There’s no question that every district in Cologne is a “superblock”. Because almost everywhere in the cathedral city is a good place to live. But the term “Superveedel” has recently come to mean something else: the traffic turnaround is to be driven forward. Various districts in Cologne are to be converted into a “superblock”, in line with the sustainable urban redevelopment in Barcelona. We show you what you need to know about the new Superveedel in Cologne.
More green spaces and places for people
In a superblock, there are traffic-calmed streets for people and more public space for encounters. Delivery traffic can still drive through, but the majority of other cars will be diverted. Those who are dependent on their vehicle – such as older people – will still be able to do so. More trees and unsealed surfaces should ensure less heat in summer and cleaner air.
Stadtgarten e. V. has long wanted fewer cars and more trees in the district. The association used last Sunday’s Park-Platz-Tag to present its new ideas. This is where Cologne’s second super-needle is to be created. Specifically, the square by the Christuskirche church is to become a permanent meeting and recreation area with planted trees and seating furniture.
A Superveedel is already being planned in Cologne. In Winzerveedel, such a block will soon be created, as was recently decided in August: The seven streets Burgunderstraße, Trierer Straße, Pfälzer Straße, Saarstraße, Am Duffesbach, Eifelstraße and Moselstraße are part of it. In addition to traffic calming, the public space here is to be made even greener.
Implementation and challenges
There is not yet a concrete timetable for the implementation of the Stadtgarten-Superveedel. The transport department is examining how through traffic can be removed from the district and how parking spaces can be compensated for. To this end, a company is analyzing the exact use of parking spaces: There are 600 public and 1100 private parking spaces in the district, of which only 50 percent of the private spaces are used. These unused private parking spaces for residents should be accessible according to the concept.
The concept for the new Superveedel in Cologne is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026. If the pilot projects are successful, Cologne as a whole could soon look different: In the Agnesviertel and Clouth-Quartier in Nippes, the neighbors also want a redesign of the public space that puts us humans back at the center.