Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.
You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.
10:01 Apr 7, 2011
German to English translations [PRO] Architecture / Town Planning
German term or phrase:Strahlenplatz
"Als Strahlenplatz bricht er [der Karolinenplatz in München] die starre Rasteranlage der Maxvorstadt auf"
This is for an on-line guide to Munich, and occurs too in Wikipedia: "Er ist der erste Platz in München, der das Motiv des Strahlenplatzes aufgreift". Does anyone know what kind of a square is being referred to here in planning/architectural terms?
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 5 hrs (2011-04-07 15:18:53 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
On second thoughts, circus may only work for a European audience (which may be fine in your case), but I don't know that it would mean much to a US audience. These suggestions are less ambiguous.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 8 days (2011-04-16 08:13:54 GMT) Post-grading --------------------------------------------------
I think gets very close. This is one of those very rare and frustrating terms where you know what it means but there really is no exact equivalent term in English - many thanks. 3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
Map long since provided, and I don't take 'square' as literally as you. If one were to do so, there would be many central spaces that did not conform to the term; being circular does not preclude it being called a square.
The whole point of Karolinenplatz is that it's circular, so forget square and its variants. What makes it interesting is its insertion into the grid of Maxvorstadt.
I can't offer a US equivalent of Strahlenplatz. I don't believe there is one. Pierre L'Enfant and his successors in Washington never came up with anything more creative than "circles".
Why not put "Strahlenplatz" in quotes in the web guide and describe its function or importance in terms of the planning of Maxvorstadt? Not all concepts translate on a 1:1 basis.
Yes, I don't think there is a specific term in English for this, and the term is rarely used in German, it seems. Radial is the key element here. One might also speak on the star form, often seen in planned cities, and incidentally in Masonic landscapes/plans, such as the city of Bath.
Something incorporating Helen's "radiating avenues" is sure to be the best answer (see also Washington D.C., for example in Wikipedia) for "Strahlen-"... what about "It is the first public space in Munich to be based on the principle of a radial plan"? ("motiv aufgreifen" plus circular/polygonal "square" plus general readership are giving me trouble here)
Hi Andy, it is a square with radiating avenues, on a smaller scale in this instance, but like the setting of the Arc de Triomphe (what used to be called the Place de l'Etoile), and such like: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=48.144622,11.569118&spn=0.004...
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
5 hrs confidence:
radiate out from
Explanation: I don't think there is a direct translation for the term and so I think you need to change the grammar to get the idea across.
Example sentence(s):
Central avenues radiate out from the ..., so breaking up the ..
John Hein-Hartmann United Kingdom Local time: 02:55 Native speaker of: English
Explanation: My suggestion is based on town planning and architecture being use for representative purposes.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 6 hrs (2011-04-07 16:51:51 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
I was too intend on glorifying the Wittelsbachs and just couldn't remember the neat term I'd come across. I've just tracked it down - 'star junction'. See Munich & the Bavarian Alps, Eyewitness Travel Guide, Dorling Kindersley, London, 2002, p 114, "Max I Joseph, who continued the development of Munich that was begun by his predecessor Karl Theodor, focused his attention on the area around Briennerstrasse.....In 1809-12 a square was built at the junction of Briennerstrasse and Karolinenplatz, the first star junction in Munich. Designed by Karl von Fischer, it was modelled on the Place de l'Etoile in Paris."
Anette Bangert Local time: 02:55 Native speaker of: English
6 hrs confidence:
central plaza
Explanation: Well, square it is not, and the "Strahlen" relates to the four directions that lead to the plaza.
Ramey Rieger Local time: 03:55 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 4
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 5 hrs (2011-04-07 15:18:53 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
On second thoughts, circus may only work for a European audience (which may be fine in your case), but I don't know that it would mean much to a US audience. These suggestions are less ambiguous.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 8 days (2011-04-16 08:13:54 GMT) Post-grading --------------------------------------------------
Thanks, Andy - what did you use in the end?
Helen Shiner United Kingdom Local time: 02:55 Specializes in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 143
Grading comment
I think gets very close. This is one of those very rare and frustrating terms where you know what it means but there really is no exact equivalent term in English - many thanks.
The translation workplace 
