PlusStadt Frankfurt Nordwest

Frankfurt, DE

Type Masterplan landscape design
Study 2020
Location Frankfurt, Germany
Size 550 ha
Client Frankfurt am Main Stadtplanungsamt
I.c.w. bb22 architecten + stadtplaner, Meixner Schlüter Wendt, Transsolar, Weert Canzler, Andreas Knie

PlusStadt, submitted for the urban development study ‘Neuer Stadtteil der Quartiere’ of the city of Frankfurt, shows how a new city can emerge from the landscape. It demonstrates what it’s like to live in a city based on soil. Where water and nature are the driving forces behind the way we build our cities. At this moment in time, with climate change and biodiversity loss, climate-adaptive, landscape based urban planning is the only way to work towards a sustainable future.

But it’s more than that. PlusStadt sets an example that cities can make a positive contribution to biodiversity, water quality, and CO2 storage. That is why PlusStadt includes urban typologies that work closely with the landscape. With more trees, local agriculture, roof gardens and green structures it provides better living conditions for people, flora and fauna.

By taking the characteristics of the current landscape as a starting point, a new and reinforced landscape will be created in which spatial structures can make barrier-free connections with both the large landscapes in the surrounding area, and the fine-meshed approach of the sub-areas. The stream valleys and the Fliesswegen (stormwater runoff paths) play a significant role in this. Moreover, by situating most of the buildings east of the A5, and a wooded area in the north of the area, it is possible to keep a significant area between Steinbach and Frankfurt free from buildings and to utilize it for agriculture, nature and recreation.

Natural waterflows form the backbone of Frankfurt north-west

Securing cold air flows to the existing city and new areas

A climateproof city district emerges from the landscape

Maximal rural and urban diversity

A subterranean search reveals unknown treasures. The characteristics of the soil, topography and groundwater have a lot of potential for the above-ground design of open spaces.

Through controlled surface drainage and set infiltration points, special attention is paid to the protection of groundwater.

Fragment Waldquartier Urseler Hang

Top: Waldkwartier merges with the surrounding forest. Bottom: stormwater runoff paths and rainwater management

Waldquartier offers a residential space in the woods adjacent to a vast agricultural landscape

The course of the natural stormwater runoff paths of the surface water supports the development of an urban and natural neighborhood structure.

Existing dirt roads form a historic and natural basis for structuring paths in the new quarters.

Fragment Praunheimer Höfe Quartier

Top: Agricultural Park secures the landscape. Bottom: open green spaces at Praunheimer Höfe

The Agrikulturpark is the free space between the A5, Steinback and the Waldviertel. A valuable landscape in which farmers process local harvests into small-scale, high-quality foods for Steinbach and Frankfurt. The farmers farm their land circularly and nature inclusively. They work their land together with the residential communities living on the farms.

This way of ecological farming creates a landscape that is both natural and attractive. Comfortable cycle paths, on the original agricultural roads, run through the park, while informal hiking trails take walkers across the fields to the farms and agricultural pavilions.

Fragment Agrikulturpark Steinbach

Praunheimer Höfe is an urban continuation of the agricultural park

The outstanding views of the Taunus mountains and the skyline of the Frankfurt city centre are retained and highlighted by means of targeted landscaping and structural interventions.

On a smaller scale residents can retreat and relax in their green garden oases. The planting slides like a waterfall from the roofs into the inner courtyards.

Fragment Taunusblick Quartier

Green space Quartier Taunusblick

PlusStadt secures the existing agricultural landscape while adding a climate adaptive strategy for a living landscape