Building housing for nurses and other hospital staff seems to be the order of the day. The lack of adequate accommodation for this group of people exacerbates the state of emergency from which the medical sector is suffering. Two residential towers that are planned on Isarkanal 42 in Thalkirchen could help solve the problem.
One of the two buildings, 41 meters or 13 storeys high, will accommodate 99 apartments, and in the south, 70 apartments on eleven floors. Partly funded, partly freely financed, in any case reserved for “hospital-related living needs” on a rental basis, that’s how the whole thing is designed.
Right next door, the Internist Klinikum München-Süd and the Artemed-Klinikum München-Süd (formerly Rinecker Clinic) are striving for modernization and expansion. There, too, a high point of well over 40 meters is at the center of the considerations. Because this height development in the immediate vicinity of the Isar inevitably affects the cityscape, the “Clinic and Health Campus Development Project Thalkirchen” was now a matter for the city planning commission.
The vast majority of the experts judged the design for the ensemble to be benevolent or impressed. Architect Manfred Kovatsch spoke of a “sympathetically reserved concept” with broad approval and meant, not least, the recognizable will of the offices involved to largely preserve the lush tree population on the site between Isarkanal and Schäftlarnstrasse. City Councilor Veronika Mirlach (CSU) emphasized social aspects in the discussion. The local politician, who comes from the area, expressly praised the efforts to find living space for hospital employees: “Here comes from me, thumbs up” https://www.sueddeutsche.de/muenchen/. “
Nonetheless, cautiously critical voices could be heard among the experts. Architect Birgit Rapp, for example, found the ensemble effect of the high points “not yet entirely consistent”. Jürg Sulzer, on the other hand, missed the submission of different variants instead of a finished concept, and architect Bernhard Landbrecht, the town hall caretaker, raised the question of whether two residential towers of the same height would not be more visually appealing than one step. Architect Karin Schmid expressed the greatest reservations. She found “the accumulation of high-rise buildings” on the Isar “difficult”.
The residential area would not only be fabulous for clinic employees.
(Photo: Kuehl & Welzien Freshimages)
In Thalkirchen, a “high-rise skyline” should not begin along the river, she warned. In case of doubt it is better to sacrifice some trees to protect the city silhouette and to build more flat. City planning councilor Elisabeth Merk vehemently contradicted the representation, on the banks of the Isar there is a threat of a line of high points: “This danger does not exist.” Individual skyscrapers, lined with plenty of green, do not have to hide.
The green backdrop is to be largely preserved and made accessible
According to architect Gert Goergens and project manager Marianne Sigl from the Goergens, Miklautz & Partner office, the pentagonal residential towers are to be erected on the isolated area with 50 trees north of Thalkirchner Brücke on which the vacant villa is located, which Hans Rinecker once lived in. Goergens promised that the entire area in the vicinity of the subway would be made accessible to the general public, as would the “preservation of the green backdrop”. The residential buildings should reflect the park-like atmosphere of the area by means of wood hybrid construction and ceramic tiles.
City planner Roman Leonhartsberger justified the need to expand medical facilities “at one of the oldest hospital locations in Munich”. The number of clinic employees is increasing steadily, cardiovascular diseases are increasing, the occupancy rate is between 80 and 96 percent. Despite the great need for specific equipment, efforts are being made to develop a project “that is compatible with the nearby river landscape,” he affirmed.
On the area of the Thalkirchen Clinic Campus, which is reserved for health purposes, the development plan from the 1970s requires thorough revision, including the restructuring of traffic areas. The city council decides on a reorganization.