When Andreas Zeitner even talks about a rough diamond “that you can grind into a brilliant”, there is a cheerful murmur among the 70 interested people who came to the Dietrich-Bonhoeffer Church in Perlach that evening – for the information event about the planned redesign of the Stephensonplatz. The managing director of the project developer wants to grind precisely that one into a gem, which, given its current shape, is a thoroughly ambitious plan. Because the area at the Perlacher S-Bahn station is currently rather cheerless and is largely a fallow area. There is also a listed but dilapidated and unused station building.
But if the people in charge of the Rosenhof retirement home have their way, then this area should be woken up from its “sleeping beauty,” says Dietmar Sandler. The urban planner from the Munich office bgsm moderates the information event and first presents the main features of the project before the discussion with the residents. The Rosenhof Group is planning its twelfth nationwide senior citizens’ residential complex at Perlacher Bahnhof – with up to 300 apartments and a care station with 55 beds.
The square is to become a “new business card” in Perlach
In the course of the new building, the company not only wants to renovate and revitalize the station building, but also to give Stephensonplatz, which has been so desolate up to now, a new look. The area named after a British inventor should become the “new business card in Perlach”, says Dietmar Sandler. “Where you quickly rush over it today to leave it behind, you should look for a good and valuable place in the future. Dreams of fear will then no longer play a role.”
In the summer, the city council made a decision on the overhaul of Stephensonplatz; now, in the next step, a two-stage appraisal process is to follow, i.e. a competition with six architecture and landscape planning offices. Before that, however, they want to get suggestions, requests and criticism from the neighborhood, says Dietmar Sandler. According to the architect, the results of this information event would be forwarded directly to the six offices. However, not too much criticism of the project can be heard.
Not yet, one might have to say – after all, it is still unclear what the senior citizens’ residential complex on the elongated property should look like in concrete terms. However, that will be the sticking point, believes Thomas Kauer (CSU), chairman of the Ramersdorf-Perlach district committee. “The architectural challenge at this point is great.” After all, they are in an “urban planning predicament” between the train tracks on the one hand and the Perlach residential area on the other. Or as a local resident put it at one of the discussion stands: “Five floors would be too high for us.”
Great need for information: Dietmar Sandler, architect and urban planner from the Munich office bgsm, presented the project.
(Photo: Alessandra Schellnegger/Alessandra Schellnegger)
Overall, most of those present see the project positively. And Thomas Kauer also emphasizes: “Especially with a view to the traffic load, this is one of the best uses for the property.” In addition, there is the beautification of Stephensonplatz, which is longed for by many Perlachers. This should remain largely car-free, and the trees there should also be preserved, says Andreas Zeitner. After the renovation, “an organic market or a small retailer, a newspaper kiosk or a baker” could move into the station building. And the retirement home itself will also be open to the public, stresses Rosenhof Managing Director André Aue. The restaurant in the building is intended for the public, as is the doctor’s and physiotherapy practice there. “We want to be a part of the community,” says Aue.
With regard to the schedule, says Andreas Zeitner, he hopes to complete the expert opinion process next year so that he can then draft a project-related development plan. And if everything goes according to plan, the excavators could start rolling at Stephensonplatz in 2025 or 2026.