On 9 May 2026, the transformation of the former Zanders paper mill in Bergisch Gladbach reached a new public milestone with the opening of the Gleispark, a key landscape intervention that signals the shift from closed industrial site to accessible urban district. The new park, inaugurated by Mayor Marcel Kreutz, is not only a recreational space, but also a strategic first step in unlocking the area and reconnecting it to the city centre.
At the foundation of this transformation lies the structure plan by Karres en Brands. Our structural vision for the site, developed in 2021-22, reinterprets the industrial terrain as a layered public landscape in which green spaces, water systems and routes form the backbone of the future district. The Gleispark is the first tangible realisation of this approach: a 250-metre-long green corridor that introduces play, sports and leisure functions while establishing spatial continuity across the site.
Designed in detail by MOLA Landschaftsarchitektur GmbH, the park translates the overarching vision into an accessible and climate-conscious public space. Integrated pathways contribute to both ecological performance and user experience. The presence of two paths built between the tracks, and the materials used in their construction, serve to reflect the history of the site. One track is made of concrete and is intended to represent the paper that was produced on the site, while the other track is paved with dark clinker bricks, reflecting both the coal used for industry and the existing architecture. Likewise, MOLA has further developed the idea of distributing individual sports and playing elements throughout the park. The design of the elements was intended to reflect the industrial heritage, which is why it also developed a color concept. Funded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, the project demonstrates how landscape architecture can act as a catalyst for sustainable urban regeneration, preserving the atmosphere of industrial culture and allowing the Zanders site to undergo a gradual transformation.
The opening event itself reflects this ambition to activate the site early. Alongside the official ceremony, the programme included cultural performances, sports activities and public engagement sessions. Importantly, it also features the presentation of the wider urban development plan, highlighting how the Gleispark fits within a broader, long-term transformation strategy. Beyond the park, the Zanders site is steadily evolving into a mixed-use urban quarter where landscape continues to play a structuring role. Plans for reopening the river Strunde as a near-natural watercourse, the creation of new public squares, and the integration of temporary cultural uses all build on the same framework initiated by our office. Even interventions such as selective demolition and adaptive reuse are approached through the lens of improving open space quality, microclimate and spatial coherence.
With the Gleispark now coming into use, the Zanders redevelopment illustrates a broader shift in European urbanism: from building-led expansion to transformation. Here, the structure plan is thus transformed into a phased and visible process in which public space takes the lead, making the future city tangible from the very first step.
In collaboration with: MOLA Landschaftsarchitektur, Stadt Bergisch Gladbach and Zanders.
Photo credits: © Stadt Bergisch Gladbach, Julia Holland