Inner cities are the social centre of a city. They should be a place of encounter and communication and must remain lively and attractive in order to be fit for the future despite the booming online trade.

In the centre of a Meerbusch district, an uncontrolled growth of advertising and an indiscriminate use of public space had been creeping in for over forty years. Ben Dieckmann architects revitalized the village with the "Dorfcenter" design and gave it a clear overall appearance. Individual billboards and awnings were removed and a homogeneous concept was created using bricks, glass and metal.

Due to the loss of all physically and visually disturbing elements, the sidewalk appears much tidier and the attention of passers-by is once again focused on the shops. Uniform billboards displayed in the street space can be better perceived in the narrow street. Instead of a large number of individual bicycle stands, bicycle parking spaces are installed at two central locations. The trees are given tree discs so that the entire area from the shop front to the curb becomes a public boulevard. Cafés and restaurants thus have the opportunity to extend their guest rooms to the outside areas.

The homogeneity of the new city centre gives it an attractive and noble appearance. This revitalisation is also expressed in the naming of the "Dorfcenter" and the logo designed by Ben Dieckmann architects.