VHS – Designing Democracy – Designing Peace

Kontroverse Architekturen – Frankfurts Neue Altstadt

As part of the second installment of the “Controversial Architectures” series, urban researcher Leonie Plänkers will present her research findings on the New Old Town —at the intersection of planning research and urban sociology—for the first time. Together with urban sociologist Sybille Frank, Frankfurt’s Head of Planning Marcus Gwechenberger, local residents, and the audience, the various impacts of the project will be discussed.

A lot has changed in downtown Frankfurt since 2018: East of the Römerberg, the “New Old Town” has emerged as a neighborhood that, with its reconstructed buildings, historic paths, and squares, evokes the era before the destruction of World War II. Where the former Technical City Hall once stood, narrow alleys, slender houses, and steep gabled roofs now define the landscape.

Along with the architectural transformation, the uses of the neighborhood have also changed. The new buildings now house cafés, souvenir shops, and museums. For Frankfurt residents and visitors alike, this has created a new urban space that simultaneously feels historic. But how are these changes perceived? What impact does the New Old Town have on different groups? How are the new spaces used—and for whom are they attractive or accessible?

The development of the New Old Town was accompanied by controversial debates about aesthetics and the handling of history. Urban researcher Leonie Plänkers investigated the actual effects of the reconstruction project after its completion.