Wolfsburg, Germany
European Prize for Architecture laureates Henning Larsen Architects revealed their 13.6 hectare ‘Wolfsburg Connect’ masterplan for Volkswagen’s home in Germany.
The plan establishes a prototype for livable small-scale urbanism in Europe, an increasingly crucial typology as the world’s population continues to urbanize.
Wolfsburg is the ideal of a modern garden city: sprawling and green, with vast boulevards and a network of iconic structures and wide streets. But like in so many cities, growth has moved some of the city’s buzz to the outskirts, and Wolfsburg’s core is in need of new energy.
Located between Hannover, Hamburg, and Berlin, Wolfsburg sits slightly in the shadow of its larger, more cosmopolitan neighbors.
For Volkswagen, whose agenda-setting mobility technology research will be conducted will be in Wolfsburg, luring top talent means not just offering the best workplace, but the most attractive city. It means creating the framework for a city as diverse as the talents and minds it hopes to attract.
“More than ever before, skilled workers pay attention to an attractive living environment,” says Volkswagen Human Resources Director and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Wolfsburg AG, Gunnar Kilian. “Wolfsburg already has a lot to offer, but in competing for the best minds with other major cities, it’s important we stand out.”
Wolfsburg Connect hones in on this by prioritizing connection, mobility, diversity, and choice. The masterplan is located within the center of the city, a long, triangular site bordered by rail lines and a major boulevard. Included within its bounds are Wolfsburg Hauptbanhof and an existing bus station, both of which are to be expanded in the new plan.
This mobility hub, is geographically and conceptually central to the project, linking people within the city and across the region. From there, visitors are presented with numerous mobility options: bus, taxi, city bicycles, and walking paths all fan out from this hub.
The range of mobility options results in a layered city fabric, tied more to the scale of the person than the scale of the car. Ground level retail, tech, and creative workshops woven together with greenery and outdoor amenities create an active public realm throughout the day. The design clusters activity around major public spaces, creating ripples of activity that cross and overlap each other.
Courtyards between blocks will be open public thoroughfares, creating an inside-out urban experience that rewards pedestrians and cyclists. A few levels up, offices and residential program spread throughout the district and are crowned by roof gardens, decks, restaurants, and bars.
The diverse mix of program (which includes office, residential, hotel, retail, F+B, and leisure spaces) creates a city that is alive throughout the day — even after commuters have left the cafes and innovation hubs, locals will fill the district’s public plazas and restaurants.
Layered livability is a key concept to Wolfsburg Connect and it is a truly mixed-use district. There
are no single purpose structures.
“Sustainability and quality of life are at the core of Henning Larsen Architects’ work – this approach was very compelling for realizing our vision [for Wolfsburg Nordkopf,]” explains Timo Herzberg, CEO of SIGNA Real Estate Germany.
“We are designing an inclusive city on human terms – an approach that means putting emphasis on social life and accessibility. Together with Volkswagen, there is the opportunity to create a city that is the testing ground for the most cutting-edge mobility technology in the world – but what underpins the design is the goal to create a place that people want to be in and stay in,” states Louis Becker, Henning Larsen Design Principal.
Phase 1 of the masterplan is expected to reach completion by 2023.
Henning Larsen Architect ‘Wolfsburg Connect’
Architects: Henning Larsen Architects
Clients: SIGNA, Stadt Wolfsburg, Volkswagen AG, and Wolfsburg AG
