New living space in a central location
In downtown Aachen, between Mariabrunnstrasse, Hohenstaufenallee, and Weberstrasse, there is an approximately 8,700 m² plot of land that has been acquired by Landmarken.
Here, we want to work closely with the city of Aachen to develop a lively and diverse neighborhood with a wide range of housing options and a commercial building block. Our goal is not only to create a good neighborhood for future users, but also to generate added value for the entire neighborhood.
The property
The property is located between inner-city residential development and the teaching and research buildings of Aachen University of Applied Sciences. To the north, the property is bordered by a railway line, while on the other sides it is sheltered within a block perimeter development.
In this exciting and innovative environment, we want to meet our high standards for sustainable neighborhood development and create a vibrant place that benefits not only residents and users, but also the surrounding area and the entire city. This includes a tailor-made urban planning solution, high-quality public spaces, and a mix of uses that blend harmoniously with and complement the existing environment. To achieve this, we have decided, in consultation with the city of Aachen, to carry out the design process as part of an urban planning workshop.
The workshop process
As part of a cooperative workshop process, five planning offices and design teams submitted their ideas for the development of the property on Mariabrunnstrasse. The three-stage process was carried out by Landmarken AG, as the future building owner, in cooperation with the city of Aachen and the Scheuvens + Wachten plus office in Dortmund. The winning design was submitted by the Aachen-based firm ZHAC – Zweering Helmus Architektur + Consulting in cooperation with 3Plus Freiraumplaner, also from Aachen. This design now forms the basis for the upcoming development plan procedure. The aim is to implement an urban development concept that blends in well with the surrounding area and does not impair its function and quality.
In dialogue with the neighborhood
In the summer of 2025, we started the project-related exchange with the neighborhood with our "wan·del·bar": In August, we brought the converted shipping container to the property on Mariabrunnstrasse to present the results of the workshop process and the planned developments and to enter into direct dialogue with the residents.
We were particularly pleased that around 70 neighbors accepted our invitation to a barbecue event. In an open and friendly atmosphere, we were able to engage in conversation, answer questions, and gather valuable suggestions. Afterwards, the first draft plans were publicly displayed in the container for three weeks.
We carefully collected and processed the numerous responses from the discussions—they are now being incorporated into the further process and are helping us to further develop the plans together with the neighborhood.
