According to the Association of German Architects, the construction of a new office and commercial building on the sports arena site at Hauptwache would be a mistake and a missed opportunity.

Because of the retail crisis caused by the pandemic, other concepts are needed to revitalize the city center and make it climate-friendly.

As reported, the Signa company is planning a new building with shops and restaurants on the ground floor and basement and office space on the upper floors.

Missed chance for quality?

Rainer Schulz

Editor in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.

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But this project is an example of the lack of transparency in Frankfurt's planning culture, says the Association of Architects and complains about a fait accompli: "An existing building built in 1956, which is well known to the people of Frankfurt and is complex in terms of urban development, will be demolished promptly and replaced by a new building that is undifferentiated in terms of urban space." Signa was on hand during the presentation of the design, it was emphasized that the new building opens up with entrances on all three sides.

The façade, curved in waves in the upper third, is intended to emphasize the corner of the building and react to the opposite St. Catherine's Church.

But the architects are mourning the loss of the “distinctive existing building”, i.e. the department store from the 1950s.

A demolition is irresponsible and does not testify to a resource-saving handling of the existing building.

The architects also miss a public debate about the use and design of this prominent location.

The effects of the pandemic on retail were noticeable at the department store.

Although a "conversion" to a commercial building with shops is understandable, the association writes, but probably means demolition and new construction.

In any case, the project is not integrated into an “overall strategy” on how the public space, the mix of uses, the shape of the city and the environment should develop in the future.

"For this place, the opportunity to develop new qualities for the city center is lost," criticize the architects.

The planned building also does not testify to "climate-friendly architecture" such as could be achieved with plants or a green facade.

They do not mention that a 500 square meter roof garden is to be created on the roof, which unfortunately will only be reserved for office users.

They don't find anything good about the shape either and attach great importance to the fact that the building should be divided into a base, middle section and roof.

"The chances of a structural change towards a future-oriented mix of uses and a climate-friendly city center must be used," demand the architects and recommend that the city conduct more competitions or consult a design advisory board.