task:
Development of a new residential quarter on construction site 5 of the Spinelli conversion area in Mannheim
client:
MWS Project Development Company Limited
procedere type:
Open investor competition 2026, 1st prize
group of applicants:
Bonava Deutschland GmbH | netzwerkarchitekten, Darmstadt | foundation 5 + landschaftsarchitekten bdla, Kassel
technical planner:
Tragraum, Nürnberg (structural engineering)
size:
6.700qm BGF
team:
Yaroslava Mykhniuk
visualizations:
luxfeld digital art, Darmstadt |
The new buildings in construction area 5 form a compact neighbourhood with a cluster-shaped, three-storey structure, which, thanks to a variety of innovative living concepts and identity-defining architecture, provides the basis for a lively district. The southern edge facing Anna-Sammet-Straße takes up the urban alignment with two buildings featuring a raised ground floor, enabling linear passage in a north-south direction. Staggered cubes are positioned across the construction site, generating a spatial sequence of alternating neighbourhood areas for communal and private use. This creates entrance courtyards with covered bicycle parking spaces that are assigned to the neighbourhood development. An internal path system connects the cluster structure with the surrounding area. Two of the cubes are connected by a green, vertical gallery. This is where the access functions are bundled with communicative lounge areas for the house community. The galleries span the north-south direction and allow residents to connect with all directions and the adjacent, alternating courtyards.
Structural flexibility:
The building structure allows for great spatial diversity thanks to a clear grid of columns, walls and shafts. This makes it possible to create flats of different sizes – from subsidised housing to intergenerational and communal models. For example, a floor plan can accommodate either two three-room flats or a shared flat with four apartments.
Community and privacy:
The outdoor facilities and vertical, green galleries promote both neighbourliness and community spirit. They offer barrier-free access, communication spaces and private outdoor areas. In addition, communal areas provide space for parties, yoga or neighbourhood childcare.
Universal and identical rooms:
Load-bearing walls with integrated shafts alternate with support axes to create flexible floor plans. Open-plan living, dining and kitchen areas can be divided up, and private areas can be combined individually. This creates classic 1–5 room flats as well as shared cluster flats, for example for single parents.
Space efficiency and adaptability:
The floor plan design combines high quality of living with efficient use of space, generous daylight and reduced space consumption. The vertical gallery serves as an ‘outdoor living room’. Thanks to the modular construction and acoustic decoupling, adjustments between neighbouring flats are also possible in the long term, which further strengthens community-oriented forms of living.
The new buildings in construction area 5 form a compact neighbourhood with a cluster-shaped, three-storey structure, which, thanks to a variety of innovative living concepts and identity-defining architecture, provides the basis for a lively district. The southern edge facing Anna-Sammet-Straße takes up the urban alignment with two buildings featuring a raised ground floor, enabling linear passage in a north-south direction. Staggered cubes are positioned across the construction site, generating a spatial sequence of alternating neighbourhood areas for communal and private use. This creates entrance courtyards with covered bicycle parking spaces that are assigned to the neighbourhood development. An internal path system connects the cluster structure with the surrounding area. Two of the cubes are connected by a green, vertical gallery. This is where the access functions are bundled with communicative lounge areas for the house community. The galleries span the north-south direction and allow residents to connect with all directions and the adjacent, alternating courtyards.
Structural flexibility:
The building structure allows for great spatial diversity thanks to a clear grid of columns, walls and shafts. This makes it possible to create flats of different sizes – from subsidised housing to intergenerational and communal models. For example, a floor plan can accommodate either two three-room flats or a shared flat with four apartments.
Community and privacy:
The outdoor facilities and vertical, green galleries promote both neighbourliness and community spirit. They offer barrier-free access, communication spaces and private outdoor areas. In addition, communal areas provide space for parties, yoga or neighbourhood childcare.
Universal and identical rooms:
Load-bearing walls with integrated shafts alternate with support axes to create flexible floor plans. Open-plan living, dining and kitchen areas can be divided up, and private areas can be combined individually. This creates classic 1–5 room flats as well as shared cluster flats, for example for single parents.
Space efficiency and adaptability:
The floor plan design combines high quality of living with efficient use of space, generous daylight and reduced space consumption. The vertical gallery serves as an ‘outdoor living room’. Thanks to the modular construction and acoustic decoupling, adjustments between neighbouring flats are also possible in the long term, which further strengthens community-oriented forms of living.
