MVRDV has released plans for a major revitalization of a former US army barracks in the Franklin Mitte neighborhood of Mannheim, Germany. The 144-hectare site will feature a slate of mixed-typology developments organized around a central green hill made from demolished barrack buildings and offering panoramic views of the new developments. Of those new buildings, four residential towers spelling out the word H-O-M-E will create a vibrant community of professionals and young local families.

Courtesy of MVRDV

MVRDV has released plans for a major revitalization of a former US army barracks in the Franklin Mitte neighborhood of Mannheim, Germany. The 144-hectare site will feature a slate of mixed-typology developments organized around a central green hill made from demolished barrack buildings and offering panoramic views of the new developments. Of those new buildings, four residential towers spelling out the word H-O-M-E will create a vibrant community of professionals and young local families.
Courtesy of MVRDV

Built as a trading city in 1606, Mannheim has evolved to become an industrial center of Germany and later the home of a massive US army base. The closure of the 500-hectare base in 2011 caused an initial shock to the local economy, but has also provided a fresh opportunity for urban renewal. MVRDV has drawn from this history to create a new district that introduces density and diversity to the site, creating a community aimed at attracting ...