The transformation of Frankfurt’s historic city centre into a vibrant mixed-used quarter scooped the Mipim award for best urban regeneration project in Cannes on Thursday evening, winning out over contenders from China and Taiwan.
The DomRömer Project encompasses 36 buildings developed using Frankfurt's medieval city layout and replacing the Technisches Rathaus building complex from the 1970s. Fifteen of these buildings are historic reconstructions, while international architectural tenders were launched for 21 buildings.
The resulting ensemble comprises new squares, alleys and pathways in a mixed-use quarter combining living, working, culture and leisure functions.
The DomRömer Project, developed by DomRömer GmbH, was one of five German projects contending for a Mipim prize. France submitted the most projects (six), with Germany and China entering five each, four coming from the UK and three each from Spain and the Netherlands. The 12 Mipim award winners were selected from 45 finalist projects by an international jury headed by Meka Brunel, CEO of Gecina.
The Laborde building in Paris developed by ACM won the award for best business and office development. The property serves as the new headquarters of Gide Loyrette Nouel and involved linking a redeveloped historic building with a modern asset via a pavilion designed as a venue to hold events and exchange ideas.
The Greenwich Peninsula Low Carbon Energy Centre in London was voted best industrial and logistics development while the award for best mixed-use development went to The Student Hotel Florence Lavagnini in Florence.
Hirakata T-Site in the Japanese city Hirakata won the award for best shopping centre. This innovative development includes a bookstore holding a vast collection of
over 150,000 titles which serves as a ‘community living room’.
In the healthcare category, French project Polyclinique Reims-Bezannes developed by Icade took the top prize while Club Med Cefalù in Italy was voted best hotel and tourism resort. The award for best refurbished building went to Kosmo in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France while Woodie Hamburg in Germany won out in the residential category.
In the Futura category, the top awards went to Mille Arbres in Paris (Best Futura Project) and Future Park in Yorkshire, UK (Best Futura Mega Project).
For the latest urban trends read the special report 'Urban Agenda' in the March edition of PropertyEU Magazine (subscriber only)
