation grid. Many of these roads cut through both the inner and outer city fabric, prioritizing the car and making the pedestrian feel unwanted. The other characteristic of Cologne that needs explanation, is the 'Gruenguertel'. It is a belt of green with lines of trees and spacious lawns that encircles the inner historic city. This half-circular public city park is not only a place for recreation, but also a practical bike route connecting the city edges. Analysing the 'Gruenguertel' especially how it changes depending on the time of the day and the season of the year, seems to me a starting point for developing design strategies that could improve dense urban areas. The green belt in Cologne has many overlapping functions and could be considered a testing ground in the quest for livable urban space.