City and industry: The best of both worlds

Gray flat-roofed buildings, weather-beaten facades and loud traffic. In everyday life, you rarely find yourself in industrial areas—unless you work in one. “Even for architects, industrial construction tends to be less passionate, which is actually a shame,” says Sammy-Jo Weinland, a former student of architecture and urban planning at the University of Stuttgart. “In Sindelfingen alone, 30,000 people work at the Mercedes-Benz plant. "Why not create an appealing environment for these people?" adds her fellow student, Marlene Perl.

The two alumnae devoted their final thesis at the Institute for Construction Economics to this question, exploring how urban production sites can offer advantages from a company's perspective. “Robert Bosch GmbH is already pursuing a great philosophy,” says Marlene Perl. Sammy-Jo Weinland adds: “Locations should be designed in such a way that people leave healthier and happier than when they came in. We find that fascinating!”

Through expert interviews, the two discovered that several companies have already established production sites in urban areas. “That surprised us, but it shows that companies have to look at their locations,” says Marlene Perl.
Industrial areas were once created in the middle of nowhere. But cities are growing, and residential and industrial areas are moving ever closer together. It is often the case that if I don't know my neighbor, all I notice is the noise coming from their apartment, and it bothers me."  says Sammy-Jo Weinland.  If we open up to one another, we discover shared commonalities that bring us closer together. And it's the same with urban production sites.”

Urban production sites are more agile and innovative, offering identity-shaping opportunities for both employees and the local community. Short distances create synergies and promote product development.

“We discovered that the potential to create synergies opens up an entirely new approach to collaborative value creation,” says Sammy-Jo Weinland. In collaboration with Bosch, the two young architects have designed a master plan for a production quarter at the site in Leinfelden-Echterdingen, south of Stuttgart. In the future, such an exchange could also drive innovation in this area.

A defining feature of the current cityscape is a north-south axis of railway tracks that traverses the city. The S-Bahn station is at its center, but it also separates residential areas from industrial and natural areas. "In our master plan, we are leveraging the existing infrastructure and redesigning it to make the urban production site appealing to both the companies located there and the local community," says Sammy-Jo Weinland.

The border becomes a green axis connection, the tracks disappear underground and factory fences are removed. The subway station remains the central hub. Homes and production facilities are moving to both sides. In makerspaces, DIY enthusiasts or school classes can try out tools, and product developers benefit from this direct exchange. There is a Bosch Tower, as a counterpart to the Leinfelden Tower, with apartments for employees and people from the region. In addition: restaurants, bars and cafés, a working wood for quiet work or team workshops and a renaturalized stream with a surfing wave.

“Our master plan is grounded in comprehensive analyses of the existing local infrastructure, climatic conditions like heat islands and air corridors, and the possibilities offered by building regulations,” says Marlene Perl. The final thesis by the two alumnae reflects their project-oriented teamwork, serving as excellent preparation for their future careers as architects. “We worked together in the same room every day,” remembers Sammy-Jo Weinland. “We were able to discuss questions directly or ask for advice if one of us got stuck. That's what made our thesis special.”

The two were awarded the industriebaupreis 2024 [de] for their final thesis - a prize that has also been awarded to renowned German architecture firms. Sammy-Jo Weinland, who previously worked as a student at Bosch, is now exploring her passion for industrial architecture in the in-house planning and construction department. "I want to transform how we perceive industrial areas today and create added value for the people who live there," says Marlene Perl, who is currently designing medical buildings and hospitals from the ground up at an architectural firm in Stuttgart.