Recognition for the Southern Speicherstraße Port District
The Southern Speicherstraße Port District in Dortmund Has been Awarded Recognition at the German Urban Development Award 2025.
A District between Industrial Heritage and Digital Future
The transformation of the historic port area is symbolic of a new type of urban development: one that does not over-shape the built heritage, but productively transfers it into the future. Between old tracks, listed warehouses and the new harbor promenade, a district is emerging that combines the creative industry, digitization and social integration in a special way.
In the laudation for the award ceremony, it says aptly:
“The port district in Dortmund impressively and exemplarily shows how an industrial area becomes a sustainable urban district that unites innovation, identity and integration – with a charisma that extends far beyond Dortmund.” (Anja Reichert-Schick)
Lensing Media Port – an Architectural Signal
Our contribution, the Lensing Media Port, sets a striking architectural accent in this context. It is representative of the new layer of use, which integrates sensitively and powerfully into the existing structure. As a place of work, networking and communication, it brings the future of the media world to the port and at the same time makes the industrial past tangible in the choice of materials and spatial structure.
The recognition applies not only to the architectural and urban design, but also to the intensive cooperation process that supported the project: between the city administration, investors, planners, civil society and funding providers. The large proportion of public spaces is particularly pleasing: Over 50 percent of the district remains reserved for the urban society – in the form of promenades, playgrounds, recreational areas and cultural offerings.
The award anchors the project in nationwide perception: From September, the port district will be part of a nationwide traveling exhibition “City Building” and a publication that presents urban planning models in Germany.
We are pleased to have contributed to the award-winning district development. Our architecture stands for the successful synthesis of industrial substance and digital future. We thank all those involved – especially the City of Dortmund, the Soziale Stadt Foundation, private developers and the citizens for their trusting cooperation. This is motivation and obligation at the same time: We look forward to continuing to help shape urban development projects that combine architecture, identity and social participation.