Maximilianstrasse Nuremberg

Urban and Open Space Design Competition
Neighbourhood Development Maximilianstrasse, Nuremberg
2025, 2nd Prize

Sponsors: N-ERGIE Immobilien GmbH, Nuremberg
wbg Nürnberg GmbH Immobilienunternehmen, Nuremberg

Landscape Architecture: Liebald+Aufermann, Munich
Model: Maquette, Berlin

Team: Armin Behles, Jasper Jochimsen, Laura Herndl, Simon Stahnke

MAX’N’MORITZ

A row of large buildings frames a new square at the prominent junction of Fürther and Maximilianstrasse, with the Sparkasse pavilion at its centre and a high-rise acting as a point de vue. The compact development minimises land sealing and, together with the extensions of the Criminal Justice Centre, encloses a generous, noise-protected park. Uses with strong public presence at ground level generate an urban atmosphere – creating no rear sides.

Along the streets and surrounding the bus station, the building mass is concentrated in a row of buildings arranged in an N-shape on plan. To the side away from the street, a maximally-sized green space emerges. The former workshop building serves as a hub and sets the scale for the two adjacent new buildings. Two taller markers, Max and Moritz, formally bookend the chain of buildings. Like the workshop building, the new houses have very deep, efficient plans. With their differentiated heights and number of storeys, they reference the historic, Gründerzeit-style architecture, as well as the planned extensions of the Criminal Justice Centre, but also provide distinct urban accents via the two taller markers. Fürther Strasse becomes a boulevard, and the bus station a metropolitan square. Its focal point is the former Sparkasse building, re-purposed as a covered market hall.

Approaching from the city centre, the smaller of the two high points marks the beginning of the new development. Positioned along the historical building line, it forms a spatial hinge with the extension to the Criminal Justice Centre, inviting pedestrians and cyclists to veer off into the new Moritzpark. With eight full storeys for residential and commercial uses plus a low attic storey for tenants’ storage, the building remains just below the high-rise threshold.

A gateway building offers another access point to the park and spatially frames the underground car park ramp. Residential floors are positioned above the commercial units at ground level. These are accessed via two stairwells, both reached from the gateway. Facing Fürther Strasse, the top floor features a setback, referencing the historic eaves heights.

The former workshop building will be freed of its extensions and converted for residential and commercial use. On the upper floors facing Fürther Strasse, duplex apartments dominate, while large family flats look out over the new Maxplatz. Storage rooms and bicycle parking are situated in the deeper, darker zone adjoining the neighbouring terraced house. The existing goods lift will be adapted for transporting bicycles to the upper floors and to the central underground bike garage. A new attic storey will provide a large common room for residents and access to a roof garden beneath a solar pergola.

The terraced house contains a nursery on the lower floors with flats above, accessed via an open gallery. A central kink in the building mediates between the alignments of the trapezoidal plot. The projecting terraces continue the park up through the building vertically.

The second high point replaces the former VAG residential building. Its removal allows for a significant increase in residential provision. Unlike its predecessor, the new tower is aligned parallel to the northern site boundary, thus giving spatial definition to the square and marking the head of the cycle street axis. The new building makes use of ten full storeys and a low attic for residents’ storage, taking advantage of the Bavarian guidelines for high-rise buildings up to 30 metres in height. Two scissor staircases are accessed via required corridors.

The orientation of the buildings offers the best possible noise protection for the park from the streetscape. Many flats are also partially oriented towards the park. Where necessary, front-facing sound-attenuating conservatories or box windows are provided, ensuring that natural ventilation is possible even at night.

All buildings are accessed from Fürther Straße or the new Maxplatz but also have entrances to Moritzpark. The two-storey underground car park is accessed from Fürther Straße via a ramp beneath the gateway building.