Three landmark buildings define Sugar Valley, the brand-new district in Munich

In Munich--in the Obersendling area, once occupied by the Katzenberger cement plant and Siemens factories--Sugar Valley, a new neighborhood in dialogue with industrial memory, sustainability and urban mixity, is taking shape. Developed by Salvis Consulting AG and designed by a team of international firms--with COBE, J. Mayer H., KCAP, SLA and MGK--the project includes eleven buildings on about 160,000 square meters, articulated around pedestrian and bicycle-friendly public spaces.

The first lot, now under construction, includes three iconic architectures: The Crown, The Forge and The Soul. Signed by COBE, the first two buildings form a unified whole on the neighborhood. The Crown, an 80-meter tower, is distinguished by an anodized aluminum facade punctuated by green terraces and an illuminated wooden "crown" that makes it recognizable in the city skyline. In contrast, The Forge, clad in corten steel, reinterprets the site's manufacturing tradition and houses functions related to innovation and research. Its roof becomes a park of more than 2,000 square meters, equipped with sports and community spaces. Completing the first phase, The Soul, designed by J. Mayer H., is a large public lobby that brings together dining, galleries and events. Conceived as a cultural hub for the neighborhood, it integrates art installations and continues the experience of the temporary Sugar Mountain project already housed in the area. The intent is to animate the new district throughout the day.

The urban design is based on the concept of the "15-minute city": all daily functions-work, residence, services, commerce and leisure-are within walking distance in a few minutes. Mobility is based on an integrated network of public transportation, bicycling and vehicle sharing, while public spaces are organized around the "Wunderkammer," a central square free of car traffic, a place for meeting and collective life. Sugar Valley aims to be one of the first zero-emission neighborhoods in Germany: a 100-point sustainability plan regulates materials, disassembly strategies and biodiversity, supported by a patented energy system that uses only natural resources. Green roofs, vegetated facades and the planting of 165 trees help improve the urban microclimate.