moderne stadt, the urban development company owned by Stadtwerke Köln GmbH and the City of Cologne, has transferred the 10,884-square-metre plot 03 in the Deutzer Hafen development area in Cologne-Deutz to GARBE Urban Real Estate. GARBE aims to develop up to 700 flats on the site, complemented by retail space and a nursery, with a total gross floor area (GFA) of around 50,000 square metres. The plan is to create a mix of privately financed, publicly subsidised and affordable housing. As part of the award procedure, a technical due diligence process and an architectural qualification process are to be carried out in collaboration with the City of Cologne.
"The development of Building Plot 03 requires a partner who thinks long-term, can manage complex projects effectively and possesses the necessary organisational and financial capacity. By awarding the contract, we are establishing the framework to assess the project in collaboration with GARBE Urban Real Estate and to prepare for a potential purchase of the site. High-quality urban design and social diversity remain binding requirements. We are convinced that, in GARBE, we are gaining a highly experienced project developer as a partner who can make a decisive contribution to advancing the development of Building Plot 03,” says Dipl.-Ing. Andreas Röhrig, Managing Director of moderne stadt.
The former industrial harbour in Cologne-Deutz is being developed into a modern, mixed-use urban quarter for living and working, covering an area of around 38 hectares. In total, around 3,000 new flats are to be built to accommodate some 7,000 residents. In addition, around 6,000 jobs are planned, along with nursery schools, a primary school, restaurants, and cultural and leisure facilities. A total gross floor area of around 560,000 square metres is currently planned.
"The Deutz Harbour represents a very special opportunity for us. We are delighted by the trust placed in us by moderne stadt and by the chance to design a new neighbourhood at one of Cologne’s most significant urban development sites, whilst contributing our expertise and our URBANROOTS concept. Our aim is to combine the needs of users and tenants for modern living with an investment that is economically viable in the long term. To achieve this, quality, affordability and long-term economic viability must be considered together right from the start. Timber and hybrid timber construction methods, serial and modular solutions, as well as, in part, elements of the Hamburg Standard, can be key building blocks for finding the right solution at this special location,” says Christoph Reschke, spokesperson for the management board of GARBE Urban Real Estate.
The planned architectural qualification process is intended to examine a range of structural and conceptual solutions. Timber and timber-hybrid construction methods may play a role here, as may serial and modular concepts. A development based on the GARBE URBANROOTS concept is also possible, provided that this proves to be a suitable solution for the site during the process. The original design already provided for the examination of hybrid timber solutions.
GARBE is already carrying out further neighbourhood development projects in Cologne and Düsseldorf. The URBANROOTS concept combines timber and hybrid construction methods with contemporary residential and communal facilities, such as urban gardening, home office spaces, rehearsal and fitness rooms, and digital neighbourhood infrastructure.
"Cologne is an important and long-term development location for GARBE. With two projects already underway, we are firmly established here and have built up a robust local presence over the past 15 years. The opportunity to now work alongside moderne stadt at such a significant location as Deutz Harbour represents an excellent next step in our commitment to Cologne. For us, Cologne is not a market we operate in from a distance, but a location where we want to maintain a permanent presence and continue to grow,” says Ivo Gotsche, Head of GARBE Urban Real Estate’s North Rhine-Westphalia office in Cologne.
