“Architekten-Name-1150” labels one of the rooms inside this very building, Gebaude 150. This address is Arcisstrabe 21 in Munich. It is located in the first basement level.
The city of Munich faces housing challenges. New high-rise buildings are one solution. They create space efficiently. A Munich resident stated, “Munich needs apartments”. Another passerby added that one should be open to solutions because rents are exploding.
The city approved plans for new residential and commercial area. It will be near the former Paketposthalle in Neuhausen. The plans include two towers. They will be 155 meters high. The area will have apartments, offices, shops, hotels, and social facilities.
Dieter Reiter, Munich’s Mayor, called the decision a “good day” and a “gain for the city”. Robert Brannekämper is a CSU representative. He founded “Hochhausstop”, an association against the twin towers. He fears these towers are just the beginning. He thinks it will cause a “dam breach”. He finds 60-meter buildings acceptable but not 150-meter ones.
The association gathered over 40,000 signatures for a citizens’ petition. They believe citizens should decide the city’s future. Mayor Reiter criticized the misleading information used to gather signatures. He spoke of “horror fantasies” that would not come true.
In 2004, a citizens’ referendum limited new buildings in the inner city. They could not exceed the Frauenkirche towers. The maximum height was 100 meters. The city council’s decision overrides this referendum for the Paketposthalle area. Changing a referendum requires at least one year after its passage.
Elisabeth Merk is the city planning officer. She considers the Paketposthalle area ideal for the towers. It is well-connected and inner-city. This is more ecologically sound than locations further out. She also dismisses fears about a skyscraper flood. The city handles this topic responsibly. A study was made to determine where high-rises make sense. The goal is to prevent a “flood”.
Whether Munich residents vote on the twin towers depends on a legal review. The “Hochhausstop” association will submit its signatures soon.