Spinnerei Hof: New development opportunity

Together with Johannes Wenzel and ASP Architekten, Koeber Landschaftsarchitektur has won the competition on the old spinning mill site in Hof. The project aims to create a new residential quarter in the center of Hof. Read all about the project here.

The city of Hof struggled for a long time before launching an urban planning competition. The site of an old spinning mill in the middle of the city lay fallow for even longer. There was a lot of controversy about the site in Schützenstraße. Now, however, the competition has brought fresh ideas. The winning team’s design and several other concepts are on public display. Although the winners were chosen in November 2020, the exhibition will not take place until 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The urban development of the city of Hof is rich in attempts. Several times, investors wanted to build something in Hof. It was not uncommon for expressions of interest to be rejected by the administration or council. Either the project did not fit in with the current concept. Or it became clear in the course of the planning and building law review that the proposed project could not be implemented. The city council repeatedly asked for this approach to be changed. It did so in the fall of 2019. It took proactive action. The city of Hof launched an urban planning competition to redesign the site of the old spinning mill. Now the opportunity to transform the site on Schützenstrasse into a new residential quarter is approaching.

Urban development concept

Building on the history of the site, the new design envisages three different areas: Firstly, a dense urban core that occupies the dimensions of the former factory site. Secondly, a public water area in the south of the site. And thirdly, the area of the villas in the north of the site. They will therefore be selectively redensified. However, the qualities of the existing trees will be retained. This idea transports the history of the site into the present. It remains tangible and forms the basis for a new piece of the city in Hof. This also gives rise to a variety of different forms of housing and commercial space. With functions such as firstly production, secondly services and thirdly housing and leisure, a socially and ecologically integrated new neighborhood is being created. The density of the development creates spatial proximity, but with low sealing. At the same time, there is also a variety of meeting places. The public open space contributes to this quality. Its effect then radiates into the nearby city center.

Nine architectural firms from all over Germany submitted designs for the competition. The jury shortlisted three of them. Representatives of the site owner were also among the jury members. This was important to the city of Hof in order to increase the chances of the project being realized. The winners of the competition were ASP Architekten from Stuttgart together with Johannes Wenzel from Coburg and Koeber Landschaftsarchitektur from Stuttgart. The team’s design impressed with its high identification value. It also promises a good quality of living, plenty of open spaces and a low potential for conflict with the neighboring fire department. According to the competition jury, this is a tailor-made approach for the old spinning mill.

Interested in other current competition results? Following the closure of a department store, Rendsburg’s Altstädter Markt has lost its vitality and attractiveness. The open space planning competition “Redesign of Altstädter Markt in Rendsburg“ aims to remedy this situation and revitalize the heart of the northern German town.