CentrO Oberhausen - Eltis

TRANSLAND in-depth case study CentrO Oberhausen 7
However, most residents of Oberhausen regard the CentrO as an improvement in the shopping
opportunities of their city. 78% evaluate the project as good for the city despite its negative
impacts such as growth of traffic and decline of the city centre. Due to the CentrO shopping
facilities rank fourth on the list of positive features of Oberhausen (Socialdata, 1995):
(1) quality of life (74%)
(2) leisure facilities (69%)
(3) arts, culture and entertainment (66%)
(4) shopping facilities (63%)
An evaluation of the CentrO from a transport point of view has also two sides. On the one
hand, the CentrO is clearly car-oriented and by its vast amount of free parking, together with
its good motorway connection, stimulates more long-distance shopping trips by car. On the
other hand, the CentrO is well connected to the public transport network of the city and has an
innovative new public transport line with modern low-floor vehicles and frequent service to
the main railway and bus stations.
4 Conclusions
The CentrO is a huge shopping mall and entertainment centre on a former steel mill site in the
Ruhr area. The development is isolated without spatial integration into the existing settlements
structure. The CentrO draws large numbers of shoppers and visitors from far away at
the expense of neighbouring city centres. The concept for the transport system is mainly caroriented.
However, a former freight railway line was converted to an exclusive right of way
for buses and light rail with a new public transport station at the entrance to the mall. There is
no reasonable possibility to reach the CentrO for pedestrians and cyclists without using another
mode.
Because of its central location in the Ruhr area and its good connection with the regional
public transport system, the CentrO development may be less detrimental from an ecological
point of view than similar developments on peripheral greenfield sites, which entirely depend
on car access. However, the huge attractiveness of the shopping mall has been very negative
for the economic viability of nearby city centres and certainly is creating more and longer
shopping and recreation trips. A better spatial integration of the CentrO into the settlement
structure might have been possible if residential development would have been encouraged
along the new public transport line.
It is very doubtful whether the CentrO is a model to follow, even though it might be preferable
to peripheral greenfield shopping centres. However, its example seems to be transferable,
as currently several big shopping and urban entertainment centres are being planned it Germany
and other European countries, mainly at or above railway stations of big cities.
30-9-99 / 7