Gau-Heppenheim renovates market square with special paving system
For some time now, there has been a trend towards large-format paving elements in the renovation of paved surfaces. Particularly in urban areas, attempts are often made to achieve the desired linear design effect. The example of the renovation of the market square in Gau-Heppenheim in Rhineland-Palatinate shows that this trend has now also arrived in the renovation of surfaces in rural areas. Here, a 60 x 30 x 10 cm paving system was used for the redesign of the town center, which blends in visually with the village environment and at the same time withstands the traffic loads.
With just over 500 inhabitants, the local community of Gau-Heppenheim in the district of Alzey-Worms is one of the smallest communities in the state. Nevertheless, a funfair – the so-called “Kerb” – takes place once a year on the market square in front of the historic Catholic church. For this reason, those responsible decided some time ago to renovate the approximately 1,000 square meter square and two adjacent streets. David Jacob from the engineering firm IDEAL-Brehm & Co. GmbH from Kirchheimbolanden commented: “The old surface was partially dilapidated and no longer looked good. With the help of new paving, the previously rather dull town center was to be given a significant upgrade. We were looking for a concrete paving that would create a uniform image both on the square and on the two adjacent streets and that would blend in visually with the village environment. The new paving also had to be able to withstand the loads caused by the assembly and dismantling of the funfair, as this is when large shear and shearing forces act on the surfaces.”
CombiStabil from the Einstein plaster family
The choice fell on the CombiStabil paving system from the Einstein paving family. For the design of the square, the planners opted for large-format stones measuring 60 x 30 x 10 cm, and for the adjacent roadways for stones measuring 18 x 30 x 10 cm. “With the large formats – laid in an elbow bond – we were able to create a calm setting for the square,” explains Jacob. “In addition, the yellowish-ochre “Colorato” shade creates warmth and a harmonious ambience between the church and the street. An additional refinement: The outlines of former buildings – such as the old town hall or the cattle scales – are visually represented by anthracite-colored dividing bands.”
Optimum joint ensures absorption of shear and horizontal forces
This solution also offers a number of technical advantages: Thanks to its D-point joint technology, this system from the manufacturer Beton Pfenning from Lampertheim only results in minimal, if any, point contact at the bottom edges of the stones when they are laid. Unlike many other interlocking pavers with spacer or interlocking cam systems, the proportion of the surface where the stones touch remains very small. This avoids the often common crunchy installation and the joint or joint space required to absorb traffic loads is maintained. This ensures optimum force transmission between the stones. David Jacob: “For this reason, the system is able to absorb shear and horizontal forces via the joint material and transfer them evenly to the base layers. This ensures that the surface remains permanently undamaged – even if it is used by heavier vehicles on the notch.”
Several sandstone bollards were placed to demarcate the square from the main road. A fountain was also created in the southern area of the square. Several seating elements and tree beds ensure a pleasant atmosphere. If you look at the newly designed market square in Gau-Heppenheim today, you can immediately see that large-format paving elements can also be a very good solution in rural areas.
