Renzo Piano Building Workshop (RPBW), in collaboration with Holger Meyer Architekten, has won the competition to design the new Midtstadt mixed-use complex in Frankfurt. The project involves a 35,000 m² rehabilitation of an existing department store, integrating a six-story mass timber extension and a mixed-use program.
The design reimagines the future of European city centers as resourceful and multifunctional. The complex will combine shopping, leisure, work, dining, entertainment, sports, culture, commercial apartments, and education under one roof. The goal is to convert the existing six-story department store into a ten-story, multi-use complex.
A key aspect of the transformation is improving the building’s permeability and accessibility. New entrances will be added, and a light-filled passageway will connect two courtyards. The building’s volume will be fragmented to create a more open, light-filled structure.
The main north façade on Zeil will feature a transparent wood-and-glass screen, offering views into the building’s interior. The project demonstrates how urban spaces can be revitalized through adaptable utilization concepts.
Image Courtesy: archdaily.com
