Die Macherei München

HWKN’s daring vision for a new urban future, Die Macherei München, is the first LEED-GOLD neighborhood in Europe, designed in collaboration with OSA Ochs Schmidhuber Architekten and holger meyer architektur. This project comprises six multi-purpose buildings, including Retail as Amenity with a grocer, gym, restaurant, and bar, and three designed by HWKN, including the Scandic München Macherei hotel and two office buildings. HWKN aimed to create high-quality public spaces by prioritizing people over rules, transforming an abandoned industrial area into a vibrant, community-driven atmosphere.

Instead of designing buildings first, HWKN focused on the spaces in between, shaping public spaces and then arranging the program volumes around them. The Scandic München Macherei hotel features a rough, earthen-brown brick facade that appears to be in motion from a distance, with ripples across its surface. This main canyon leads to another office building and a public plaza, both clad in glossy, red-to-orange brick, reminiscent of Munich’s historic brick-making tradition, including those used in the Frauenkirche. This project reconfigures space in unexpected ways, serving multiple purposes for various tenants and guests, from a groundbreaking hotel to a hip-hop-inspired sports club and multidisciplinary workspaces. Matthias Hollwich of HWKN emphasizes that Die Macherei embodies future urbanism, focusing on inviting spaces between buildings that encourage relaxation, social interaction, and productivity. The design dedicates over half of the complex to public use.

As Europe’s first LEED-approved neighborhood, Die Macherei is a testament to collaborative design, bringing together architects from New York, Frankfurt, and Munich to create a dynamic and inclusive urban environment. This transformative project has breathed new life into a desolate zone, creating a vibrant neighborhood with charming architecture, inviting cafes, and lively community spaces. It is a profound reimagining of space, turning it into a hub of activity, connection, and shared experiences.