As a central and irreplaceable component of Kitzingen’s historic urban fabric, the Bürgerbräu site raised the question of a development strategy closely linked not only to the site itself, but also to the city centre and the wider region. Its strategic significance for the future development of Kitzingen became evident in the preliminary analyses, which identified the risk of a devaluation of the surrounding area as a consequence of prolonged vacancy.

Following an initial urban analysis of architectural, spatial, and functional aspects through quantitative and qualitative mapping as well as film-based visualisations of the site and the study of relevant precedents, the project focused on two main areas:

FOCUS I concentrated on the development of a 1:500 study model and corresponding site plans of the dense historic city centre, including its squares, circulation routes, courtyards, and urban voids. New possibilities for pedestrian connections and daylight access within the urban fabric were explored, alongside interfaces between different user groups and modes of transport. The aim was to identify new spatial and functional networks capable of revitalising the city centre. Particular attention was given to the remarkable roofscape of Kitzingen and its untapped potential.

FOCUS II addressed the Bürgerbräu site itself. This architecturally stimulating yet difficult-to-define conglomerate of historic structures—ranging from Renaissance buildings and brick industrial architecture to more modest additions from the 1950s—required a clear position within the contemporary debate on adaptive reuse and urban conversion. Questions of strategy, programme, and architectural transformation, both internally and externally, were central to the design process.

Urban visions for the implementation of new usage scenarios and the resulting architectural proposals were developed through the careful consideration of the existing building stock, based on site observations and the material provided. For both the overall site and selected sub-areas, the following aspects were examined through models ranging from 1:500 to 1:100 scale, plans, diagrams, reference images, and spatial studies:

• programme distribution and mixed-use strategies
• circulation concepts and infrastructural considerations
• public space and open space design concepts
• architectural approaches to the transformation of existing buildings
• in-depth investigations of key conceptual questions at larger scales