herzog & de meuron reveals mixed use masterplan for munich's paketposthalle area

herzog & de meuron has unveiled the masterplan for the 87,000 sqm paketposthalle (parcel post hall) area in munich, germany. commissioned to develop an urban study outlining a holistic concept that would incorporate landscape, infrastructure and housing, the basel-based firm proposes to transform the historically listed 19,000 sqm landmark building from the 1960s into an urban, inner-city quarter with a mix of housing, business premises and spaces for social and cultural activities.

all images courtesy of herzog & de meuron

unveiled to the public on 26 july 2019, the new masterplan by herzog & de meuron envisages placing two towers of around 155m high, with a geometric form derived from the sweeping curve of the paketposthalle roof, thereby creating a specific point of reference within the city. a district of six-story courtyard buildings will be placed around the central hall to offer space for housing and commercial use, contrasting the scale of the hall and towers while forming a dense, flexible urban context. at the moment, a development plan setting out the legal framework is being devised for the new quarter, while the paketposthalle will continue to be used as a postal facility until around 2023. 

‘the paketposthalle is an extraordinary example of engineering, which will be open to guests and the residents of munich in its new function as a place of culture and encounter,’ notes jacques herzog, founding partner at herzog & de meuron. ‘it will become the nucleus of a new, dense and mixed neighbourhood like the one in the centre of the city.’

project info:

name: paketposthalle

architect: herzog & de meuron

location: munich, germany