From the promotion of new construction and creative conversion of existing buildings to renaturation, networked micro-mobility and intelligent parking management: Düsseldorf's urban development is extremely diverse.

On the one hand, a new, modern opera house and, on the other, a comprehensive economic stimulus package for affordable housing: the two major projects highlighted by Düsseldorf's Lord Mayor, Dr Stephan Keller, in his presentation at the leading international real estate trade fair, Expo Real, in October 2024, appear at first glance to be polar opposites. But 'cities also thrive when they are thought of holistically. And in this context, cultural buildings are just as important as residential buildings. In this respect, it is right and important that we move between these two poles,' explains Cornelia Zuschke, Head of the Planning Department, who has been responsible for planning, construction, housing and real estate in the state capital since 2016. Zuschke finds the fact that the new opera house is being built in the centre of the city, on the Wehrhahn, particularly exciting from an urban planning perspective: 'This means that our opera house is not in a prominent location like in Sydney or Hamburg, for example. It's at the interface between the station district and the city centre. It's not glamorous, it's urban, it's surrounded by traffic, it's a densely populated area. The idea of a cultural space that is not just an icon is groundbreaking now.' In order to reactivate the other counterpart - Düsseldorf's stagnant housing market - the city plans to create affordable housing for people on average incomes through two new funding programmes. This housing offensive aims to close the gap between the subsidies for people in the lower income bracket and the high rents on the open market (see box).

TRADE FAIRS: WHERE DÜSSELDORF PRESENTS ITSELF

MIPIM 2025
• The world's leading real estate event
• 11 to 14 March 2025
• Palais des Festivals, Cannes (France)
• www.mipim.com

POLIS CONVENTION 2025
• Trade fair for urban and project development
• 7 to 8 May 2025
• Areal Böhler (border of Düsseldorf)
• www.polis.com

EXPO REAL 2025
• International Trade Fair for Real Estate and Investment
• 6 to 8 October 2025
• New Munich Trade Fair Centre
• www.exporeal.net

Cornelia Zuschke, Head of Department for Planning, Building, Housing and Real Estate, City of Düsseldorf

In a rapidly growing city like Düsseldorf, it is not only affordable housing and a wide range of cultural activities that need to be accommodated, but also sufficient commercial space, enough nurseries, schools and care facilities, and green spaces for local recreation. How the city intends to reconcile all these aspects of urban development over the next 20 or 30 years is governed by ”Raumwerk D“. This integrated development concept has been running since 2018 with the broad participation of citizens, politicians and experts. This has resulted in a number of forwardlooking ideas that are now being implemented in new projects. For example, the overlay of major transport routes is beginning to overcome barriers and create new open spaces - improving the quality of life. Concretely, new development concepts are now promoting the uncovering of the Düssel and other rivers in the city in order to enhance public spaces. 'So, the mother of all plans is on the right track with her children, and we believe that it was good to always go directly from vision to action,' says Cornelia Zuschke.

The development of transport infrastructure is closely linked to urban development. One example of what is currently happening in Düsseldorf is the expansion of so-called mobility stations and sharing stations. This is the core task of Connected Mobility Düsseldorf GmbH (CMD), a subsidiary of the city founded in 2020. 'Mobility stations offer a sustainable range of bicycles, cargo bikes, e-scooters, rental electric scooters or car-sharing vehicles for hire, exchange or parking in one place. We have now built 20 mobility stations across the city (as of the end of 2024, editor's note) - the aim is to have 100 by 2035. The current 200 or so sharing stations, fixed parking zones for e-scooters and the like, should have grown to 350 by then,' explains Ariane Kersting, head of communications at CMD. The company is currently focusing on the core area of Pempelfort, Derendorf and Golzheim. As part of the major Multi-Mo-DUS funding project, CMD is building a total of 18 mobility stations there alone between 2024 and 2026. 'Our strategy is to grow outwards from the city centre. In the future, networked mobility will be available throughout the city centre,' says Kersting. As part of the city's immediate action programme, the expansion of car sharing stations will start this year (note: 2025) in all city districts.

„CITIES ALSO THRIVE WHEN THEY ARE THOUGHT OF HOLISTCALLY “

Structural plan "Green, healthy and climate-friendly Düsseldorf” (graphic: urbanista, Hamburg)

Ariane Kersting, Head of Communications, Connected Mobility Düsseldorf GmbH (CMD)

In addition to new construction, especially of residential space, the conversion of existing properties is also an important part of urban development (see page 18). Especially in the compact but rapidly growing city of Düsseldorf, creative and innovative approaches are needed. For example, former office complexes are currently being converted into modern residential buildings, or former industrial sites are being transformed into trendy commercial, exhibition and event locations, such as the Areal Böhler right on Düsseldorf’s border to adjacent Meerbusch. A lot has happened in recent years to make it possible to carry out conversions under building law. 'For example, in a tight housing market, the current building code allows old development plans to be waived in favour of residential space. We currently have a number of projects under consideration on this basis, and I would like to see them financed and implemented. I see this as a real opportunity,' says Head of Planning Cornelia Zuschke.

Speaking of converting existing buildings, Düsseldorf has also come up with creative and innovative solutions to the vexed problem of parking. In order to improve the parking situation, especially in the evening and at night, the state capital has developed the 'Feierabend-Parken' concept together with CMD and the service provider ampido. The idea: in cooperation with the supermarket chains Aldi Süd and Lidl, residents can now park their cars overnight in selected supermarket car parks at comparatively low prices. 'This is unique in Germany in terms of its scope and implementation,' says Ariane Kersting. If the pilot project, which was launched in the summer of 2024 and currently has 190 parking spaces, proves successful, more supermarkets could soon follow and up to 400 parking spaces could be available. The idea could also be extended to other areas: 'We are currently working on making areas of administrative buildings available to the public as car parks, for example. And we are also in talks with companies that want to open their car parks to the public,' says Kersting. After all, Düsseldorf does not have a shortage of parking spaces in general, it just has too few parking spaces available to the public.

HOUSING STIMULUS PROGRAMMES

Mitte 2024 hat der Stadtrat von Düsseldorf zwei Impulsprogramme für den Neubau von Wohnraum mit einem Darlehensvolumen von 140 Millionen Euro (bis 2027) beschlossen. Damit soll der stagnierende Neubau wieder angekurbelt und das Wohnen für Menschen mit mittleren Einkommen wieder bezahlbar werden. Die Programme richten sich an Mieter:innen und Eigentümer:innen. Das Mietmodell setzt eine Startmiete von zwölf Euro pro Quadratmeter fest und finanziert diese mit zinslosen Darlehen für 15 Jahre. Das Eigentumsmodell fördert Familien, also alle Haushalte mit einem minderjährigen Kind.

„IN A TIGHT HOUSING MARKET, THE CURRENT BUILSING CODE ALLOWS OLD DEVELOPMENT PLANS TO BE WAIVED IN FAVOUR OF RESIDENTIAL SPACE“

Micromobility on the rise: 100 mobility stations (above) and 350 sharing stations (below) are to be built throughout the city by 2035.

From the promotion of new construction and creative conversion of existing buildings to renaturation, networked micro-mobility and intelligent car park management: Düsseldorf is constantly changing to remain one of the most attractive and liveable cities in the world. This change is characterised above all by sustainability (see p. 12) and focuses on the different needs of all genders, age groups and cultures (see p. 62). Because Düsseldorf is "One City for All". •

STUDIES ON THE CITY CENTRE OF THE FUTURE

The full-service property management company Midstad, also based in Düsseldorf, specialises in the transformation of city centres. In a representative online survey, citizens were asked about their needs, wishes and expectations for future city centres. Some of the key findings are

• 55 per cent of respondents want more leisure and recreational facilities
• Retail remains important, but is not a magnet for young people
• Offices have potential: only 11 per cent of respondents work in the city centre, but a further 40 per cent could imagine doing so.

Words: Tom Corrinth
Pictures: Karim Khakzar, Stadt Düsseldorf: Raumwerk D, Düsseldorf, 2022, Connected Mobility Düsseldorf GmbH,

THINKING AND BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

From the promotion of new construction and creative conversion of existing buildings to renaturation, networked micro-mobility and intelligent parking management: Düsseldorf's urban development is extremely diverse.

BUILDING SIMPLY