Hamburg / Frankfurt am Main, 09.06.2023 - Becken, specialist for project development, revitalization, asset and investment management of commercial and residential real estate, and the Evangelical Regional Association Frankfurt and Offenbach will soon launch an international architectural competition for the Matthäus-Areal in Frankfurt am Main. In July 2020, Becken acquired part of the church property at Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage 33 and Hohenstaufenstrasse 30 and 32 from the Evangelical Regional Association. Since then, consultations have been underway with the City of Frankfurt regarding the future development and the preparation of a competition procedure.

Becken and the Evangelical Church are now about to launch an architectural competition for the new development. The plans are for the entire Matthäus site with a total area of around 3,100 square meters. Becken had acquired 2,450 square meters, while the remaining 650 square meters, most of which are occupied by the St. Matthew's Church, are still owned by the Evangelical Regional Association.

Jens Hogekamp, Managing Director of Becken Development GmbH, emphasizes: "We have a unique opportunity in Europe to develop a new and unique ensemble consisting of a church and a high-rise building at an inner-city location. An international architectural competition is the best way to find an optimal solution for this outstanding task."

Pastor Dr. Achim Knecht, dean of the city and chairman of the board of the Evangelical Regional Association, says: "The combination of high-rise and church in this project can become a statement for a church facing the modern world. But even more so, it can become a statement for a city in which economic development serves the people. And last but not least, it could become a new architectural landmark for the city of Frankfurt."

Dr. Annegreth Schilling, pastor of the Evangelische Hoffnungsgemeinde, says: "As a church, we bring together people from different backgrounds, cultures and generations. This should also be visible in the church. We want to create an oasis, an innovative place to take a deep breath, to pause for a moment and to come together. This will also be reflected in the new name of the church: Hope Church. The joint planning of a tandem of church and high-rise building sets an example for the future of the church in the big city."

New construction plans for church and high-rise building go hand in hand

Since December 2008, the Matthäus site to be developed has been part of Frankfurt's high-rise master plan. This plan envisages a building up to 130 meters high on the site. A project-related development plan is being sought for the development plan.

The high-rise building is to be used as a hybrid office and residential high-rise. This also includes subsidized apartments in accordance with the Frankfurt building land resolution. A possible non-profit use of first floor areas is also to be examined in the competition. The existing Matthäuskirche is to be replaced by a new church building for the Evangelische Hoffnungsgemeinde.

The competition will consist of two phases: An urban planning study and, based on this, an architectural competition for the high-rise building and church. It is expected that 15 architectural firms from Germany and abroad will take part in the competition. Seven architectural firms have already confirmed their participation and are confirmed - eight further firms will be selected via a competition. The application period for this began on 06.06.2023 and ends on 28.07.2023.

Further information on the competition is available here:
www.wb-matthaeusareal.de