As part of the DGNB Underway series, we visited two very different yet equally compelling examples of contemporary urban district development in Munich: Prinz-Eugen-Park and the Werksviertel at Ostbahnhof. The group of participants from architecture, district management, engineering, urban planning, and municipal administration provided a strong basis for professional exchange and diverse perspectives on the development of urban districts.
Representing our Sustainability division, Levin Kümmerle and Andreas Welz took part in the visit. At Müller-BBM Building Solutions, both are involved in DGNB certifications, life cycle assessments, and building resource passports.
High-quality districts are defined early in the planning phase. Prinz-Eugen-Park is a well-known example of sustainable urban development. Within its ecological model settlement, around 570 residential units were constructed in timber, in some cases up to seven storeys high – making it the largest contiguous timber housing development in Germany. We were involved in several projects within the district, providing building physics services.
The tour of Prinz-Eugen-Park was led by Patric F. C. Meier, partner at agmm Architekten + Stadtplaner. Using the example of the ‘gemeinsam größer II’ collaborative housing project, which his firm carried out in partnership with Hable Architekten, key aspects of multi-storey timber construction were explained, amongst other things.
The visit highlighted that building physics plays a central role, particularly in multi-storey timber construction. Acoustic performance, in particular, poses increased demands on planning and detailing. Compared to solid construction methods, lower mass and specific structural characteristics of timber can lead to more complex sound transmission paths. Early integration of building physics into architectural and structural design is therefore essential. In addition to sound insulation, vibration behaviour, structural decoupling and detailing are critical to ensuring comfort and acoustic quality.
At the same time, it became clear that many aspects of sustainability and user comfort cannot be addressed at the building level alone. Key parameters such as open space design, urban density, mixed-use concepts and mobility are determined at the district level and have a lasting impact on overall quality.
In contrast, the Werksviertel demonstrates the long-term development of an urban district. The site, formerly home to Pfanni’s potato processing plant, has been gradually transformed into a mixed-use urban quarter. Existing industrial buildings have been refurbished and repurposed, complemented by new developments. The project illustrates how persistence and a clearly defined vision can create a vibrant urban environment while maintaining functional and social diversity. The combination of residential, commercial, cultural and leisure uses contributes to long-term stability and vitality.
The tour of the Werksviertel was led by Johannes Ernst, partner at Steidle Architekten, whose office has played a key role in shaping the development of the district and continues to be involved today.
Overall, the exchange highlighted how closely urban planning, sustainability strategies and building physics are interlinked in district development. At Müller-BBM Building Solutions, we address these aspects across multiple disciplines and support projects from early planning through to implementation—complemented by the expertise of the wider Müller-BBM Group, including Müller-BBM Industry Solutions. You can find more information about our services here.
During the tour, we also came across the familiar sheep on the roof of Building 3, who are hard at work tending to the vegetation on the green roof.
