From shopping center to part of the city, to a neighborhood. The city center of Leverkusen-Wiesdorf was designed as a self-contained system: Center A, Center B, Center C; every use, every space, every volume was planned and predetermined. Over the years, times, the city, the people, and their needs have changed — and spaces that no longer fit have been abandoned.

Leverkusen seizes the opportunity to transform a worn-out, immobile machine into a livable neighborhood with its own identity. The functioning existing structures — medical center, savings bank, residential high-rise — form the framework and, together with the new buildings, create a new district.
What’s new is the rediscovery of public space: streets, paths, and squares are no longer merely conduits for retail activity but places for encounters and appropriation by people who live there, work there, or are just passing through.
Also new: the residents. We propose a neighborhood that opens up to the outside and integrates into the urban space. It does not shut itself off but rather animates and utilizes public spaces and invites others in. The result is a community open to change, diversity, and varied lifestyles.

4 Places – Identity, Orientation, and Neighborhood Hubs

The arrangement of the buildings creates four new identity-defining places for neighborhood interaction. The “Joint Plaza” is the point of arrival and acts as a filter. It guides visitors and strollers through the pedestrian zone to Friedrich-Ebert-Platz, while others may head to the church, the bank, or into the new neighborhood. The “Neighborhood Plaza” is the heart of the new quarter. As a central place for residents, it also welcomes people from Leverkusen and beyond. On the “Neighborhood Carpet,” one can play, relax in green surroundings, host events, or simply watch. The “Sports Terraces” creatively transform the unattractive garage ramp into a topographical sports park — less green, more activity. The “Green Oasis” is quiet and lush. As the largest continuous green space in the district, it improves the microclimate and lifts the mood.

Ground Floor Interface

The privacy of living spaces from the public exterior is defined by distance: vertically with a 50 cm elevation, and horizontally with terraces and steps in front. A layer of green facades adds another filter. Private living uses and enlivens the outdoor space without being disturbed or disturbing others. At the neighborhood plaza, there is no height difference between ground level and the plaza, allowing flexible use of these spaces thanks to the higher floor-to-ceiling height. We propose communal facilities here; however, the flexibility also allows for commercial uses, residential purposes, or hybrids such as live-work studios.

Residential Buildings

The buildings are defined by a courtyard and two gaps, creating four distinct addresses and daylight-filled open circulation areas. The open-air galleries in the gaps encourage encounters and a sense of community without infringing on residents’ privacy. No one has to pass by a stranger’s apartment. The apartments face outward toward the city and have dual orientations. Surrounding each unit is a band of balconies that serve as private outdoor spaces and, with ground-level planting, provide shade, privacy, and improved microclimate. Roofs are intensively greened and used for solar panels as well as communal gardens and terraces. Based on the existing structural grid, we propose modular 2- to 5-room apartments that can be flexibly combined within the buildings. The apartment mix can be easily adapted to changing needs.

Construction / Sustainability

All new buildings are skeleton structures based on the existing grid (7.5m x 8.75m), built using reinforced concrete columns, beams, and partially wall-like girders. Due to material optimization during the original construction of City C, the existing structure has little load-bearing reserve. To avoid costly reinforcements in the basement and foundation, a simple and especially lightweight construction is proposed. Since floor slabs make up a large part of the building’s weight, they will be built as cross-laminated timber slabs. The concrete skeleton combined with lightweight timber ceilings ensures compatibility with the existing structure. External walls are planned as lightweight, highly insulating wood stud constructions, with minimal thickness and material use. The construction’s efficiency and high proportion of renewable materials result in a low carbon footprint. The high level of prefabrication also simplifies logistics on this multi-level basement site, offering predictable and low construction times and costs.

Energy / Sustainability

The energy concept aims to supply the buildings sustainably and comfortably with limited technology and resources.

Passive Climate Control

Balconies in front of facades save energy through passive climate regulation. In winter, when the sun is low, solar gain is allowed through, while in summer, the balconies provide shade. Green roofs with rainwater retention and green facades further improve the microclimate — shading in summer and allowing sun in winter.

Active Climate Control

To minimize heat loss, surface heating is used. Waste heat from internal bathrooms is recovered using simple exhaust air heat pumps powered by electricity from rooftop solar panels.

Landscape

Water Feature – Gateway, Beginning, and Cool Stopover
A broad water surface welcomes those arriving from Leverkusen Mitte Station and the western shopping/urban areas via Friedrich-Ebert-Platz. An integrated fountain field attracts children and serves as a public gathering point and connector to Wiesdorfer Platz, the station, and City C.

Neighborhood Center – Community Hub, Green Oasis, Playground

Clearly legible through urban layout, the center is highlighted by reddish granite paving, resembling a carpet. Raised beds (60 cm) allow for larger shrubs and trees, supported by planting pits that extend into the underground garage level. Their pebble-shaped forms divide the space in a flowing, small-scale manner. Small planting containers distributed throughout the neighborhood are especially concentrated here, enhancing the playful and informal feel. A large sand play area provides a destination for families. Above all, a supporting pergola structure spans the space — serving both as a recognizable spatial anchor and a neighborhood meeting point amidst larger building volumes. The structure supports climbing plants that create a leafy canopy for shade and integrate various play and exercise elements.

Sports Terraces – Fitness Hub and Garage Cover

The unattractive garage ramp on Friedrich-Ebert-Straße is turned into a topographical feature. It becomes the basis for stepped terraces offering various fitness activities for all age groups on upper levels and table tennis on the lower level. The terraces are not only a sports venue but also provide a great view of Christuskirche on Dönhoffstraße.

Qualities – Rich in Greenery, Sustainable, Human-Scale
Given the repositioning of City C, a clear identity is vital to anchor the new place in Leverkusen's consciousness. A key feature is the extensive greenery, made possible through raised beds extending into the underground garage level, playful plant containers, and extensive facade greening — proposed even for the conceptual phase. All surfaces are made of reusable, sustainably sourced gray-mottled granite pavers and are accessible at four barrier-free points. The carefully scaled and elevated design encourages people to make the space their own and connects to the western Friedrich-Ebert-Straße city center.

Climate Resilience

Since the entire site sits atop a basement structure, all rainwater must be retained on-site. Roofs are designed for water retention, and the entire deck over the garage is covered with permeable surfaces and retention layers. Stored water irrigates plantings and cools the area through evaporation. In addition to (complex) tree planting, simple structural pergolas provide shade through green cover.