Germany's largest student residential complex, located in Freimann, has proudly carried the name "Studentenstadt" (Student City) since its inception in the 1960s and 1970s. The residential quarter, with its 2,500 units, was realized by the renowned architectural partnership Lang and Pogadl. Ernst Maria Lang was also known as a political cartoonist for the Süddeutsche Zeitung, where he created weekly commentaries on political events for decades.

The complex is characterized by solitary building volumes and clusters arranged throughout the open space, as well as rapid construction methods utilizing prefabricated concrete elements and repeating design features—hallmarks of that era. This aesthetic found expression in the parallel construction boom for the 1972 Olympic Games and other major residential projects. The ensemble comprises the "Old Town" section, constructed in the 1960s, and the "New Town" section, built in the 1970s with double density. The latter features four distinctive high-rise slabs of varying heights with color accents on their facades. The entire complex is being progressively renovated (we featured Muck Petzet's modernization work on the low-rise buildings in Issue 02/22). The recently completed restoration of the "Blue House"—dedicated to the memory of Sophie Scholl—received considerable acclaim from design professionals. The design was undertaken by bogevischs Büro in Munich, with project management by the architectural firm Christoph Maas. Between the high-rise of "Studentenstadt" and the "Blue House" stands the new community center, Hans Scholl Hall, the next phase in the overall renovation strategy. The architectural firm Christoph Maas also assumed design and project management responsibilities, with construction spanning from March 2024 to May 2025.

The project scope, encompassing design phases 1 through 9, included the modernization of the student dining facility, common areas, kitchen, gymnasium, and locker rooms. The "Hans Scholl Hall" was originally conceived as the community center for the "New Town" section. The comprehensive redesign and renovation, completed in May 2025, involved converting the gymnasium into an assembly venue, reimagining the student-run gastronomy operation "Tribühne" with a fully equipped kitchen and dining space that can open seamlessly onto the atrium courtyard through the new fully operable facade. Additional spaces created include a music room, fitness room, and workshop. Sanitary facilities and ancillary spaces were restructured and expanded. Beyond spatial modernization and redesign, all mechanical systems, electrical installations, and fire safety systems were brought up to current standards.

www.maas-architekt.com

Photography:
Anton Brandl
www.antonbrandl.de

(Published in CUBE Munich 02|26)