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07/13/2026 | Press Release

Exhibition: “Pedestrian Zones in Transition | A Look at Kassel’s Downtown”

Kassel’s pedestrian zone was one of the first in Germany and is now a defining feature of the city center. How has the pedestrian zone evolved from its inception in the 1960s to the present day? Students from the Faculty of Architecture, Urban Planning, and Landscape Architecture (ASL) at the University of Kassel investigated this during the summer semester. They will present their findings in an exhibition at UNI:Lokal from July 22 through October 1.

View of Obere Königsstraße.Image: Jakob Zöttler
View of Obere Königsstraße.

The vacant storefronts and business closures in the pedestrian zones inspired a project by students in the ASL Faculty at the University of Kassel to explore the history and transformation of Kassel’s pedestrian zone.

The pedestrian zone is a cornerstone of urban planning from the 1960s and 1970s. Since its inception, it has weathered many changes and crises, from smog alerts in the 1990s to the financial crisis of the 2000s.

The project began by examining various German pedestrian zones. As the project progressed, the Kassel pedestrian zone was analyzed from different perspectives to trace its evolution from a restricted area to its current form.

To this end, the students conducted research in the city archives and the HNA archives and are presenting their findings at UNI:Lokal. The exhibition showcases various expansions of the pedestrian zone: for example, how ice cream parlors took over the downtown area and how stores and public squares have changed. A special focus is placed on Königsplatz.

The exhibition will be on view from July 22 through October 1 at UNI:Lokal on Wilhelmsstraße. The exhibition will open on July 22 at 6 p.m. at UNI:Lokal. All interested parties are cordially invited.

All information and event dates can be found at www.uni-kassel.de/go/unilokal

 

Exhibition: Pedestrian Zones in Transition | A Look at Kassel’s Downtown

UNI:Lokal, Wilhelmsstraße 21 (Kassel city center)

Hours: 
Tuesday through Friday: 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Closed Sundays and Mondays

Admission to the exhibition and all events is free.

 

Contact:

Kathrin Meckbach

University of Kassel

Communications and Marketing

Phone: 0561/804-1817

kathrin.meckbach[at]uni-kassel[dot]de