The Aachen model

Aachen's city center was divided into three redevelopment areas. Redevelopment area I comprised the area between Pontstrasse, Annuntiatenbach, Trichtergasse and Jakobstrasse. Redevelopment area II included the areas between Löhergraben, Jakobstraße, Mühlenberg and Rosstraße. The third area was the smallest and comprised Neupforte and Mostardstraße. The growing university area around Templergraben was not a redevelopment area, but nevertheless an important part of the Aachen model.

The aim of the redevelopment areas was to improve urban planning deficiencies such as unhealthy living conditions, disruptive businesses and new demands on the mobility of citizens in the city center. An important topic here were alignment plans for redesigning or straightening out the urban layout. In addition, the redevelopment areas served as model cases for the state of North Rhine-Westphalia for future urban redevelopment. The city received various awards in the federal competition for urban design and monument protection in urban development.

The desired traffic widening of Paugasse was achieved by partially demolishing the backyard buildings on the opposite side.

With the exhibition and brochure "Aachen plans", Aachen's citizens were informed and involved for the first time in 1950 about the basic program of reconstruction with models, plans and texts. Dr. Wilhelm Fischer, Director of the City Planning Office, as well as Hans Königs and Dr. Leo Hugot as architects and city conservators were key players in the Aachen model, alongside many other visionary architects and urban planners.

The handling of the redevelopment area III was accompanied in particular by civic protests, which brought about a rethink and the preservation of some of the old buildings. There were various protest movements against the redevelopment of the city center, which in many places ensured the preservation of old buildings.