Architektur Frankfurt – Zukunft denken, Stadt gestalten

Architecture Frankfurt—Envisioning the Future, Shaping the City. Enabling Investment, Safeguarding Quality.

Frankfurt faces mounting pressure within the competitive landscape of European metropolises. Investments, regulations, construction costs, and societal expectations are fundamentally altering the framework for urban development. This evening event juxtaposes two perspectives: the European view on architecture and urban development, and the concrete reality of Frankfurt. At the heart of the discussion lies the question of how architectural quality can be safeguarded amidst the forces of the market, regulation, and international competition.

The event is held as part of the World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026 initiative and is hosted by Groß & Partner at FOUR Frankfurt.

AGENDA

4:30 – 7:30 pm Optional Tour of FOUR Frankfurt
6:00 – 6:30 pm Check-in and Get-together
6:30 – 6:45 pm Welcome by Nikolaus Bieber (Groß & Partner) and Carolina Romahn (World Design Capital 2026)
6:45 – 7:00 pm Keynote: A European Perspective. Tina Kortmann, UNStudio
“Designing Cities in Competition – Urban Development in Frankfurt within the European Context”

7:00 – 7:15 pm Keynote: A Frankfurt Perspective. Prof. Dr. Marcus Gwechenberger, Head of Urban Planning, City of Frankfurt
“Frankfurt in Concrete Terms – Between Ambition, Regulation, and Reality”
7:15 – 8:00 pm Open Audience Discussion (Fishbowl Format):

Topic: Architecture in Frankfurt – Envisioning the Future, Shaping the City. But Who Will Pay for It?

Panel:

• Nikolaus Bieber, Groß & Partner
• Jürgen Engel, KSP Engel Architects
• Prof. Dr. Marcus Gwechenberger, City of Frankfurt
• Tina Kortmann, UNStudio
• Florian Reiff, Tishman Speyer
• Prof. Dr. Mirjam Wenzel, Jewish Museum Frankfurt
  
• Moderator: Peter Cachola Schmal, German Architecture Museum (DAM)

8:00 pm Audience Q&A and Networking