The red ribbon

The competition brief to reorganize the northern bank of the Neckar River is met through a series of complementary yet independent operations. The three anchor sites and the connecting waterfront draw on and highlight the features of the surrounding fabric. All the operations are linked through the Red Thread, a multipurpose strip of traditional red sandstone that runs through to Heidelberg’s historic landmark, the Schloss. This historic icon is counterbalanced with a new, contemporary landmark, Heidelberg’s cutting-edge University with a conference center and public venue in the river. All the operations aim to emphasize the transition from urban to natural that takes place at the Wieblinger Wehrsteig, the lock marking the western end of Heidelbergs Neckar.