Vision 2035+

A New Chapter for Areal Böhler

Rooted in the Rhineland's industrial legacy and shaped by a bold vision for the future, Areal Böhler is being reimagined as a place where work, life, and culture come together in entirely new ways. Where steel once shaped the region, the next generation of ideas, products, and encounters is about to take its place – a lively, mixed-use quarter where technology, the creative industries, craftsmanship, hospitality, culture, and education spark off one another.

Turning a vision like this into reality calls for a clear sense of direction – and that's exactly what our masterplan provides. Developed in close collaboration with Gehl, one of the world's leading urban design practices based in Copenhagen, it sets out a guiding framework for the next 10 to 15 years. It's the common ground for everyone involved, making sure that every move – from the new landscape design to the next building – pulls in the same direction: an open, characterful quarter, shaped by the very philosophy Gehl has brought to more than 60 cities around the world – designing cities for people.

A Place for Everyone

Lively, diverse, open

A Network of (Green) Spaces

Every place with its own character

Preserving Industrial Heritage

Keeping history visible

Three Ideas Reshaping the Area

As wide-ranging as Areal Böhler's future will be, at its core the masterplan rests on three clear guiding ideas: opening the site up to its surroundings, creating a continuous green network, and giving space back to the people.

A Piece of the City

We're opening the area along its edges, creating new entrances and connections into the surrounding neighbourhoods. What was once a closed-off industrial site becomes a natural part of the city – with a lively mix of gastronomy, retail, offices, and culture.

The Hidden Garden

From tucked-away gardens in the north and the new "Pipe Park" through to the green squares in the south, a continuous network of green spaces takes shape. It invites people to linger, supports biodiversity, and actively contributes to a more climate-friendly city.

The Car-light Neighbourhood

We're consolidating parking into central mobility hubs and giving the heart of the area back to the people: safe paths, comfortable cycling connections, and calm public spaces. A direct link to public transport – including the future U81 line – keeps the area easy to reach.

Four Characters, One Quarter

To turn the former steelworks into a diverse urban district, the masterplan defines four distinct characters across the site. The Urban Edge to the east becomes the area's new public face – lively, welcoming, and unmistakably urban. The Green Link runs through the quarter as a continuous green ribbon of parks and natural areas, connecting the upgraded Expo Squares in the south with the Innovation Core at the heart of the site, where offices, production, and supporting amenities come together.

Green as the Driver of Transformation

Today, sealed surfaces define the look of the area – and we're set to change that from the ground up. With a continuous green network spanning the entire quarter, we're giving Areal Böhler an entirely new spatial character. From near-natural parks and active green spaces to urban squares and tree-lined lanes, a richly varied landscape is taking shape.

Less Traffic, More Space for People

For decades, Areal Böhler was built around efficient logistics – but the future belongs to people. By reducing vehicle routes to just a few clearly defined loops, we're creating room to breathe without compromising day-to-day operations. What's left is a network of safe, connected pedestrian spaces: easy to read, intuitive to navigate, and welcoming to everyone – whether you're visiting for the first time or passing through every day.

Honouring the Heritage, Reimagining the Substance

The industrial heritage is the soul of Areal Böhler – and that's exactly what we want to preserve. The masterplan follows a clear principle: preservation and refurbishment come first, with careful adaptation a close second. Only a few ancillary buildings make way for thoughtful new additions. This way, the character of the area remains tangible while new uses are free to take root and flourish.