With more than 15,000 passers-by per hour, Kaufingerstrasse in Munich is the busiest shopping street in Germany. The aim of revitalizing the department store in Munich's city center is to upgrade the existing building in an ecologically and economically sustainable manner, utilizing the maximum building rights.
This includes restructuring the interior to create higher-quality rental spaces and redesigning the façade to better integrate the building into the public urban space.
A comprehensive analysis of the urban planning, typological, and art-historical features of the surrounding area forms the basis for the project. Particular attention is paid to the façade facing Kaufingerstrasse, which is significantly characterized by the corner building facing Fürstenfelder Strasse. The integration of the listed Singer House and the creation of a better connection to Fürstenfelder Strasse are key factors.
The concept includes the demolition of part of the building, the addition of extra storeys, and the creation of an inner courtyard. The redesign of the façade, the addition of upper storeys, and the integration of green spaces contribute significantly to the enhancement of the building and its surroundings. A clear address towards Georg-Kronawitter-Platz will be emphasized, and exclusive apartments will be created on the 5th and 6th floors.
The floor plan design focuses on the view of the inner courtyard and the roofscape of the old town. Representative areas and open office concepts are located on the inner courtyard side. The top gallery floor contains flexibly usable, high-quality rental space. The ridge height is raised to create optimally usable rental space, but without exceeding the ridge height of the listed building.
The building services are primarily located in the basement. A decentralized ventilation solution is being pursued to minimize shaft sizes on the floors. Ventilation is provided via free façade ventilation and ceiling fans to increase thermal comfort.
The sustainability of the project lies in preserving the existing building, reducing material consumption, and having a shorter construction time compared to a new building. The newly created green façade facing the inner courtyard is integrated into the first-floor zone and the lobbies to support the sustainable concept. The roof surfaces are greened to improve the microclimate and contribute to biodiversity.
These comprehensive measures make the project a pioneer in maximizing building rights in inner-city areas and in the ecological and economic revitalization of department store structures.
