Munich-North: 650 New Apartments to Alleviate Housing Shortage
Munich, January 9 – The northern Munich district of Am Hart is set to see a significant development with the construction of approximately 650 new apartments in the area of Neuherbergstraße and Rockefellerstraße. This initiative, managed by Bima (Bundesanstalt für Immobilienaufgaben – Federal Agency for Real Estate Tasks), aims to provide affordable housing primarily for federal employees, such as federal police officers and soldiers, and their families.
History of the “Ami-Siedlung”
The area, often referred to as Munich’s second “Ami-Siedlung” (American settlement), was originally built in the 1950s to house US military personnel and their families, adjacent to the former Warner Barracks (now Ernst-von-Bergmann-Kaserne). Unlike the Perlacher Forst settlement, the Americans left this site in 1968, and the housing complex reverted to the Federal Republic. Since 2005, it has been managed by Bima.
Addressing Munich’s Housing Crisis
The decision to intensify development in this area dates back to 1992, with comprehensive renovations ongoing since the 1990s. Following the Berlin Housing Summit in 2018, Bima decided to retain its Munich housing stock and construct new apartment blocks itself. A Bima spokesperson stated, “Should there be no demand for an apartment within the framework of federal housing welfare, it will be offered on the open market under the same conditions.” This strategy underscores the project’s dual objective: supporting federal personnel and contributing to the broader housing market relief.
Award-Winning Design for a Future-Oriented Quarter
An architectural competition for the new quarter’s design has concluded, with the winning proposal submitted by Munich-based Bogevischs Buero Architektur und Stadtplanung GmbH in collaboration with Grabner Huber Lipp Landschaftsarchitekten und Stadtplaner from Freising. Bima describes the winning design as a “future-oriented quarter” that harmonizes with existing structures and boasts a clear, well-conceived urban layout. The jury emphasized high living quality, environmental protection, and climate considerations in their evaluation.
Bogevischs Buero highlighted the unique character of the existing quarter, noting that despite its car-friendly urban planning and repetitive housing, it has evolved into a “wonderful green quarter” over the years. The design aims to preserve this “genius loci” by integrating a central, continuous green corridor that connects the quarter and creates inviting communal spaces. A dedicated town square is envisioned as the vibrant heart of the settlement. The plan also incorporates a diverse mix of apartment types to cater to singles and families alike, ensuring a “successful spatial order that gives the entire quarter an inviting and clear atmosphere,” according to the jury.
Modular Construction and Next Steps
To expedite construction, Bima will employ modular and serial building methods, a strategy successfully implemented in the Perlacher Forst settlement. Doris Schönberger-Rau, Head of Housing Development at Bima, emphasized, “The winning design by Bogevischs Buero and Grabner Huber Lipp creates a sustainable quarter that respectfully integrates existing structures and provides new, affordable, and modern living space for Munich. We look forward to implementing the quarter’s development step by step, thereby actively relieving the housing market.” The next phases involve securing building rights, followed by intensive detailed planning and the approval process.
Public Exhibition and Information Event
The submitted competition concepts will be publicly displayed from Thursday, January 22, to Wednesday, January 28, at the Kulturhaus Milbertshofen (Curt-Mezger-Platz 1), daily from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM. On Thursday, January 29, 2026, project managers and planners will explain the key aspects of the winning design at the same venue, from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM.
Source: abendzeitung-muenchen.de
