Picture this. You stand before Gartenfeldplatz a square in Mainz’s Neustadt district. This seemingly ordinary square holds a fascinating history. It’s a window into Mainz’s growth after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71.
Gartenfeldplatz occupies a significant location in Mainz. It’s near the main train station. The Frauenlobstrasse and Kurfuerstenstrasse streets border it. The Gartenfeldstrasse and Nackstrasse streets form its longer sides. This layout is typical of late 19th-century urban planning. The square breaks up long streetscapes without disrupting the overall symmetry.
Its name Gartenfeldplatz reveals much. It’s named after the Gartenfeld the area north of Mainz’s old fortifications. For centuries this was largely undeveloped. Defense strategies dictated this. Private gardens thrived there providing food for the garrison town. The Gartenfeld was also a popular promenade. It had shady avenues. Buildings were only permitted temporarily. They were constructed in wood or half-timbered style. This ensured quick demolition if needed for clear lines of fire. The development of longer-range artillery changed this. Mainz residents successfully pressed military authorities to allow unrestricted development.
In 1872 city architect Eduard Kreyßig finalized the Neustadt development plan. This required raising the level of the Gartenfeld. The new district had a grid-like street system. Street widths varied. Main thoroughfares were designed as avenues. Green spaces were planned. Gartenfeldplatz was one such space. It appeared in the 1875 alignment plan but was only finished around 1900. It originally featured wrought-iron fencing. Lawns were prominent. There were groups of trees and shrubs. A central area had benches and a gravel surface. Rows of trees lined the sidewalks. A kiosk sold refreshments.
After World War II the Gartenfeldplatz declined. Its revitalization was funded through Germany’s “Social City” program. This involved relocating a transformer station underground. Extensive community involvement planned the redesign. This involved the city’s youth office and Neustadt’s neighborhood management. The city’s green spaces department led the planning. The design reflects the original 1900s layout. The square has two distinct areas and a central seating area.
Today Gartenfeldplatz showcases the Neustadt character. It has pedestrianized streets pubs cafes shops and small businesses. The square and surrounding buildings illustrate the urban planning of the historicist period. It’s also a designated conservation area. The construction of residential buildings started in 1875. It was one of Mainz’s first Gründerzeit squares finished early in the 20th century. The square was named in 1901 after Kreyßig’s death. A redesign in the 1960s prioritized parking. Between 2006 and 2008 a renovation project occurred. It included a multi-function playground. The formerly obstructive transformer station was partially sunk and clad in wood. Now it serves as seating. The renowned Mainz sculptor Ludwig Lipp senior had his workshop in a building bordering the square.