Stefan Zantop, if you stand on the site of the future Reichhold Campus today, it's hard to imagine that this will one day be a lively place. And yet: What do you see when you imagine the campus in 5 years?

First of all, I see lots of trees, then parks and squares where people sit together, eat, exchange ideas. But I also see the inner street space, lined with trees, behind which the buildings of the various companies line up - in short, a versatile work place where people like to linger over lunch and at the end of the day and which is also visited by the surrounding population.

What is the biggest challenge on the way there?

We have developed a concept for the open space of the 72,000 m2 site that is based on a clear vision. It will one day orchestrate everyday life on the campus, regulate the connection to the surroundings and the development inside, and will be laid down in the design plan, i.e. at the legal level. On the one hand, this guarantees exceptional quality, but it also demands a great deal of flexibility: we don't know today what kind of buildings will be here, so our concept must be able to react to future demands and at the same time guarantee good quality for the site, the landscape, the ecology and the people.

The Reichhold Campus is surrounded by the motorway and train tracks in the immediate vicinity, and the nature of the Birrfelds spreads out a little further. How have these elements been incorporated into the planning?

We strive for a visual connection to the landscape. The Reichhold Campus should not look like a UFO from a distance. With trees, shrubs, meadows and green roofs, we are creating a "green" overall impression that integrates into the surroundings both visually and ecologically.

Is traffic access part of the open space concept?

Absolutely. The connections to the existing road and rail network as well as the traffic development inside the area. Where do people get off the bus? How do they get to their parked car? Such questions must be answered on a planning level. After all, these movements have an impact on the everyday life of the campus.

Until now, the area was a closed zone - now it is being opened up. What role does open space play when it comes to reoccupying spaces?

Re-occupying spaces is one thing, taking spaces into one's heart is another. The outdoor space is the place where the employees of the companies meet, where the population comes into contact with the campus. In this sense, open space is the framework that enables and guides encounters. The better this works, the more comfortable people feel.

Can the design of the open space help to integrate the new workspace into the two communities of Hausen and Lupfig?

We put a lot of emphasis on that. There will be a non-motorised traffic axis along the Süssbach that connects the two villages. The entire green space along the Süssbach will be widened and upgraded.

Today, open space has to do a lot: it has to provide space for users, be ecological and, if possible, also offer space for flora and fauna. How do you reconcile these demands?

An open space is sustainable if it fits a place and its uses. It is ideal if the individual spaces fulfil different functions, for example if the meadow is not only there for recreation but also serves as a habitat for insects and birds. And you have to prioritise: In the Reichhold Campus, ecology and landscape have priority in the peripheral areas and the users in the heart of the area have a special weight.