Little known grids: Düsseldorf

Many cities have been laid out according to a grid plan. Most of these cities can be found in the America's, India, Asia and Australia. In Europe the urban grid is also prevalent, but in a more differentiated and sometimes distorted or remodeled manner. The grid plan has been a favorite through the ages for new settlements, colonies and expanding existing urban centers. The city of Düsseldorf is an example of the latter.

Located on the Rhine, the German city of Düsseldorf can be basically typified as a water city. The oldest city was constructed adjacent to a large riverside castle (Burg) next to the spot where the river Düssel joins the Rhine. The city was named after an earlier settlement further south. This fact is retained in the name; Düsseldorf literally means village (Dorf) on the bustling stream (Düssel). The first town was little more than a market square with a chapel within a rectangular wall erected around 1288.

In 1380 the Duke of Berg moved his seat to Düsseldorf and the town thus became the capital of the Duchy of Berg. When the city was first expanded a new town was created to the south and an existing suburb on the main gates where brought within the new city walls. The new walls were completed in 1384 encircled an area 500% bigger than before. The largest part of this enlarged city was taken up by the Neustadt (literally: New Town) a slightly irregular grid south of the northern arm of the Düssel.

Between 1394 and 1405 the southwestern part of the city was fortified. This included the area between the Neustadt and the southern mouth of the Düssel where a harbour had been constructed. In this area a new market place (Marktplatz) was constructed to replace the small square in front of the castle (Burgplatz).On the new square a new town hall (Rathaus) was erected.

In 1609 the ducal line of the United Duchies of Jülich-Cleves-Berg died out, and after a fierce struggle fell to the Counts of Palatine-Neuburg, who made Düsseldorf their main domicile. Between 1610 and 1620 a new citadel was added as a part of a fortification of the city with bulwarks and earthworks. This citadel is located just south of the harbour on the location of an older suburb. In 1648 the northern suburb beyond the monastery is drawn into the city by constructing new defenses around is.

Between 1707 and 1709 the fortifications are greatly extended with moats, scarps and glasis. On the south side these new fortifications are set back from the old defenses to make room for  a hospital and army barracks.  Only when the citadel was decommissioned the earlier plan could be executed to enlarge the city once more. In 1788 the Carlstadt was completed. Again a grid plan was chosen which incorporated the hospital and barracks. Also a new street was cut to connect Carlstadt with the Neustadt. This Mittelstraße (Middle Street) is a continuation of the central axis of the new urban quarter.

The development of the fortifications around the city of Düsseldorf.

After dismantling the fortifications around Düsseldorf at the beginning of the nineteenth century a broad boulevard was constructed on the eastern fringe of the city in 1811. The city could be beautified further by reworking the former moats and glacis into a park. In 1854 Friedrichstadt was built along the axis of the Esplanade (Könichsallee) on the southside of the city. Again a grid plan was chosen. This time in a regular and well spaced layout with room for squares. The eastern extensions have radiating streets and boulevards, emulating the example of Paris.

The succession of grid plans within the city of Düsseldorf.