REME site is taking shape

The search for an investor for the first section of the REME site, a former military and industrial location, began in May this year. The task was to realise a mixed urban residential quarter meeting high urban planning and architectural quality requirements in line with social, environmental and economic standards. A panel of specialists and representatives from all political parties represented on the city council voted by a clear majority in favour of the concept submitted by the project team from Instone Real Estate Development GmbH.

Predominantly car-free with an urban open space concept and “green” neighbourhood spaces are characteristic features of the winning design for the southern zone of the 42,000 m² Lot 2 on the REME site. All in all, some 300 residential units featuring a broad range of housing types make the site an interesting proposition for all user groups. As an urban landmark and a reminder of the military utilization of the site, the 190-metre-long tank workshop, which is listed as a historic building, is to retain the steel skeleton structure typical of the period when it was erected. Instone’s concept features a mix of retail, services and restaurants for this building, but does not include residential units.

“It is precisely the development of inner-city brownfields like the REME site that gives key momentum to the qualitative further development of Mönchengladbach,” Lord Mayor Hans Wilhelm Reiners commented. Not only that: “We are breathing new life into these locations for our citizens.”

A total of six teams comprising renowned project developers, architects and landscape planners submitted concepts under the call for tenders. “That is a very good response and shows that Mönchengladbach’s urban planning projects strike a chord with investors,” Dr Ulrich Schückhaus, Chairman of the Board of EWMG, underscored.

The city and EWMG joined forces to recommend the concept developed by Instone Real Estate Development GmbH (together with the architects planning consortium ASTOC Architects and Planners GmbH and Lorber Paul Architekten GmbH as well as RMPLandschaftsarchitekten).

The specialists and politicians were particularly impressed by the high-quality of the documentation together with the clear structures, coupled with innovative elements such as neighbourhood gardens and a children’s play workshop.

“With Instone Real Estate Development GmbH we have found a partner for the high-quality development of the REME site – in urban planning, architectural and environmental terms,” City Director and Technical City Councillor Dr Gregor Bonin said. Based on the winning concept, the city and the investor will now jointly qualify the draft further and initiate the urban land use planning process.

Completion of this process and the dismantling of existing structures is expected in 2020. The investor then plans to develop the site and prepare the building plots in 2021.