MVRDV + morePlatz to design new Hafenspitze ensemble in Mainz, Germany

MVRDV + morePlatz recently won the Hafenspitze competition to design a new landmark office tower development at the Port of Mainz in Germany, an area that is transitioning from being an industrial town to an urban culture focal point.

Construction of the two office buildings are currently scheduled for fall 2015. The Hafenspitze competition designs will be exhibited at Zollhafen Mainz Weinlager, Taunusstraße 59-61 until Oct. 26, 2014.

Find out more about the project below.

"Just like many European harbour areas, Mainz’ Zollhafen is undergoing a  transformation from industrial to city quarter. Located northeast of Mainz’ Neustadt on the west bank of the river Rhine, the former shipping container harbour will make way for an urban mix of living, working and leisure facilities in the coming years; one of the city’s most important regenerations projects of the last decades."  

"Situated at the far northern end of the harbour basin, “Hafenspitze” will be realised as the pioneer project of this large scale transformation overlooking the new devel- opment around the water. The winning design proposed to adjust the masterplan resulting in two distinct volumes which form an ensemble of 12.000 m2 with a pub- lic plaza at its centre. An eleven-storey high-rise office tower creates a landmark at the waterfront, while an elongated block over five storeys with a roof garden closes the plaza at the street side.

Both buildings feature a similar façade concept and a tapered plinth for access and views to the street and the harbour, yet distinguish themselves through their spe- cific materialisation and appearance. The high-rise tower is designed with an open and transparent character with fully glazed facades on its four sides and angled   windows for maximum views. The floors are visually separated by dark horizontal bands clad in slate shingles which refer to the local architectural roof style. The lower block is wrapped in a ‘rough skin’ of folded, prefab concrete panels creating a 3D visual effect which refer to the local Rustika stones."

"MVRDV and morePlatz won the competition from a total of seven design teams in- cluding Munich based offices Auer + Weber and yes architecture, and Gewers Pu- dewill from Berlin. MVRDV collaborated with morePlatz as local architect, a small Rotterdam and Munich based office founded by Caro Baumann and Johannes Schele who worked with MVRDV before setting up his own office. For “Hafenspitze”, MVRDV and morePlatz collaborated with technical advisor Buro Happold."

All images courtesy of MVRDV.