Hafendreieck Mannheim
Master’s thesis Summer 2025

Published by the Department of Design and Urban Planning (Prof. Torsten Becker)

The master’s thesis focuses on developing an urban strategy and a detailed design for the HafenTriangle in Mannheim. The area, currently dominated by transportation infrastructure and port uses, is to be transformed into an urban quarter, better connecting Mannheim’s city center to the Rhine. Existing traffic infrastructures cutting through the site are to be overcome, integrated, or partially removed.

By incorporating the historic building stock, a complex program is to be developed, including universities, research facilities, creative workplaces, leisure, sports, retail, gastronomy, accommodation, cultural uses, housing, and attractive public spaces. The site’s dynamic urban topography offers a wide variety of spatial situations, enabling a strong and expressive urban composition.

The HafenTriangle in Mannheim, a 55-hectare site on the Rhine, remains uninviting despite its central location. Historically shaped by industry, the area today is characterized by impermeable surfaces, vacancies, and limited accessibility. The goal is to transform this fragmented site into a climate-resilient district that connects landscape, water, city, and history.

A large-scale perspective forms the basis of the strategy, as the HafenTriangle is part of a broader network including the Rhine meadows, Neckar meadows, and Reißinsel. This led to the concept of the Hafenlandschaft – a landscape park that links and extends existing green spaces. This expansive green backbone improves the microclimate, strengthens fresh air supply, promotes biodiversity, and has effects far beyond the planning area.

The landscape park serves as the heart of the design and integrates programmatic spaces: the Nature area features wildflower meadows, biotopes, and biodiversity zones; the Water area opens the riverbank with piers, steps, and swimming access, supported by a three-stage water treatment system to ensure long-term quality and safe river bathing; and the Neighborhood area creates thematic spaces for community, culture, knowledge, movement, and creativity, fostering social diversity and innovation.

Industrial monuments are preserved, while new landmarks such as a viewing tower and market hall provide accents. Diverse housing typologies – from loft apartments in former warehouses to family blocks – ensure a mixed community. Complemented by sustainable mobility and rainwater management, the HafenTriangle is set to gradually evolve into a climate-adapted urban space from 2030 onward, offering Mannheim a new quality of life.

Awarded the departmental prize for the best Master's thesis

Overview