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HWKN’s daring vision of a new urban future, Die Macherei München, the first LEED-GOLD neighborhood in Europe, was designed in collaboration with OSA Ochs Schmidhuber Architekten and holger meyer architektur. Die Macherei München comprises six multi-purpose buildings, including Retail as Amenity with a grocer, gym, restaurant, and bar, and three designed by HWKN, including a new hotel, the Scandic München Macherei, and two office buildings. HWKN aimed to create a space that combines all the factors of high-quality public spaces, by prioritizing the people, not rules. They’ve transformed a once abandoned industrial area into a vibrant, community driven atmosphere, built entirely for the people.
HWKN did not design buildings, but designed the space in between and shaped first the public space and second the program volumes around it. The Scandic München Macherei hotel is clad in a rough, earthen-brown brick. From a distance, the entire face of the hotel appears to be in motion, with individual folds rippling across the exterior. The main canyon leads to another office building and a public plaza, the facade of which is clad in the same glossy, red-to-orange brick as the sides of the canyon. The expressionistic use of brick is an homage to this area of Munich, once famous for making bricks, including those used in Munich’s fifteenth-century landmark, the Frauenkirche. More recently, an abandoned Temmler Pharmaceutical Factory stood on this site, fenced off from the neighborhood.
Die Macherie challenges conventional norms by emphasizing high-quality public spaces through creativity and spatial sensibility rather than rigid rules. By prioritizing people over regulations, they've transformed an abandoned industrial area into vibrant, multi-hued public spaces fostering community engagement. The design reconfigures space in unexpected ways, serving multiple purposes for various tenants and guests, from a groundbreaking hotel to a hip-hop-inspired sports club and multi-disciplinary workspaces. HWKN Architecture, OSA Ochs Schmidhuber Architekten, and holger meyer architektur are leading the way in purposeful design and community engagement, setting a precedent for future projects that enhance community quality of life.
Matthias Hollwich of HWKN emphasizes that Die Macherei embodies future urbanism, with a focus on creating inviting spaces between buildings. These multi-purpose areas encourage relaxation, social interaction, and productivity. The design choices focus on plazas and rooftop lounges aimed at enhancing connection between people. The entire project is built around the idea of open and accessible spaces, dedicating over half of the complex to public use. Being Europe’s first LEED-approved neighborhood, Die Macherei is a testament to collaborative design, conjoining architects from New York, Frankfurt, and Munich to create a dynamic and inclusive urban environment. The creative process of building Die Macherei aligns with that of the outcome; community, collaboration, trust in others, and personal connections.
This transformative project breathes life into what was once a desolate zone, taking it into a vibrant neighborhood with warmth and humanity. The streets are now lined with charming architecture, inviting cafes, and lively community spaces. Every corner resonates with a sense of emotion, as residents and visitors alike fill the area. It's not merely a physical transformation but a profound reimagining of space, turning it into a hub of activity, connection, and shared experiences.
HWKN is an award-winning, New York-based global architectural innovation firm led by Matthias Hollwich, alongside partners Jessica Knobloch, Dorin Baul, Robert May, and Olga Snowden. The firm’s diverse portfolio includes buildings and neighborhoods alike, from retail spaces and popup-installations to residential and commercial schemes in the United States, Middle East, and Europe, with collaborating offices in Munich, Miami, Berlin, Riyadh, and London. HWKN creates unforgettable architecture by designing from the outside in, shaping spaces that turn buildings into social activators, identity markers, and happiness enhancers. The creative strategy is extended into the inside of the building, introducing new operational typologies. Here the future of real estate is taking shape, creating buildings for generations to come. Honored in Fast Company’s ranking of the world’s top 10 most innovative architects, the design team shapes the future for people, communities and investors.
