UNStudio to transform former bank into mixed-use development

UNStudio has just won a competition to design a new mixed-use development proposed for the former Deutsche Bank site in Frankfurt. Launched in November 2015 by Groß & Partner Grundstücksentwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, the owners of the site, the competition sought the best idea to revitalise the financial district and act as an ‘urban hinge’ to connect to the rest of the city.

UNStudio’s winning proposal is a mixed-use development comprising offices, apartments, hotels, retail, gastro and open public spaces. Four high-rise towers, up to 228 metres in height, will provide approximately 600 new apartments for the new city centre district.

A key purpose of UNStudio’s proposal was to open up the current site towards the city centre through new connecting routes, passages and squares, and integrate the listed building facades in Junghofstraße.

Ben van Berkel, founder of UNStudio, stated that ‘Bringing a mixed-use project into this financial district will not only enliven the area during daytime, but it will also introduce evening programs and create an essential form of social sustainability to this part of the city.’

‘The introduction of the residential and the leisure components are key to this strategy. This sculptural family of towers will also create the suggestion of a cohesive neighbourhood within the skyline and emphasise the importance of this part of the city within the whole.’

Further qualification processes for the building will occur over the next few months. The start of construction of the new district is expected in the course of the coming year, while the first building is expected to be in use in 2020.

UNStudio’s work can be viewed here.