Stuttgart, Germany

Quartier am Karlsplatz

The object of the competition was to plan a new building complex on Karlplatz, in the centre of Stuttgart. Eventual users, of 49,000 square metres of above ground development, should be Baden-Württemberg’s Federal Ministries, a hotel, shops and restaurants.

With the replanning of the Karlplatz Quarter not only new areas are to be created, but it will also be a unique chance to reassess the Karlpassage exit, previously considered the less important “back” of the site, behind the Breuninger Department Store and leading on to Sporer and Karlsstrasse. In so doing, this highly valuable inner city core will be given a new range of activities, further adding to Stuttgart’s network of lively pedestrian areas.

It is especially important to design a well interconnected ground level zone, which through related views and a generously proportioned welcome, would entice passersby and visitors quite naturally from the area’s attractions, such as the Marktplatz, Breuninger Store and Markthalle, through to the Karlsplatz.

Another important task is the reorganization of the Sporerstrasse, along the back of the Breuninger Store. The new visual connection between Markthalle and Karlspassage would certainly help join up those important elements, which make the Quarter attractive.

The aim is to create a city space without second class “back facades”, but a variety of attractive, equally high quality, frontages.

The lines of the surrounding buildings under conservation, like the Markthalle, but also public spaces like the Karlplatz, will be taken up to influence the geometry of the building forms.

Naturally, the assembly of new buildings will be integrated into the urban and developed context, by means of their materials and special design, but with a meaningful and contemporary architectural accent. New elements and highlights will add to the existing city structure.

Within the topography of Stuttgart’s basin-shaped valley the roof landscape has a particular importance as a fifth façade. From several standpoints the roofs give clues as to identification of places within the city.

The hotel plays a role as the tallest element in the area, while remaining below the height of Stuttgart’s characteristic inner city towers.

The shimmering light coloured roofs, free from technical structures, will be clearly visible from the surrounding slopes overlooking Stuttgart, giving the area a unique character.

Heterogeneity, complexity, proportionality and density are the key features of this design.

Hotel Silber The entrance to the memorial “Hotel Silber” is placed exactly where the entrance to the former hotel stood. From the room for contemplation, opening out towards Karlstrasse, visitors will be lead to the place of remembrance and the prisoner’s cells.

Europaconcorsi Beta

Quartier am Karlsplatz