Leverkusen / Düsseldorf, 29.08.2022 – The final result of the “GemeinschaftsWerk Flingern” cooperative planning process for the future of the B8 Center has been decided. The recommendation committee recommended “Die Grüne Mitte” to the city council as the basis for urban land-use planning and further consultations in the municipal bodies.

Based on the results of a total of five participation and planning events, in which planning experts, local politicians, employees of the administration, the developer Cube Real Estate GmbH and, above all, citizens of all ages and key stakeholders from the neighborhood were able to contribute their opinions, wishes and suggestions to the planning process, the planning team initially developed three scenarios in succession. In addition to fundamental urban planning objectives, the special location in Flingern-Süd and the suggestions made during the process were given priority in their development.

The recommendation committee accompanied and advised the cooperative planning process from the outset and ultimately voted in favor of the “Die Grüne Mitte” concept at the plenary urban planning meeting on 28.01.2022. The aim of the process was to develop a sustainable, lively, mixed-use district on Werdener Straße in Düsseldorf-Flingern on the site of the current B8 Center.

The Leverkusen-based real estate developer and owner of the B8-Center retail park, Cube Real Estate GmbH, initiated the process in September 2021 to rethink the future of the shopping center. The highlight of the cooperative planning process, organized and moderated by the Bonn-based urban planning office ulrich hartung, is that all participants develop the usage concept, urban design and open space together and contribute their points of view and ideas.

Today, the site is home to a retail park consisting of stores for daily needs, leisure facilities, restaurants and a large parking area. The building was constructed in 2010 as a predominantly car-friendly location with no further urban planning reference to the adjacent areas. Some of the stores are currently unused.

The “Plenum Architektur” was preceded by the following four events: the “Kommunal-Café”, which served to get to know everyone involved and to gather initial ideas and wishes, and the “Kids-Workshop”, in which children and young people from Flingern were asked for their opinions. In the “design workshop”, three scenarios (“The inner worlds”, “The city balconies” and “The green center”) for the new district were presented for the first time and the central aspects of the redesign were discussed in more depth. Due to the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, some parts of the process took place virtually. Nevertheless, the events were very well attended with up to 120 participants.

In the final milestone of the process, the “Plenum Architektur”, the planning offices MVRDV and LOLA Landscape Architects from Rotterdam presented the framework plan for the location of the B8 Center in Flingern-Süd, which was developed on the basis of the planning recommendations in terms of urban development and architecture. All those present were able to contribute their suggestions again at this point in the process.
The preferred design, “Die Grüne Mitte” (The Green Center), envisages a sound-absorbing perimeter block development along Werdener Strasse, Erkrather Strasse and Fichtenstrasse on the almost 23,000 m² site, which encloses an inner area that can be used in a variety of ways. This area is to include both natural public and private green spaces as well as play, exercise and recreation facilities. At the Werdener Strasse / Fichtenstrasse junction, a high point of around 60 m marks the new quarter.

In addition to space for offices and services, various forms of housing are to be created. Both subsidized and price-controlled apartments as well as privately financed apartments are planned. In addition, apartments for senior citizens, young adults, a daycare center and spaces for local amenities, culture and a community hall will be integrated into the plans. In addition, the grocery store already established on the site is to remain there.

In accordance with the design title, the sustainability of the new quarter is the focus of the plans. 60% of the site, which is currently completely sealed, will become a contiguous green area, which is of great climatic importance, especially for the inner-city location. Other measures include photovoltaic systems on the roof surfaces, a green roof, near-natural green areas in the inner courtyard and possible ecological use of the facades through nesting boxes and greenery.

Tilman Gartmeier, founder and CEO of Cube Real Estate, says: “We are confident that the ‘Grüne Mitte’ concept on the B8 Center site will create a vibrant and attractive urban quarter with high architectural standards. This will succeed if we all pull together – the collaboration with politicians, the neighborhood, the administration and many other stakeholders has always worked very well. Thanks to the different suggestions and influences, we were ultimately able to find the right approach for the B8 site.”

Cornelia Zuschke, Alderwoman for Planning, Building and Real Estate of the City of Düsseldorf, says: “Thank you very much for the incredibly detailed elaboration. It is clear that MVRDV can develop very good high-density solutions and deal with challenges. ‘Die Grüne Mitte’ offers a simple, powerful urban structure. The striking high-rise building is compatible with this design and must now be further qualified in terms of architecture. The large open space offers a flexible approach to all the needs of the Flinger residents and, in the long term, the possibility of adapting to the changing climate. With this design, it will also be possible to proceed very well in the further planning process and create high-quality, valuable, healthy and safe living and working conditions.”

Professor Yasemin Utku, urban planner and architect, Professor of Urban Design and Planning Practice at the Cologne University of Applied Sciences and Chair of the recommendation committee: “Nowadays, you can’t actually carry out planning processes without participation and you need a form that suits the respective location. You can never completely detach yourself from what already exists there in terms of previous history. Here, I have the feeling that exactly the right format has been found to achieve the best possible result in the process.

Harald Schwenk, housing policy spokesperson for the council faction and member of the Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen party in District Council 2 for Düsseldorf Flingern-Nord, Flingern-Süd and Düsseltal, adds from a local perspective: “The cooperative planning process was very important to us, as we were intensively involved from the outset. At the end of the process, we can see that we have achieved a very good result for our district with the ‘Green Center’ design. The task now is to develop a viable concept for the further planning phases.”

Zora Bobbert, district representative of the SPD in district 2, on the project: “With the ‘Die Grüne Mitte’ design, we have a concept that has its finger on the pulse of the times – it is an important step that half of the area is no longer sealed and the design includes a large green space. Above all, however, it also creates added value for the community, which is why we have involved the public and the young people of Flingern in the planning through the Kids Workshop. I am certain that a unique mixed-use district will be created on the former B8 site, which will offer attractive living space and shopping opportunities and attract people to the area.”

The actual development plan procedure is now starting, with which the planning law for “Die Grüne Mitte” is to be created. The participation formats for this phase are legally anchored so that the participation of citizens and public bodies continues. At the same time, the municipal bodies are required to initiate the corresponding statutes. This process is to be continued in the fall with the next resolutions in the Düsseldorf City Council. The planned implementation requires long-term planning; it is not yet possible to predict when this will begin in order to include long-term tenants.

All information on the project and the planning process can be found at www.gemeinschaftswerk-flingern.de