Future of Nuremberg's city center: concept study for Kaufhof and City Point presented

Future of Nuremberg's city center: concept study for Kaufhof and City Point presented

There is currently an exciting discussion in Nuremberg about the future use of two empty buildings in the city center, the former Kaufhof and the City Point. The city of Nuremberg commissioned a concept study last year to develop viable usage concepts. The Northern Bavaria reports that BBE Handelsberatung GmbH and IPH Handelsimmobilien GmbH were commissioned to develop this study and that the first results are now available.

The concept study shows that urban development places a clear focus on economic efficiency. Two solutions were outlined; The so-called “small solution” focuses mainly on the Kaufhof. Three usage examples were developed: a meeting point for education and research, the creation of economic synergies, and a frequency generator for national and international events. In contrast to this is the “big solution”, which envisages an unspecific mix of uses for both buildings and thus attempts to appeal to a broader target group, but without providing precise details.

Active citizen participation

A central element of the feasibility study is the involvement of citizens. The BBE and IPH, together with the architectural firm Rosner Architekten, have developed a concept that includes both economic analyzes and creative solutions. In recent months, numerous suggestions have been collected from the public, which will now be incorporated into the concept study. This approach is intended to ensure that future use meets the needs of citizens and contributes to the further development of Nuremberg's city center as a lively and attractive place.

The Nuremberg city council faction of the SPD has already expressed positive comments about the continuation of the usage scenarios. However, there are also clear voices against demolishing the Kaufhof. Dr. Andrea Heilmaier has announced that two economically viable usage scenarios will be examined in order to make a decision that makes both ecological and economic sense.

Sustainable urban development in focus

The importance of sustainable urban development is also underlined by the requirements of the building code, such as this Federal Environment Agency shows. It is crucial to take social, economic and environmental requirements into account in the planning. The aim is not only to increase structural density, but also to create healthy living and working conditions. The challenge here is to promote environmentally friendly and livable settlement structures that at the same time offer space for social diversity.

The concept study has already laid an initial foundation, but it remains exciting to see how the city of Nuremberg implements the results and which usage concepts are ultimately implemented. The next steps could be crucial for the future design of the city center, which is very important to many people in Nuremberg.