Unsere Geschäftsführerin Claudia Becker sprach am 24. März auf der digitalBAU in Köln über die Potenziale des modularen Bauens. Unter dem Titel „Flexibel, schnell, nachhaltig“ zeigte sie, wie serielle und modulare Ansätze Antworten auf aktuelle Herausforderungen wie steigende Baukosten, Fachkräftemangel und hohe regulatorische Anforderungen geben können.

Im Fokus standen die Vorteile industrialisierter Bauprozesse – von verkürzten Bauzeiten bis hin zu höherer Kostensicherheit – ebenso wie die gestalterischen und städtebaulichen Chancen. Gleichzeitig machte der Vortrag deutlich: Modulares Bauen ist kein Allheilmittel, sondern entfaltet seine Stärke im Zusammenspiel mit konventionellen Bauweisen und einem durchdachten städtebaulichen Rahmen.

Robert Müller und Claudia Becker wurden in den Bund Deutscher Architektinnen und Architekten (BDA) aufgenommen. Die Berufung würdigt ihre fachliche Expertise sowie ihr Engagement für qualitätsvolle Architektur und Stadtentwicklung. Zugleich unterstreicht sie den gemeinsamen Anspruch, Baukultur aktiv weiterzuentwickeln und den fachlichen Diskurs mitzugestalten.

Wir freuen uns über die Berufung und die damit verbundene weitere Stärkung unserer Präsenz im BDA.

Am 5. Februar 2026 fand das Future Panel „CO₂- und ressourceneffizient Bauen mit Beton“ als Hybridveranstaltung vor Ort in Darmstadt und als Online‑Meeting statt. Referent war Michael Scharpf, Leiter Nachhaltiges Bauen bei Holcim, der aktuelle Perspektiven für nachhaltiges Bauen mit Beton vorstellte.

Im Mittelpunkt standen der CO₂-Fußabdruck der Baubranche, klimafreundliche Zemente und Betone sowie Wege zu einer ressourcenbewussten Planung. Abschließend bot eine Fragerunde Raum für Austausch und Diskussion mit den Teilnehmenden. Das Future Panel diente damit als Inspiration, nachhaltige Lösungen im Betonbau weiter zu denken und gemeinsam mit unseren Partnern voranzutreiben.

Mit dem Richtfest für das Neubauprojekt MTV-West wurde in der Heidelberger Südstadt ein wichtiger Meilenstein der Quartiersentwicklung gefeiert. Unter den Gästen waren zahlreiche Projektbeteiligte sowie Heidelbergs Oberbürgermeister Prof. Dr. Eckart Würzner, der die Bedeutung des Projekts für die Stadt hervorhob. Auf drei Baufeldern entstehen acht Gebäude mit insgesamt 122 Wohnungen und rund 1.100 Quadratmetern Gewerbefläche. Das Projekt ergänzt das Mark Twain Village um modernen, bezahlbaren Wohnraum für unterschiedliche Lebensmodelle – von kompakten Zwei-Zimmer- bis zu großzügigen Familien- und Loftwohnungen.

Unser Entwurf, den wir als Generalplaner in den Leistungsphasen 1–7 bearbeitet haben, verbindet Punkthäuser und Riegelbauten zu einer markanten, zugleich harmonischen Quartiersfigur. Helle Putz- und Klinkerfassaden, energieeffiziente Bauweise, Photovoltaikanlagen, Gründächer und Regenwasserrückhaltung stehen für ein nachhaltiges und zukunftsorientiertes Wohnkonzept. Die Fertigstellung ist bis Frühjahr 2027 geplant.

Foto: GGH/Christian Buck

Am 24. Januar lud Hofmann Haus GmbH Anwohner und Interessierte zum Vermarktungsstart des Projekts CASTELLO in der Steinackerstraße, Ober-Ramstadt, ein. Das von planquadrat in den Leistungsphasen 1–5 geplante Mehrfamilienhaus, das in zwei Gebäudeteile untergliedert ist, bietet 22 moderne Wohnungen, davon 13 barrierefrei, und fügt sich harmonisch in das neue Quartier ein.

Auf dem schmalen Grundstück entsteht ein viergeschossiger, gegliederter Baukörper, dessen Gestaltung auf Leichtigkeit und Durchgrünung setzt. Bodentiefe Fenster, Fassadenbegrünungen und naturnahe Aufenthaltsbereiche sorgen für hohe Wohnqualität, während der geschlossene Baukörper zugleich Schallschutz für das Quartier bietet.

2025 war ein Jahr der Transformation für planquadrat. Qualitätvolle Architektur gepaart mit technischer Kompetenz prägen den Alltag; zwei Architekturbüros haben sich mit uns zusammengeschlossen. Eine wachsende Anzahl an Projekten und tollen Kollegen kamen hinzu.

Wir freuen uns daher besonders, dass wir im Oktober unsere Geschäftsleitung um Steffen Baumgärtner, Franciska Bösz, Hannah Geskes, Constanze Gräff und Matthias Wöber erweitert haben.

So können wir die Vielzahl an Projektideen, Impulsen, Fachexpertise auf mehr Schultern verteilen und kompetent und agil für unsere Bauherren Architektur gestalten. Voller Optimismus blicken wir angesichts der großen Chancen auf das Jahr 2026.
 

Der Grundstein für das Stadtquartier Marienhöfe in Berlin-Tempelhof ist gelegt. Ein Gemeinschaftsprojekt von CollignonArchitektur, Goldbeck, Hines und der Semer-Familie, das rund 900 neue Wohnungen auf dem ehemaligen Mariendorfer Güterbahnhof schafft.

Mit einem nachhaltigen Mix aus bezahlbarem, gefördertem und seniorengerechtem Wohnen, flankiert von Gewerbe, Services und einer zentralen Fahrradstraße, entsteht ein lebendiges, zukunftsfähiges Quartier, für das ein DGNB-Platin Vorzertifikat angestrebt wird.

Am 6. November wurde unser Projekt „Junges Wohnen am Brunnenplatz“ im Ortsbeirat in Mainz-Lerchenberg vorgestellt. In unmittelbarer Nähe des ZDF und in Ergänzung eines in den 1970er-Jahren errichteten Einkaufszentrums entstehen 348 geförderte Studentenappartements sowie ein Vollversorger und ein Drogeriemarkt. Ziel des Vorhabens, das vom Investor Triagon realisiert wird, ist es, auf einem vergleichsweise kleinen Grundstück neue Impulse für die Revitalisierung eines bestehenden Standortes zu setzen. Der vorgelagerte Platz mit dem scheibenförmigen Brunnen, der 1981 von Prof. Wilfried Elfers gestaltet wurde, wird im Zuge des Projekts räumlich neu gefasst und gestalterisch aufgewertet.

Das Konzept setzt auf urbane Dichte als Chance. Hohe und zugleich angemessene Dichte ermöglicht kurze Wege, eine lebendige Nutzungsmischung und fördert Begegnung im Alltag. Sie ist eine wesentliche Voraussetzung für nachhaltiges und wirtschaftliches Bauen und bietet die Perspektive, den Standort zukunftsfähig weiterzuentwickeln.

Unser Beitrag für das Baufeld MU Süd im US Hospital Areal in Heidelberg wurde mit dem 2. Platz bei einer Mehrfachbeauftragung ausgezeichnet. Das autofreie Quartier am südlichen Stadtrand wird über eine zentrale Quartiersgarage erschlossen. Unser Entwurf kombiniert im Erdgeschoss Supermarkt, Bibliothek und Café und darüber 61 Wohnungen in modularer Bauweise. Die gestaltete Blockstruktur mit Kolonnaden und grünen Innenhöfen schafft eine lebendige Verbindung zum angrenzenden Park und den denkmalgeschützten Bestandsbauten. Mit einer Flächeneffizienz von 80% setzt unser Konzept Maßstäbe für kosteneffizientes und nachhaltiges Wohnen am neuen Quartierseingang.

Anfang November wurde das Wohnquartier „HÖFE-N“ in der Rauhäckerstraße in Nürnberg-Höfen – ein Projekt von Bermüller+Niemeyer – offiziell übergeben. Gemeinsam mit Oberbürgermeister Marcus König, der ECKPFEILER Immobilien Gruppe und BayernHeim konnte damit ein wichtiger Meilenstein für das nachhaltige Stadtquartier gefeiert werden.

Auf dem rund 7.900 m² großen Areal entstanden fünf Baukörper mit insgesamt 116 Wohneinheiten – eine Mischung aus frei finanziertem, gefördertem und Eigentumswohnungsbau. Das architektonische Konzept basiert auf einer Holz-Hybrid-Konstruktion im KfW-40-Standard mit hoher Energieeffizienz. Begrünte Innenhöfe und großzügige Verglasungen schaffen ein angenehmes Wohnumfeld. Das Projekt ist nach dem DGNB-Siegel in Silber zertifiziert.

In der Hindenburgstraße in Erlangen hat der Bau eines neuen Mehrfamilienhauses begonnen. Das Projekt, entwickelt von Bermüller+Niemeyer, setzt auf vielfältige Grundrisse und eine architektonisch präzise Einbindung in das Stadtbild. Es entstehen fünfzehn individuelle Wohnungen, die sich durch eine klare Gestaltung und hochwertige Materialien auszeichnen.

Am 17. Oktober wurden in Ludwigsburg die Strenger Awards 2025 verliehen. Unter dem Motto „Leistbarkeit als Mantra“ kamen über 230 Partnerinnen und Partner von Strenger aus Deutschland und Europa zusammen, um gemeinsame Erfolge zu feiern und Impulse für die Zukunft zu setzen.

Besondere Freude löste die Auszeichnung unserer Standortleiterin Berlin, Franciska Bösz, aus, die einen Preis als „hervorragender Planungspartner“ entgegennahm. Diese Anerkennung steht sinnbildlich für die enge und vertrauensvolle Partnerschaft mit Strenger, die durch Offenheit, Verlässlichkeit und gemeinsame Leidenschaft für Architektur mit Haltung gewachsen ist.

Mit insgesamt elf Kolleginnen und Kollegen aus Geschäftsführung, Geschäftsleitung und den Standorten Berlin und Nürnberg war planquadrat Anfang Oktober zahlreich auf der Expo Real in München vertreten.

Im Mittelpunkt der Messe standen unter anderem Lösungen für bezahlbaren und modularen Wohnraum, neue Baukonzepte sowie innovative Ansätze zur Sanierung und Nutzung von Bestandsimmobilien. Auch der kürzlich beschlossene „Bauturbo“ war ein viel diskutiertes Thema, der künftig schnellere und effizientere Planungs- und Bauprozesse ermöglichen soll.

Darüber hinaus nahm Sophie Bermüller an einem Panel zur Sanierung von Quartieren teil, das experimentelle Ansätze und nachhaltige Lösungen für die Entwicklung zukunftsfähiger Stadtteile in den Fokus stellte. Insgesamt zeigte sich die Messe mit einem überwiegend positiven Stimmungsbild und einem deutlichen Aufbruchsignal für die Bau- und Immobilienbranche.

Mit dem ersten Spatenstich im Januar nahm das Projekt im Adam-Treber-Weg in Hochheim am Main Fahrt auf – am 26. September konnte bereits Richtfest gefeiert werden. Das beeindruckende Tempo zeigte die Stärken des modularen Bauens: Qualität, Effizienz und Präzision. So entsteht auf 5.300 m² ein Ensemble mit 69 Wohneinheiten und einem Mehrzweckraum – und ein wichtiger Beitrag zu bezahlbarem Wohnraum und lebendiger Stadtentwicklung.

On 10^th September, our managing director Herbert Elfers presented the concept for a modular athletics stadium with an adjacent Olympic and Paralympic village in the Rhine-Ruhr region to the German Bundestag's Sports Committee during a public meeting on the four candidate ideas for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Germany.

One day later, he also had the opportunity to present the concept at the Federal Chancellery to the Minister of State to the Federal Chancellor and Federal Government Commissioner for Volunteering and Sport, Dr Christiane Schenderlein, together with the State Secretary for Sport and Volunteering in the North Rhine-Westphalian State Chancellery, Andrea Milz, and the President of the North Rhine-Westphalian State Sports Federation, Stefan Klett.

The stadium will seat 50,000 spectators during the Games and is designed for flexible interim use. After the competitions, it can be converted into a lively urban quarter with apartments, offices, daycare centres and green spaces. Inspired by ancient sports venues, the concept combines sustainable urban development with resource conservation, climate protection and social diversity.

The Fuji Yama restaurant project by our colleagues in Nuremberg impresses with a unique interior concept: over 2,400 CNC-milled spruce wood slats and sustainable felt elements made from recycled PET create a sculptural spatial effect that creates ever-changing atmospheres depending on the light and time of day.

The successful combination of Japanese aesthetics and contemporary design makes Fuji Yama an architectural highlight – so much so that it is featured in the arte series on the best bar designs worldwide. The TV broadcast is on Sunday, 21^st September at 9:20 a.m. – but if you don't want to get up that early, you can also find it in the media library.

What a day! In perfect late summer weather, planquadrat had 11 colleagues at the start of the 10-Friends Triathlon in Darmstadt on 7^th September. Together, they battled their way through the swimming pool, the cycling course and the running laps – always with lots of fun and mutual support.

The focus was less on achieving the best time and more on the shared experience. The laughter, cheering and a little bit of excitement before the start made this year's ‘Datterich’ another great event. We are incredibly proud of our team and are already looking forward to competing again next year!

On 29^th August, this year's office outing took us to the Rhine. After arriving in Assmannshausen, we took the chairlift uphill, where a magnificent view and a small, spontaneous wine tasting awaited us. A group photo at the Niederwald Monument was a must, as was lunch together in Rüdesheim and a stroll through the Drosselgasse. The day ended with a relaxing boat trip back down the Rhine.

The trip offered many opportunities for conversation and enjoyable moments together, and it strengthened our team spirit in a special way. With many impressions and good spirits, we look back on an all-round successful day.

The Wohnhof in Mainz-Kastel celebrated its 30^th anniversary with a cheerful family party. Completed in 1995, the project was our office's first work and also marked the founding of planquadrat by Herbert Elfers, Martin Geskes and Jörg Krämer.

To this day, the Wohnhof is considered a pioneering model for communal and sustainable building. At the time, eight families realised the idea of combining individual living with a strong community. The heart of the complex is the central glass hall, which serves as a communication hub and offers space for encounters, play and joint activities. Flexible floor plans make it possible to adapt the houses to the different stages of life of the residents. Remarkably, almost all of the families who moved in in 1995 still live here today – impressive proof of the sustainability of the concept, which combines social, ecological and economic aspects in a unique way.

We warmly congratulate the residents on this anniversary and are delighted that our first project has lost none of its relevance and appeal after three decades.

At the annual Industrial Construction Congress organised by Heuer Dialog on 16 and 17 September 2025 in Berlin, our managing director Claudia Becker will demonstrate how modular construction methods are opening up new possibilities for cities and neighbourhoods. In her presentation ‘Urban Development, Neighbourhoods and Buildings – Growing In and Out with Modular Construction,’ she will take a practical look at how innovative construction processes can overcome challenges such as cost, time and sustainability.

The programme offers further highlights: sustainable urban development, resource-saving materials, digitalisation and inspiring practical examples from residential construction. Discussion rounds and panels will show how automation and cooperation are advancing industrial construction.

More information and registration can be found here.

Sometimes new approaches are needed to overcome major challenges. At the 4^th DBZ Modular Construction Congress in Darmstadt, the focus was therefore on modular construction - a method that can respond more quickly, flexibly and resource-efficiently to the increasing demand for housing.

In her presentation, our Managing Director Claudia Becker explained how affordable and sustainable living space can be created through the close integration of urban planning, land-use planning and architecture. She gave a practical demonstration of the role that modular construction methods play in the realisation of such projects.

The congress was characterised by inspiring discussions, new impulses and the common goal of finding innovative ways for the building of tomorrow. We would like to thank the DBZ and all participants for the successful event and are delighted to be part of this development.

On 1^st July, Managing Director Herbert Elfers presented the ‘Come to stay - Olympia becomes a city’ concept to the National Sports Federations in Aachen in the presence of Minister President Hendrik Wüst.

The modular athletics stadium is only an intermediate stage on the way to sustainable urban development. The stadium, which will provide space for 50,000 spectators during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, has been designed from the outset in such a way that it can be flexibly developed further after the Games. Together with the buildings of the Olympic Village and other infrastructure, it forms the starting point for a new, lively urban quarter with flats, offices, day-care centres and generous green spaces. This will create sustainable added value for the region that will extend far beyond the Games.

We are delighted to have been awarded the bronze medal by EcoVadis!

EcoVadis evaluates companies worldwide in the areas of sustainability, environment, working conditions, ethics and sustainable procurement. With this award, we are among the top 35% of companies rated in the last 12 months.

This result confirms our commitment to responsible and sustainable behaviour - and encourages us to continue on this path.

The Day of Architecture will take place in Hesse on 28^th and 29^th June. We invite all interested parties to get to know our Hahner Mitte project in Taunusstein by kwb Rheingau-Taunus GmbH as part of a guided tour.

Hahner Mitte was built on the former railway station site in the heart of Hahn, close to the town hall and community centre. The new neighbourhood comprises eight apartment buildings with 58 residential units (57 of which are subsidised), an office building, a restaurant, a police station and an underground car park. The project was based on an urban planning framework concept that was developed together with citizens, the city, the trade association and the administration. The result is a diverse, identity-forming district centre with green spaces, a neighbourhood square and car-free paths.

Guided tours will take place on both days at 11am, 12pm and 1pm (meeting point: Aarstraße 133 b)

We look forward to your visit and to exchanging ideas on site!

We are delighted that our colleague and project manager Heike Warns will be on the podium at the book premiere and dialogue "stadt denken 9 Quartiere gestalten" on Friday, 27^th June 2025, from 6 to 9 pm in the Papierhalle of Wasmuth Verlag (Axel-Springer-Straße 43, 10969 Berlin).

The event will focus on successful, contemporary and sustainable neighbourhood developments that contribute to the building revolution and sustainable urban development. The impulses and project presentations will be followed by an open dialogue with the audience.

Heike Warns will present the project ‘Marienhöfe Berlin - A holistic neighbourhood concept’: A new urban neighbourhood is being created in Berlin-Schöneberg that will enable lively, sustainable and diverse city life by combining living, working, local amenities, childcare and generous green spaces. The project is an example of innovative neighbourhood development and social mixing.

Further information on the event:

https://www.dasl.de/veranstaltungen/quartiere-gestalten

CollignonArchitektur has been part of our Berlin history since the beginning of June. Both offices are already networked in the BKW Engineering - Network of Excellence® - the largest association of planning offices in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

With this step, two experienced teams are combining their expertise to jointly develop innovative and sustainable solutions for architecture and urban planning. This partnership-based development creates clear added value for both sides: planquadrat and CollignonArchitektur combine their strengths in order to create new impetus together and grow in a future-oriented manner.

Our Managing Director Claudia Becker will be speaking at the 4th Modulbaukongress of the DBZ on 1 and 2^nd July in Darmstadt. Her presentation entitled ‘Positioning modular construction in residential construction’ will take place on 2^nd July at 2:30 pm in the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor in Darmstadt.

Modular construction is considered a pioneering method in residential construction: prefabricated modules enable significantly faster construction times, flexible floor plans and a high level of precision in execution. At the same time, resources can be utilised more efficiently and the ecological footprint reduced. Modular construction offers innovative solutions for sustainable and affordable architecture, especially in view of the increasing demand for living space.

Further information on the congress can be found here:

https://bauverlag-events.de/event/modulbau-kongress-2025/

This year, our team was represented as a cooperation partner at the P5 The Property Congress in the PSD BANK Arena at FSV Frankfurt - the central meeting place for the property industry with over 4,000 participants, more than 100 renowned speakers and 70 exciting masterclasses. Together with our managing directors and other colleagues, we took the opportunity to exchange expertise and network with players in the property industry.

A particular highlight was the presentation by our project manager Constanze Gräff on 13^th June in the masterclass ‘Rethinking existing properties: living instead of working - opportunities and stumbling blocks’. She shared her experiences and insights into the challenges and potential of converting existing buildings and enriched the discussion with practical ideas. We would like to thank all participants for their great interest and look forward to further inspiring discussions and new ideas from the industry.

The ‘J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge’, which is considered the largest corporate run in the world, once again attracted more than 64,000 participants to Frankfurt city centre this year - including six highly motivated runners from planquadrat, who took part as part of the BKW network. Although the evening started off a little rainy, rain ponchos organised at short notice provided the necessary protection and kept spirits high. Towards the end of the run, the sky even cleared and the sun came out a little, creating a real running atmosphere.

Along the route, the runners were enthusiastically cheered on by numerous spectators, which provided additional motivation. The team spirit was also palpable - a likeable group that had a lot of fun together. Afterwards, the team and their colleagues from BKW enjoyed a cosy end to the evening in an Äppelwoi pub.

Zwei Gold Awards beim Urban Design & Architecture Design Award 2025 in den Kategorien „Hospitality Architecture (Built)” und „Residential Architecture (Built)“ würdigen das Alea Resort in Bad Orb. Das Projekt verbindet moderne Architektur mit lokaler Identität: Grauer Muschelkalk und markante Satteldächer erinnerten an die Geschichte der Salzgewinnung. Gemeinsam mit plajer + franz (Konzept, Design, Interior) begleiteten wir dieses Projekt vom Entwurf bis zur Vergabe.

On 28^th May, the forward-looking concept for the Olympic and Paralympic Games on the Rhine and Ruhr was presented to the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) in Cologne. In addition to Minister President Hendrik Wüst, the event was also attended by the top representatives of the participating cities. As part of the presentation, our Managing Director Herbert Elfers presented the idea for a forward-looking athletics stadium with an Olympic and Paralympic village in the immediate vicinity.

Our approach combines sustainability with modern urban development: the stadium and the Olympic and Paralympic Village will continue to be used after the Games as a multifunctional urban quarter comprising flats, offices, day-care centres and a central park. Inspired by ancient sports venues, the stadium forms the centrepiece of this development and symbolises resource-efficient construction.

The stadium's modular design not only saves on materials and costs, but also creates the basis for actively tackling key challenges such as climate protection and the circular economy. The result is a neighbourhood that combines short distances, urban density and quality of life.

We are proud to set a sustainable impulse for the future of the region with our concept!

As of today, two new electric company car have been added to the fleet of our architecture firm. The decision in favour of electric vehicles underlines our efforts to assume ecological responsibility and actively integrate innovative technologies into our day-to-day work.

With the electric drive, we are sending a clear signal for environmentally conscious driving and showing that sustainability is not just a word for us, but a lived practice.

At the specialist event and members' meeting of the German Academy for Urban Development and Regional Planning (DASL) on 16^th May, our Managing Director Claudia Becker was appointed to the board of the DASL regional group for Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland. She succeeds Herbert Elfers, who held this position for many years and played a key role in shaping the work of the regional group.

The DASL sees itself as an interdisciplinary network that promotes the exchange of expertise on current issues of urban development and regional planning, discusses innovative approaches and provides impetus for the sustainable development of urban and rural areas.

Herbert Elfers has been appointed as a new member of the ZIA Zentraler Immobilien Ausschuss e.V., the leading interest group for the German property industry. The ZIA represents the industry, promotes dialogue with politicians and society and campaigns for better framework conditions in residential construction.

As a member, planquadrat benefits from a strong network and can play an active role in shaping the future of the property industry. As part of the BKW Engineering Network, the largest association of planning offices in German-speaking countries, planquadrat strengthens its position in architecture and urban planning.

The Merck company run in Darmstadt was once again a real highlight this year: over 7,000 running enthusiasts took to the starting line in glorious sunshine and a great atmosphere - with our office proudly taking part with 14 runners. Starting at the Merck stadium at Böllenfalltor, the runners ran different distances through the nearby forest. The atmosphere was once again rousing and everyone from our team crossed the finish line happy and safe, accompanied by enthusiastic applause and cheers from the spectators.

After the sporting part, the day ended in a convivial atmosphere with cool drinks and stadium refreshments. The joy and fun of running together was palpable everywhere - and maybe we'll even break our own participation record next year?

At Drees & Sommer's neext Future Think Tank on 7^th May 2025 in Frankfurt am Main, the focus was on the transformation of existing neighbourhoods. Going by the motto “ReThink. ReBuild. ReVive.”, industry experts discussed how brownfield sites can be transformed into vibrant urban spaces through innovative and sustainable concepts.

Our Managing Director Herbert Elfers was a speaker in the auditorium debate “Sustainability vs. profitability: the balance in district development” and provided important impetus for the combination of ecological responsibility and economic viability. The intensive exchange and practical workshops made it clear that the future of urban spaces lies in the creative use of existing buildings and in cooperation across industry boundaries.

Photos: Malte Reiter, www.malte-reiter.de

With immediate effect, planquadrat and Bermüller + Niemeyer Architekturwerkstatt are pooling their expertise. The merger creates the fourth planquadrat location in Nuremberg alongside Darmstadt, Berlin and Frankfurt. Founded in 2013 by Sophie Bermüller and managed together with Matthias Niemeyer, the office is shaping Nuremberg's architectural landscape with innovative projects. Known for combining traditional craftsmanship with digital design methods, the 15-strong team has realised projects in the regional context and in the new federal states.

Sophie Bermüller and Matthias Niemeyer will continue to manage the Nuremberg location as authorised signatories with proven commitment and expertise. The merger enables synergies in climate-friendly architecture and hybrid utilization concepts - especially for ongoing projects such as the planned high-rise quarter in the west of Nuremberg. The management of planquadrat Elfers Geskes Krämer GmbH will remain unchanged.

The planned residential project in Schleiermacherstraße in Darmstadt received a positive response from the Design Advisory Board on 14^th February. The design envisages the addition of two new buildings to the existing old ones, creating a total of 80 residential units for students and trainees.

The planning takes into account the historical surroundings and is based on the surrounding buildings from the Wilhelminian era. The façade structure was carefully designed to blend in harmoniously with the surroundings. The presentation met with broad approval and received constructive comments. The project will not only create urgently needed living space, but also contribute to urban development.

Our office visited BAU 2025 in Munich with a team of nine employees. The world's leading trade fair for architecture presented innovative developments and forward-looking trends in the construction industry. We were particularly impressed by the progress made in the field of resilient and climate-friendly construction and the new approaches to transforming cities and neighbourhoods.

Another focus was on resource-efficient and modular construction, which is also becoming increasingly important for us in view of the current challenges in the industry. Once again, the trade fair provided an excellent platform for learning about new technologies and making contacts. We are returning with inspiring ideas that we will incorporate into our future projects.

The ground-breaking ceremony for our residential construction project in Adam-Treber-Weg took place in Hochheim am Main on 17^th January. The housing association (WoBau) is building a residential complex with a total of 69 residential units and a large multi-purpose room on a 5,300 m² site. The investment volume amounts to 15.7 million euros.

The project, which is being implemented by Goldbeck Südwest GmbH, is based on the concept of serial and modular construction. This enables a simplified planning process and cost-effective, high-quality residential construction. The new project therefore sets an important example for affordable and social housing in the region.

On 22^nd November, the Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland regional group of the German Academy for Urban and Regional Planning held a specialist event in Darmstadt. Under the title ‘Ressourcensibel?! (sensitive to resources) Planning, building and redevelopment in small municipalities and in the BauGB’, the current challenges and strategies of sustainable urban development were discussed. The event began with an excursion through Mollerstadt and to the ‘Studico’ project, followed by several informative presentations in the planquadrat office. Overall, the event provided valuable insights into resource-sensitive planning approaches and promoted dialogue between experts from different disciplines.

On 31^st October, Herbert Elfers and the site manager from Dobberstein Realisierungsmanagement GmbH gave around 30 guests a guided tour of our View180 conversion project in Darmstädter Landstrasse in Frankfurt am Main and explained the planning concept and the steps involved in its implementation in detail. A vacant office and residential building from 1991 in the Sachsenhausen district is being converted into a high-quality mixed-use building. There will be 222 residential units as well as commercial uses on the ground floor (including a boarding house) and a day care centre. Most of the upper floors will be gutted and converted, while the underground car park will be completely refurbished.

The topping-out ceremony for our ‘Plinganserstraße’ new-build and modernisation project in Munich took place on 8 October. The project for Münchner Wohnen comprises the construction of 194 new flats, of which 147 are privately financed and 47 are income-orientated subsidised. Former commercial buildings along Plinganserstraße will be replaced by six-storey buildings, two further buildings will be constructed on Karwendelstraße and four flats will be added to an existing building. In addition, four existing buildings with a total of 64 flats are being modernised to make them more energy-efficient.

The neighbourhood will be expanded to include two commercial units and a day-care centre as well as a mobility station where tenants can borrow cargo pedelecs or e-bikes free of charge. The completion of the overall project, which resulted from a winning realisation competition and will offer a sustainable residential solution in a central location within the Mittlerer Ring, is planned for the end of 2026. Our office was commissioned for service phases 1-4 and 6 in full and 5 and 7 in part.

Photography: © Münchner Wohnen

On 1^st October, our Managing Director Herbert Elfers presented our pioneering concept for a temporary athletics stadium to the sports committee of the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament. The design for a possible German Olympic bid in 2040 focuses on sustainability and innovative architecture. The planned stadium, which will be built on a brownfield site and offer space for around 40,000 spectators, will not only serve as a venue for athletics competitions during the Games, but will also allow for flexible subsequent use.

The interior of the stadium will then be transformed into a park with small lakes. The stands could be converted into residential and office space, while day-care centres and sports facilities would also be integrated into the subsequent use. The dual use of the stadium as a sports venue and later as residential space is expected to result in considerable cost savings.

We are proud to be making a contribution to sustainable urban development in North Rhine-Westphalia with our concept and look forward to the further development of this exciting project.

Planquadrat will once again be taking part in this year's EXPO REAL, which will be held in Munich from 7^th to 9^th October 2024. The international trade fair for property and investment offers a platform for exchanging information on the latest developments and innovations in the industry.

This year, the focus of the trade fair will be on the topics of digitalisation, decarbonisation and smart buildings, which address the key challenges facing the real estate industry. A new area called ‘Transform & Beyond’ will be dedicated specifically to these future topics in order to present innovative solutions and approaches. We look forward to interesting discussions and exchanges with industry colleagues and experts.

Photography: © Messe München GmbH

On 19^th September, the topping-out ceremony for the second STADTPLATZ construction phase of our PARKTRIO residential project in Frankfurt was celebrated. It will comprise 143 rental flats as well as commercial and catering space, which are expected to be ready for occupancy by the end of 2025. The Managing Director of our client LBBW Immobilien, Michael Stapf, emphasised the importance of the project in view of the current housing shortage. The entire PARKTRIO neighbourhood is scheduled for completion by the end of 2028 and will comprise a total of 420 residential units. Great importance is attached to sustainable construction and utilisation.

Photography: © LBBW Immobilien Management GmbH

The 20th Test Facility Forum (TFF), organised by SBI Schreiber, Brand und Partner Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH, took place in Frankenthal on 17 and 18 September. The event provided a platform for the exchange of innovative ideas and global collaboration in the field of pioneering technologies.

On the second day of the event, our Managing Director Robert Müller and our Sustainability Manager Anne Schultheis spoke on the topic of "Sustainable building in architecture". Their presentation covered historical developments, CO2 reduction strategies and EU Green Deal measures, as well as a life cycle approach for buildings and the increasing relevance of sustainability in property valuation.

Foto: © SBI

This year's summer tour took our office to Dörscheid in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. We travelled in two coaches from Darmstadt via Frankfurt to Kaub, from where (after a short stop at a local inn) we hiked up quite steep slopes through the vineyards. Once at the top, we were rewarded with a breathtaking view over the Rhine and the Pfalzgrafenstein island castle.

The end of the hike was the garden of our Managing Director Martin Geskes, where chilled drinks and a barbecue buffet awaited us, a quiz had to be solved together and one or two of us were able to demonstrate their talent in a bouncy ball competition. After driving home together, we ended the evening in a cosy atmosphere on our sunny outdoor terrace. It was great!

Despite the exertions and the sweltering outdoor temperatures (33 °C, 42% humidity), it was once again great fun: our office team gave it their all again on 1st September and achieved an absolutely respectable overall time of 14 hours, 24 minutes and 46 seconds at the Darmstadt 10 Friends Triathlon, which meant 126th place in the overall rankings. What a great achievement!

Many thanks to all our colleagues who donned the orange PQ jersey or put on their swimming cap this time. And, of course, a big thank you to all those who carried our team to the finish line with their vociferous support along the route.

On 29th August, our Managing Director, Jörg Krämer, spoke on the topic of ‘Change as a principle’ at an evening for young architects and urban planners, organised by the Hesse Chamber of Architects and Urban Planners in Wiesbaden. Among other things, he presented the campus concept for the factory premises of the Heraeus technology group in Hanau and our current project ‘View 180’ in Darmstädter Landstraße in Frankfurt, in which a former office building of a large insurance company will be converted into residential premises by the end of this year. The AKH series of events is aimed at young architects who are currently only voluntary members of the Chamber.

Foto: ©AKH

This year, planquadrat once again took part in the CITY CYCLING campaign at all three office locations. The aim of this competition is to cycle as many everyday journeys as possible within 21 days and thus promote more cycling, climate protection and quality of life in the municipalities. This time, our colleagues cycled a total of 6,460 kilometres - roughly half the diameter of the earth. This equates to a saving of 1,035 kg of CO2. A big thank you to everyone who took part!

In recent years, planquadrat has developed innovative concepts for climate adaptation in urban neighbourhoods and has been able to use this knowledge to win many competitions and implement urban development plans. Our office has successfully collaborated with geskes.hack landscape architects from Berlin, who have a wealth of expertise in green and blue infrastructure, municipal water management and the redesign of urban, climate-resilient open spaces.

On 2^nd July, the Futurepanel ‘Climate-resilient neighbourhoods’ took place at planquadrat in Darmstadt, where Christof Geskes reported on planning and implementation practice: whether future trees, water gardens, cold islands, reed beds or the design of new retention areas - the exemplary solutions he presented all contribute to securing or restoring the quality of life in our cities in times of climate change. We would like to thank the numerous guests for coming and for the good discussions on this evening.

Planquadrat stellt die Weichen für die Zukunft und erweitert die Geschäftsleitung, um das Büro langfristig zu stärken und den bevorstehenden Generationswechsel strukturiert zu gestalten. Mit dem Aufbau eines neuen Leitungsteams wird ein Prozess eingeleitet, der sowohl die aktuelle Entwicklung des Büros begleitet als auch den Übergang in die kommenden Jahre vorbereitet.

Seit dem 1. Oktober besteht die Geschäftsleitung neben Uwe Ritter aus einem erweiterten Team mit Steffen Baumgärtner, Franciska Bösz, Hannah Geskes, Constanze Gräff und Matthias Wöber. Damit ist der Grundstein für eine erfolgreiche gemeinsame Zukunft gelegt.