Algarve
  • Location
    Duisburg
  • Project
    Development of a master plan for the Algarve site in Duisburg as the basis for above-ground construction
  • Client
    ZAR Real Estate Holding GmbH & Co. KG
  • Organizing Authority
    ISR Innovative Stadt- und Raumplanung GmbH
  • Design Authors
    Caspar Schmitz- Morkramer (caspar.) with Prof. Manuel Bäumler (Schellenberg + Bäumler Architekten) and Prof. Thomas Fenner (studio grüngrau)
  • Open Space Planning
    studio grüngrau, Düsseldorf
  • Urban Design
    Schellenberg + Bäumler Architekten, Dresden
  • Sustainability
    Werner Sobek, Stuttgart
  • Planning Period
    2023
  • Site Area
    95,210 m²
  • Visualizations
    Paul Trakies

Our conceptual master plan for the “Algarve” area in Duisburg is based on the vision of an urban neighborhood with model character – diverse, compact, and multifunctional. The goal is to create a new urban space that serves both as a place of work and everyday life, while largely remaining free of through traffic. Vehicular access is provided from the edge via Wanheimer Straße and a newly planned street. Cars are intercepted early and directed into an integrated parking garage and a multimodal mobility hub with shared transportation options. Both facilities are architecturally embedded in the development and accommodate additional ground-floor uses – for example, a bicycle repair shop with a café bar located directly next to the Kultushafen.
The new district is being developed on the former site of the “Alga-Werke” in Duisburg-Wanheimerort – a historically rich industrial area that was a center for manufacturing, work, and craftsmanship for decades. Existing structures such as the old annealing building and the distinctive Alga Tower still bear witness to this past. We deliberately reference the site’s industrial heritage, but reinterpret it: through a mix of uses that brings together urban living, working, housing, and leisure in a model urban building block.

Open Space as a Social and Ecological Engine

At the heart of the district is the “Werkpark”: a generous green space running along the north-south axis, acting as a connective backbone. Squares, work alleys, and the sensitive handling of existing buildings create a spatial structure with a strong sense of identity. Three key building blocks define the layout:

  • Building Block I combines flexible workspaces, housing, a daycare center, a hotel, and a residential high-rise as a prominent landmark.

  • Building Block II is characterized by the continued use of existing structures – with the “Hall for All” serving as a public hub for education, culture, and community.

  • Building Block III focuses on local services and small-scale office uses, complemented by green rooftop terraces for the neighborhood.

With a clear layout of vibrant ground floors, green retreats, and varied building heights, the district responds to the multifaceted demands of urban life – and to the specific characteristics of Duisburg’s Wanheimerort neighborhood.

Open Space as a Social and Ecological Engine

The Werkpark forms the landscape architectural backbone of our design. It connects all parts of the district and fulfills a range of functions: as a public space for gathering and interaction, as an event, play, and recreation area, and as a key component of stormwater management in the form of blue-green infrastructure. Sculpted landscapes, retention areas, and climate-resilient vegetation provide cooling, promote biodiversity, and enhance the quality of stay.

Other defining elements include the entrance plaza with a water feature, the elevated Rhine promenade offering views of the Kultushafen, and a variety of small-scale spaces such as neighborhood courtyards, urban gardening areas, and lushly planted rooftop terraces. The design follows the “ha-ha” principle from English landscape gardens: a gentle, visually open slope ensures clear views and creates flowing transitions between spatial levels.

All open spaces are designed to be car-free, ensuring high-quality environments for both communal and individual lifestyles. Diversity and character arise from deliberate contrasts between old and new, open and enclosed uses, and landscape or urban design.

Built for the Future – Resource-Conscious, Circular, and Socially Inclusive

The district is conceived as an ecological model project that reflects sustainability in all its dimensions: ecological, economic, and social. The goal is to realize a holistic, climate-resilient urban structure with a low CO₂ footprint. The buildings are based on the Cradle-to-Cradle principle. They are made from separable, recyclable materials, function as raw material depots, and enable the reintegration of resources into closed cycles.

Existing buildings are retained and complemented by new elements wherever possible – such as photovoltaic-glazed facades on the “Hall for All” or green façades. The energy concept combines passive strategies, renewable energy production, and green buildings.

The design also sets new standards for noise protection: thanks to a clever arrangement of noise-intensive uses, structural buffer zones, screens, and sound-absorbing façade technologies, a quiet and livable inner district is created. At the same time, space-efficient floorplans, prefabricated components, and life-cycle-oriented planning ensure high economic efficiency without compromising on quality.

Project team