Urban Development Düsseldorf – Future of the Karstadt Site at Wehrhahn
Project “Sehnsuchtsort Kaufhaus” – AMD School of Architecture
The AMD School of Architecture is addressing a highly topical urban development task as part of the 6th semester: the future of the Karstadt site at Wehrhahn in Düsseldorf. The project “Sehnsuchtsort Kaufhaus” explores the potential of the building and its forecourt as an urban attraction – located directly opposite the planned new opera house, one of the most discussed construction projects in the city.
Key Stakeholders
The first meeting took place inside the Karstadt building, bringing together representatives of the City of Düsseldorf, business, retail, and AMD Düsseldorf students. The host was Mr. Jens Lehnecke, Store Manager of GALERIA at Wehrhahn. Participants included:
- Ramona Mockenhaupt, City Planning Office Düsseldorf
- Tarik Näscher, Economic Development Office Düsseldorf
- Max Pradel, Economic Development Office Düsseldorf
- Thomas Vieten, Chamber of Commerce Düsseldorf
- Uwe-Jens Ruhnau, Chief Reporter, Rheinische Post
- Representatives of the GALERIA Works Council
- Jens Lehnecke, Store Manager GALERIA
The Task
Students are developing innovative concepts for the adaptive reuse of the Karstadt building and its surroundings. The goal is to rethink the department store – as a place of longing, a cultural and social meeting point, and a driver for revitalizing the city center. Key aspects include architecture, mixed-use concepts, quality of stay, and urban integration.
This project demonstrates how education, urban development, and business can work together to create new perspectives for Düsseldorf’s future. It combines practice-oriented design work with real-world challenges and positions the AMD School of Architecture as an active partner in the urban discourse.
Veröffentlichungen zu dem Projekt
- Semester Project by AMD Düsseldorf How the new opera and its surroundings can become a “place of longing.” (RP Online)
- Students in Düsseldorf make suggestions What do young people want for Schadowstraße? (RP Online)
First meeting inside the Karstadt building at Wehrhahn with representatives from the city, business, and retail.