A city is not merely a collection of buildings; it consists of numerous elements such as green spaces, water, and infrastructure that significantly influence the quality of life for its residents. To create high-quality, climate-conscious urban districts for the future, we must integrate these elements into our designs.

In Design 1, we will focus on a section of the Max Becker Areal in Cologne, addressing ecological and social themes through the concept of an urban block that integrates into and enhances the existing context.

The Max Becker Areal, located in the left-bank district of Cologne-Ehrenfeld, is a 13-hectare site currently closed off to the public and used for recycling scrap metal. For internal business as well as urban policy reasons, the company is relocating its operations to the industrial Niehler Hafen. This move creates an opportunity to integrate the site into the urban fabric and develop urgently needed functions—such as housing, workspaces, culture, education, energy supply, and local amenities—in harmony with ecological requirements for a climate-resilient city.