Munich’s Future Takes Shape: Drone Captures City’s Mega Construction Boom
Munich, August 22, 2026 – Munich is a city in constant motion, and nowhere is this more evident than in its numerous large-scale construction projects. A local photographer, Axel Häsler, has utilized a drone to capture breathtaking aerial views of eight of the city’s most significant building sites, offering a unique perspective on the urban transformation underway.
From the heart of the city to its expanding outskirts, these projects are set to redefine Munich’s infrastructure, cultural landscape, and residential offerings for decades to come. The ongoing works highlight significant investments in public transport, housing, healthcare, and cultural institutions.
1. Marienhof: The Heart of the 2nd S-Bahn Main Line
Behind the New Town Hall, the Marienhof construction site is a colossal undertaking for the 2nd S-Bahn main line. This central piece of infrastructure will be an approximately eleven-kilometer-long new main line between Laim and Leuchtenbergring. The core of the project is a seven-kilometer tunnel connecting the main station and Ostbahnhof. The Marienhof site, where a new underground station is being built at a depth of around 40 meters, features an excavation pit the size of a football field (100 x 55 meters). The project requires the removal of 185,000 cubic meters of earth and an additional 15,000 cubic meters of concrete. The platform length will be a standard 210 meters. The first tunnel boring machine for the project was named “Donna Maria” through an online public vote.
2. Neue Pinakothek: A Cultural Landmark Undergoing Extensive Renovation
The Neue Pinakothek, a renowned art museum, is undergoing a comprehensive renovation of approximately 30,000 square meters to make it fit for the future. Originally slated for completion in 2025, the reopening is now anticipated in four years. The extensive work includes repairing leaky roofs, upgrading the entire technical infrastructure, improving energy efficiency, enhancing fire protection, and ensuring accessibility – all while adhering to strict monument preservation guidelines. The Bavarian State Parliament has approved 305 million Euros for the entire project, ensuring that masterpieces by van Gogh, Monet, and others will soon return to their home.
3. Werksviertel: A Dynamic New Urban Quarter Continues to Grow
The Werksviertel, one of Munich’s most exciting new development areas, continues its expansion. Currently, the final component of the iCampus project is under construction on a 4,500 square meter plot at the corner of Ampfingerstraße and Grafinger Straße. This phase includes two L-shaped hotel buildings and a freestanding office pavilion. The two hotels, spanning approximately 13,300 square meters, will house a design hotel and another Premier Inn hotel, with all buildings expected to open by 2028. Additionally, an office building with around 2,700 square meters of space is set for completion within a year.
4. Bayernkaserne: Neufreimann – A Brand New City District
On the former site of the Bayernkaserne in Freimann, a vast new urban district named Neufreimann is taking shape across approximately 60 hectares. This ambitious project aims to create a completely new district for around 15,000 people by the early to mid-2030s. It will feature approximately 5,500 apartments, schools, daycare centers, sports facilities, commercial spaces, a senior and service center, and a fire station. The planned green spaces will cover a quarter of the total area, equivalent to about 84 football fields.
5. Trudering: Major Housing Development in Eastern Munich
The housing project on Truderinger Straße, situated between Berg am Laim and Trudering, spans approximately 8.3 hectares. This development will provide around 820 apartments, three daycare centers, and several shops. Developed by the Büschl Group, which is also planning two mega-high-rises at Friedenheimer Brücke, the apartments have been acquired by Münchner Wohnen, with handover expected in 2027. Another section of the construction site includes 239 apartments and a 46-meter-high residential tower. A portion of this section, known as “Truderinger Morgen,” is being marketed as upscale condominiums through KWAG, with completion anticipated next year.
6. Bogenhausen: A Landmark Headquarters for Bayerische Versorgungskammer
The new headquarters for the Bayerische Versorgungskammer at Richard-Strauss-Straße 76 in Bogenhausen is being designed by renowned David Chipperfield Architects and Loidl Landschaftsarchitekten. This two-hectare site will feature two point high-rises (compact, square floor plans) of 16 and 25 stories, along with a long slab high-rise of 13 stories, all constructed using a wood-hybrid method. While the construction site is currently sealed off, the exciting area will be publicly accessible upon completion. Notably, the top floor of the tallest tower will be open to the public. The planned completion date is 2028.
7. Betriebshof Westend: Transforming a Bus Depot into a Vibrant Quarter
The former MVG bus depot on Zschokke-/Westendstraße in Laim is being transformed into a new urban quarter with over 1,050 apartments. The city’s plans include cooperative, subsidized, and privately financed rental housing, four daycare facilities, a five-stream primary school, an open facility for children and young people, and a senior and service center. Approximately 1.5 of the total 9.5-hectare area will be greened. The first construction phase, comprising 212 MVG company apartments, is expected to be completed by the end of 2028, with the remaining 420 MVG apartments following in 2032.
8. Klinikum Großhadern: A Multi-Billion Euro Healthcare Hub
The LMU Klinikum Großhadern is undergoing a massive expansion and modernization. In June, the first construction phase, covering 69,000 square meters and accommodating 600 beds, was approved. According to the Ministry for Housing, Construction, and Transport, this phase will house the Heart-Lung-Vascular Center (HLG), an Oncological Center (ONKO), and a Diagnostikum. The estimated costs for this phase alone amount to approximately 2.2 billion Euros. Further construction phases are planned for the coming decades, with the entire new complex expected to be completed by the mid-2050s.
These projects underscore Munich’s commitment to sustainable urban development, addressing the needs of its growing population while enhancing its status as a leading European city.
Source: tz.de
