Decision made in the architectural competition for Opernplatz 2 in Frankfurt/Main: two winning proposals

The proposals submitted by the two Berlin-based companies Staab Architekten and BE Berlin were involved in a neck-and-neck race. While both firms offer a high design quality, not all aspects of the proposals were entirely convincing. These aspects are now to be optimized during a revision phase. When this phase is completed, one of the concepts will be chosen as the basis for the further development of the property opposite the city's Alte Oper opera house. A third prize was also awarded to the company Allmann Sattler Wappner from Munich.

Renowned architects among the participants

"Exceptional results were delivered as part of the competition", said Annette Kröger, CEO of Allianz Real Estate Germany GmbH. "The two top proposals provide us with a solid foundation, but we will have to wait until the end of the revision phase to see who ultimately emerges as the winner. Following the revision work, both proposals have the potential to make a key contribution to urban design in Frankfurt."

Mayor Olaf Cunitz, Head of the Department of Planning and Building for the city of Frankfurt am Main, is also impressed by the two proposals: "Both designs blend in nicely with a nod to the historic feel of the opera house square - while at the same time providing a modern response to the construction task in hand. They are elegantly discreet in comparison with the dominant structure of the Alte Oper opera house and upgrade the southern side of the square.

Allianz Real Estate Germany GmbH had invited a total of ten renowned architectural firms to submit their proposals. The aim of the competition was to develop a solution of the highest urban design and architectural standard for an office and commercial building on the 3,700 square meter area located directly on Opernplatz, opposite the Alte Oper opera house. The proposals also had to meet the cost-effectiveness standards required for investment purposes and take into account the sustainability of an office building.

The jury's decision

The jury was chaired by Prof. Zvonko Turkali from Frankfurt am Main. The decision to organize an additional revision phase was a unanimous one.

The staggering of the top two stories featured in the proposal submitted by Staab Architekten creates a building outline that reacts positively to the various different urban development situations on all sides. The attention paid to the heights of the buildings located on Neue Mainzer Strasse and the favorable lighting scenario this creates for the buildings opposite, the consideration given to the building proportions in the surrounding urban area and the structure of the roof elevation are particularly worthy of mention. At the same time, a high-quality open space area is created for the usage area situated behind it, offering attractive views across the city.

The proposal submitted by BE Berlin is an independent freestanding structure. Spatially differentiated projections and recesses means that the building as a whole blends in well from an urban design perspective. The structure as a whole forms a sculpture, albeit one that is not excessively imposing in appearance. The façade material fits in well with the surrounding area - light sandstone is a popular choice in the neighborhood.

Public exhibition of the proposals

The proposals submitted by the two architectural firms will be exhibited to the public from January 22 until February 3, 2016, from 8.30 a.m. until 6 p.m., Monday to Friday, in the atrium of the City of Frankfurt planning department, Kurt-Schumacher-Strasse 10. Interested citizens and specialists are invited to attend.

The property belongs to Allianz Lebensversicherungs-AG. Allianz Real Estate Germany GmbH is responsible for the investment and asset management, as well as for the rental of the property.

Participiants of the competition:

• BE Berlin GmbH, Berlin

• Ferdinand Heide Architekten, Frankfurt am Main

• Henning Larsen, München

• Max Dudler, Berlin

• Meurer Generalplaner, Frankfurt am Main

• Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos, Berlin

• NKBAK Architekten, Frankfurt am Main

• Schneider + Schumacher, Frankfurt am Main

• Staab Architekten, Berlin

• Allmann Sattler Wappner, München

  
  

Jury members:

• Prof. Fritz Auer, Architekt, Stuttgart 

• Helmut Erzgräber-Lamm, Architekt, Allianz Real Estate Germany,  Frankfurt am Main

• Martin Hunscher, Leiter Stadtplanungsamt, Frankfurt am Main

• Sabine Kühne-Manner, Head of Developments, Allianz Real Estate Germany, Frankfurt a. Main

• Annette Kröger, CEO, Allianz Real Estate Germany, Frankfurt am Main

• Dieter von Lüpke, Stadtplaner, Frankfurt am Main

• Jórunn Ragnarsdóttir, Architektin, Stuttgart

• Nils Schalk, Stadtplanungsamt, Stadt Frankfurt am Main.

• Lothar Scharpe, Head of Technical Management, Allianz Real Estate Germany, Stuttgart

• Prof. Zvonko Turkali, Architekt, Frankfurt am Main 

  
  

Deputy jury member 

• Wolfgang Dunkelau, Architekt, Frankfurt am Main 

  
  

Expert acting as consultant for the jury

• Martin Daum, CDU-Fraktion Frankfurt am Main 

• Thorsten Dettmer, Bauaufsicht Stadt Frankfurt am Main

• Helga Dörhöfer, DIE GRÜNEN-Fraktion Frankfurt am Main

• Ulrike Gaube, Referentin für Stadtplanung, Frankfurt am Main

• Wolfgang Hess, Vertreter des Nachbarn

• Prof. Jürgen Schroeder, Vertreter des Nachbarn

• Dr. Stefan Timpe, Denkmalamt Stadt Frankfurt am Main

• Evanthia Triantafillidou, Ortsvorsteherin Ortsbeirat 1