SI Urban 1/2021, Tourism
After Koblenz, Mannheim is also taking off
The German National Garden Show looks back on a long history; the biennial event has been held regularly since 1951. Over this time, a wealth of experience has been amassed in the organisation of such large events. Alongside the question of the right venue, mobility is an important issue right from the start of the planning phase. How can arrival and departure be arranged efficiently for large groups of people?
And how will movement work at the location? Indeed, the venue for BUGA 23 covers two sites: Spinelli-Park and Luisenpark, which was previously the main venue for the National Garden Show in 1975. These two sites will be connected by a temporary ropeway system from Austrian manufacturer DOPPELMAYR.
There were two systems in the running for the task of connecting both exhibition sites. For a while, the ropeway was in competition with e-buses, but the advantages of the cable-drawn system ultimately prevailed.
The bus journey between Spinelli-Park and Luisenpark would have taken 25 minutes, whereas transport by ropeway will take only a few minutes. Furthermore, the concept also fulfils the important criteria of barrier-free accessibility and high transport capacity, to the complete satisfaction of the organisers.
The stations
The two station buildings of the BUGA 23 ropeway will be constructed with a real glass roof and a partially- timbered façade. So that the gondola has enough clearance when it leaves the stations, they are slightly elevated. The drive will also be located on the Spinelli site. In addition, media space will be integrated on the side, so that visitors can be informed of all the events.
Startin over
Spinelli ropeway station. Copyright: MOJA Design GmbH / Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH and Northern Light
Acceptance
“In Koblenz, some residents were initially sceptical of the ropeway. After installation, once the benefit became clear, everyone was captivated. I am sure that the ropeway will also be well received in Mannheim,” says Nadine Haas, Project Manager at DOPPELMAYR.
Together with the Project Manager, the people responsible for the BUGA are also unperturbed by the cautious reticence of the population.
Permanent installation of the system has even been considered and is sometimes cautiously mentioned in the discussion. However, none of the people responsible is really anticipating that. “Visitor numbers are expected to increase significantly during the National Garden Show,
so the ropeway offers an important means to guarantee barrier-free accessibility for visitors in a simple way. At the end of the event, visitor numbers are expected to fall back to the present level, which is served very well by the existing services,” one BUGA spokesperson reports.
Construction of the ropeway, which will be around two kilometres long, is planned to begin in spring 2022.
In 2023, a ropeway will connect the climate park on the Spinelli site to Luisenpark. Map: BUGA 23/Strauss
BUGA ROPEWAY
BUGA ROPEWAY
– The ropeway will be powered by green electricity.
– Continued use of the ropeway is planned after BUGA 2023.
– Study with Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences (the findingsfrom this investigation will be published subsequently, to raise awareness of an urban ropeway).
