Our design for the “K100” site redevelopment competition at Ettlinger Tor has now been awarded a commendation. It makes a strong urban planning statement in the heart of Karlsruhe.
On the previously monofunctional site on Kriegsstraße, a sustainable, mixed-use neighbourhood with historical references is being created that offers a clear vision for the city of tomorrow. The urban planning concept combines the classic Karlsruhe perimeter block structure with new openness, incorporating targeted thoroughfares, sightlines and differentiated open spaces to create permeable urban spaces that naturally integrate the neighbourhood with its surroundings, including the Margrave’s Palace, the State Theatre, Ettlinger Tor and the new high-rise edge on the outskirts of the city centre.
At the heart of the concept lies the idea of a ‘city for people’: one that is socially inclusive, climate-resilient and vibrant. The neighbourhood will become a public place that promotes encounters, participation, and diversity – a new social hub for Karlsruhe.
The urban development concept is based on three clearly structured building blocks that frame a central neighbourhood square — the public centre that connects all the different areas. The combination of residential, commercial, hotel, boarding house, local amenities and restaurants creates a vibrant neighbourhood with a strong sense of community.
Building Block 1 features a striking entrance on Karl-Friedrich-Straße and Ettlinger Tor, as well as retail outlets, restaurants, and flexible office and educational spaces.
Building Block 2 is the 84-meter-high tower on Kreuzstraße, which is a hybrid ensemble of a hotel, a boarding house and residential space. It is crowned by a publicly accessible sky bar with a roof terrace.
Building blocks 3 and 4 comprise residential use, a daycare centre, a mobility hub, local amenities and communal roof gardens.
The routing is based on a finely meshed urban structure with sightlines to the palace and Via Triumphalis. The urban edge to Kriegsstraße is strengthened without losing permeability.
The open space concept ties in with the theatre landscape and palace gardens: ‘Green islands’ structure the public space, promote social interaction and improve the microclimate. A water feature provides cooling and improves the atmosphere. Existing trees are preserved and supplemented with climate-resilient species, as well as roof gardens and green facades.
The Quartier am Palais has a holistic sustainability concept that considers energy, mobility, resources, and climate equally. A decentralized energy approach with district heating, air heat pumps, and surface-integrated heating and cooling systems enables high efficiency. Photovoltaic panels on roofs and facades, as well as bidirectional charging infrastructure, significantly increase the degree of self-sufficiency. Blue-green infrastructure consisting of green roofs and facades, rainwater retention, and evaporative cooling improves the water balance, air quality, and biodiversity. DGNB certification is planned.
Hybrid timber construction for base and frame structures, CO₂-reduced concrete, modular grids, and strikingly positioned high points create flexibility and durability. Light-colored mineral façades combined with warm wooden elements reinterpret Karlsruhe’s building tradition in a contemporary way. The result is a neighborhood that is lived in, not just built—a place of exchange that fosters identity and is an important building block for the urban future of Karlsruhe.
Congratulations to Max Dudler with BIERBAUM.AICHELE.landschaftsarchitekten on winning first prize, and to Lederer Ragnarsdóttir with Baumschlager Eberle Architekten and LUZ Landschaftsarchitektur on winning second prize!
Concept team: caspar., studio grüngrau, Buro Happold, Werner Sobek, Gruner
caspar.team: Caspar Schmitz-Morkramer (Entwurfsverfasser), Erik Nohr (PL), Corinna Masi, Marie-Elén Wehder, Clara Wilkes, Philipp Meise
