BREMEN ÜBERSEEINSEL
Bremen, Germany | 42 ha | 2019
Between the Weser River and the Europahafen, the Überseeinsel development has been taking shape since Kellogg’s departure, transforming a site of approximately 42 hectares into a water-oriented urban district that brings together the river and harbor basin, living and working, as well as history and the future. The project is grounded in an appreciation of the richness of the existing site and its emotional significance for the local community. Following the “as found” approach of Alison and Peter Smithson, the aim is less to build an entirely new district than to continue developing an industrial heritage under changing conditions—shifting lifestyles, aspirations, mobility patterns, and an increasing responsibility for climate action. Structurally, Überseeinsel is defined by the linear edge of the Europahafen, with its monumental warehouse buildings, and by the diverse Weser waterfront, articulated by large industrial structures. A railway line with a characteristic curve forms the infrastructural backbone between these two edges. The urban framework draws on these existing traces to organize circulation and shape the individual neighborhoods, connecting both waterfronts through green corridors that extend the site’s naturally evolved wilderness. As much of the existing building stock as possible will be preserved and repurposed. The Kellogg silo, rice hall, and production buildings will become defining landmarks for new public-facing uses, production facilities, and housing. Typologically, the neighborhoods derive their distinctive character from Bremen’s urban scale, introducing finer-grained development, mixed uses, and hybrid building forms. These elements reference the city’s architectural heritage, including a reinterpretation of the traditional “Bremer Haus,” for example as a stacked terraced house. The master plan was developed through an extensive participatory process involving the public, local businesses, and political stakeholders. The existing building stock will be gradually revitalized, meanwhile uses consolidated, and the coexistence of commercial activities and new forms of housing conceptually prepared.
Masterplan and District Planning – Total site area: approx. 42 ha
Award: polis AWARD 2024 – Urban Land Recycling (1st Prize)
ARCHITECTURE: SMAQ Architektur und Stadt GmbH | CONSTRUCTOR: Freie Hansestadt Bremen, Überseeinsel GmbH
