Leverkusen, 11.04.2025

The development of the new Bilderveedel district in Cologne has reached an important milestone: as part of a multiple urban planning commission for building plots 3 and 4, the design by the De Zwarte Hond / RMPSL planning team was unanimously selected as the winner by the jury. The ASTOC / KraftRaum and BeL Sozietät für Architektur & rabe landschaften offices were also involved in the process. The process was supervised by the urban planning office Ulrich Hartung.

As the project developer of Bilderveedel, Cube Real Estate is responsible for designing a sustainable, vibrant urban quarter with a high quality of life. The award-winning design impresses with its harmonious urban planning, which makes optimum use of the complex conditions of the district. The focal point is an urban neighborhood square positioned along the axis of the street “Am Bilderstöckchen”. This central meeting point is complemented by a 40-metre-high hotel building as a striking identity point. The integration of a daycare center, supplemented by retail, gastronomy and other services, strengthens the social infrastructure and further revitalizes the district.

The jury was particularly impressed by the in-depth and careful elaboration of the floor plans and the generous open space design. This helps to create a harmonious interplay between the existing and the new neighborhood. In addition, sustainable and climate-adapted concepts are taken into account in order to ensure the quality of stay in the long term.

Special attention is paid to a diverse residential development that combines different types of housing and is adapted to the surroundings through intelligent soundproofing measures. The optimized floor plans guarantee a high quality of living. The district is complemented by a modern district parking garage with additional residential units and an integrated supermarket, which ensures local supplies.

Open space design also plays a central role. Different areas – from a lively neighborhood square to a quiet, leafy residential courtyard – create a high quality of stay and promote neighborly interaction.

“The Bilderveedel stands for forward-looking neighborhood development in Cologne. Our aim is to create a lively, diverse district that combines living space, quality of life and community life in an innovative way. We would particularly like to emphasize the excellent cooperation with the City of Cologne – both with the administration and with the political players – in this project,” says Thore Marenbach, Managing Director of Cube Land Development.

“The concept of the district will make it possible to usefully supplement the Bilderstöckchen district with the new district center with uses in the retail, hotel and gastronomy sectors as well as childcare and to combine urgently needed living space with equally urgently needed commercial space in a compatible way,” explains Eva Herr, Head of the City of Cologne’s Urban Planning Office.

With the selection of the winning design, the detailed development of the project will now begin, accompanied by expert reports and intensive coordination with the city’s specialist departments. The aim is to reach the decision on the articles of association by summer 2026 and thus create the basis for the implementation of this pioneering urban development project.

The results of the qualification process will be exhibited in the Magistrale of the Stadthaus Deutz, Willy-Brandt-Platz 2, 50679 Cologne, from April 9 to May 9, 2025 inclusive.