Blau.Quartier Ulm wins Gold at the polis Award 2026

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The Blau.Quartier Ulm (Eastern Section) has been awarded Gold at the polis Award 2026 in the category Urban Land Recycling. The award ceremony took place on the evening of May 6, 2026, during the polis Convention in Düsseldorf. The jury was impressed by the project’s consistent approach to reimagining existing structures and transforming a former shopping center into an open, vibrant urban quarter.

The award honors the exemplary handling of existing land and confirms: urban transformation can be sustainable, economically viable, and forward-looking at the same time.

The Blau.Quartier is being built on the site of the former Blautal-Center shopping mall on Blaubeurer Straße in Ulm — a place of contrasts. Between urbanity and nature, noise and calm, density and openness, one of Germany’s largest inner-city conversion projects is taking shape.

Where a 480-meter-long retail complex once dominated the cityscape, a permeable, mixed-use district is now emerging on approximately 6.6 hectares. Plans include more than 1,000 residential units, as well as spaces for work, commerce, and offices, social facilities, leisure and gastronomy, and a network of green open areas.

The master plan follows the principle of preserving and reinterpreting what exists. Elements such as the underground parking structure and supporting frameworks are being incorporated, while new public spaces are being created through de-sealing, green roofs, and rainwater reuse. The project therefore goes far beyond traditional redevelopment — it makes a tangible contribution to resource conservation, emissions reduction, and the enhancement of Ulm’s urban landscape.

The Blau.Quartier Ulm is being developed as a joint venture between Periskop Development and HLG Real Estate, on behalf of the property owners. Together with the City of Ulm and HLG Real Estate, MAAS & PARTNER Architekten initiated and developed the master plan for the overall site and co-designed the dialogue and planning processes. Within this framework, the architectural design for the Eastern Section was also created. ahw Ingenieure, another Münster-based firm, joined the team and handled structural engineering for the preservation areas.

The zoning procedure began in 2023, and the statutory planning approval for the Eastern Section was granted in March 2025. This section comprises around 9,000 m² of retail and local supply space, 14,000 m² for a medical center, fitness, and office uses, and approximately 120 apartments, about half of which will overlook the river Blau. The zoning resolution for the Western Section (led by ASTOC) is expected in Q4 2026.

Christian Diesen, Managing Director, HLG Real Estate:

“The transformation of the Blautal-Center is not only a construction project but also a cultural one. It demonstrates how urban development, sustainability, and economic viability can be closely interlinked. Winning Gold at the polis Award reinforces our commitment to this path.”

Pascal Maas, Managing Director, MAAS & PARTNER Architekten:

“For our team and all project partners, this is a wonderful recognition. Repositioning a monostructural retail property — a typology now in decline — comes at a time of intense debate about the future of building. We are delighted that pilot projects like Blau.Quartier Ulm are gaining national attention. It underlines the importance of collaboration and the power of a shared vision.”

Dr. Simon Kempf, Managing Director, Periskop Development GmbH:

“The polis Award is a tremendous acknowledgment of the vision to rethink urbanity from within the existing fabric. Blau.Quartier exemplifies how a formerly single-purpose structure can evolve into a lively, socially and ecologically balanced environment. We are convinced this sets a model for many similar sites across Germany.”

The Blau.Quartier project exemplifies a new generation of urban transformation: instead of demolition and rebuilding, the partners pursue continuing construction within the existing fabric, making intelligent use of resources and creating shared spaces that link city and nature.

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