A billion euros for Bremen’s city centre

The city centre is evolving. Bremen is creating affordable and desirable residential areas, offices and retail space. The city is set to get a more modern look thanks to projects near the main train station, in new districts and right by the river.

Private investors are raising around a billion euros to make the centre of Bremen a more attractive and appealing place to live. The ‘Bremen wird neu’ (Bremen reborn) campaign provides information and updates on the projects that are currently under development in and around the city centre, and also provides a sneak preview of progress on the construction sites. The campaign features a memorable mascot, a mole in a high-vis vest, and communicates via the ‘Bremen wird neu’ website, Facebook and Instagram. Photos, videos and further posts can be found using the #bremenwirdneu hashtag.

Below is an overview of the current projects:

City Gate – the gateway to the city

The City Gate Bremen will be the first thing that people see when they leave the main train station in the direction of the city centre. The construction combines Hanseatic building traditions with modern elements and is based on a design by the award-winning Studio Max Dudler. The gateway consists of two buildings through which visitors can walk into the heart of the city. Bremen’s residents will also benefit from the new building. In addition to the office space, the two hotels and the underground car park, there will be 12,000 square metres of space for retail, restaurants and services. The first tenants are expected to move in to City Gate Bremen in early 2019.

The new Balge quarter

Dr Johann Christian Jacobs, corporate investor and managing partner at Joh. Jacobs & Co., is planning a five-storey new build and street improvements in Grosse Waagestrasse and Kleine Waagestrasse. The Jacobs-Hof building is the first step for what will become the new Balge quarter. Initial construction works have been ongoing at the former headquarters of Bremen’s oldest coffee roasters at number 18 and 20 Obernstrasse since April 2018. The Kontorhaus building will also form part of the new quarter. Extensive reconstruction is planned here, with the ground floor set to be used by restaurants.

WeserHöfe quarter on the former Mondelez site

The Jacobs brand is part of the multinational food company Mondelez. Project developer Justus Grosse and Dr Johann Christian Jacobs, through his company Hanseatische Projektentwicklung GmbH, have acquired the Mondelez site in Bremen’s Neustadt quarter. From late summer 2019, the plan is to transform the 10,000 square metre plot behind the former Mondelez building and create 300 new apartments and office spaces. Berlin-based architects Léonwohlhage won the design competition for the ‘WeserHöfe’ project in mid-2018 with plans for several tiered buildings of up to eight storeys. Space between the buildings is provided by small courtyards, which give the project its name – WeserHöfe means Weser courtyards.

Wallkontor – mixing old and new

The Harms building on Am Wall was gutted in a major fire and is being completely rebuilt as the Wallkontor building. The design will feature a mix of the old and the new and provide 5,500 square metres of retail and office space. There will also be a passage that will provide pedestrians with direct access from Am Wall to the city centre.

New coach terminal in Bremen’s city centre

The new coach terminal near Bremen’s main train station will be disabled-friendly, fully covered and feature eleven bays. Everything will be designed to make passengers feel comfortable. It will also feature an integrated service area, a hotel and a multi-storey car park. The competition to build it is set to begin this year with around ten companies vying for the contract.

The new August Kühne House

Global logistics company Kühne + Nagel is currently building a new head office on its premises between the Weser river and the city centre. The company has been on this site for 127 years and is continuing its long-standing connection with Bremen. The plans envisage a modern building with a gross floor area of 13,500 square metres. Completion is scheduled for the end of 2019.

New ideas for the centre of Bremen

Bremen’s city centre is being redesigned, and the area around the Mitte car park is also undergoing change. What shape this change may take is still unclear – around 100 experts from a wide range of fields are working on this as part of the ‘Bremen ideas championship’. Over five days from 9 to 14 September 2018, they will work together in lectures and workshops on innovative ideas for the redesign. The ‘ideas championship’ was established by the Senate of Bremen, the Gustav Zech Foundation and other private investors.

Should you have any questions regarding our services for investors and companies in Bremen's city centre, please contact Karin Take, Project manager region city centre, karin.take@wfb-bremen.de, +49 (0) 421 9600-221.

Bremen has the right location to suit any company, from the logistics sector at the Cargo Distribution Center (GVZ) and research institutes at the Technology Park, to international companies at Bremen Airport-Stadt and the automotive sector on the Bremen Hansalinie Industrial Estate. We can show you the right business park to suit your needs.