The former Deutsche Bank site in Frankfurt, which has been inaccessible to the public for over 45 years, will be redeveloped into a four-tower complex, with UNStudio at the helm of the design. The Dutch architectural practice was selected as the winner for the urban strategy of the site last year and has now heightened their victory by being selected as the winner of the architectural competition for the site's redevelopment. 

The development rendered into the skyline, image via UNStudio

The four towers and a multi-storey plinth will house residential, office, hospitality, and retail programs. Approximately 3,000 people are expected to work in the new neighbourhood while 1,000 will call it home. "The project will play a pioneering role in the transformation of Frankfurt's banking district into a mixed-use quarter," said Mike Josef, City Councillor. "With the new layout of the site and a greater mix of programs, a new space with a publicly accessible roof area and affordable living space will be created. The centrally located site, which has for a long time been closed, will now be open to the public. This will become a lively neighbourhood, not only for working but also for living."

The tallest tower will come to 228 metres, image via UNStudio

Urban development experts Groß & Partner Grundstücksentwicklungsgesellschaft mbH joined city representatives and architects in comprising the eight-member jury. The competition brief had specifically asked participants to create a mixed-use, urban city quarter composed of four towers. UNStudio's proposal sees the towers climb to various heights, the tallest of which would spread 228 metres over 59 floors.

Current site conditions, image via Groß & Partner

Many of Germany's tallest buildings are located in Frankfurt, including the tallest in the country, the 259-metre Commerzbank Tower. These glass-sheathed skyscrapers certainly wouldn't look out of place in the dense skyscraper cluster. Construction is expected to commence later this year with the first tower scheduled for opening in 2021.

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