Aiding the transformation of Düsseldorf’s former steel yard into a culture and innovation district

Transforming Areal Böhler through new programs

The client’s initial request was to develop an improved mobility concept for the industrial area that could balance heavy logistics traffic with safety for the event venues emerging on the site. The Gehl team convinced the client to embed the mobility concept within a more comprehensive masterplan framework that would establish a hierarchy of spaces, introduce new programs to the industrial heritage buildings, and reconnect the previously walled-off industrial area with its surroundings.

The vision rests on three main pillars: integrating the area into the surrounding urban fabric, establishing a comprehensive green network, and transitioning to a car-free environment. The site is divided into four programmatic zones, focusing on outward-facing urban experiences, upgraded event spaces, a quiet core for offices, and a central connecting park. This layout utilizes a fifteen-minute neighborhood model to ensure that everyday amenities are highly walkable.

The landscape strategy emphasizes climate adaptation, biodiversity, and stormwater management by introducing native plantings and expanded tree canopies. Mobility is restructured by limiting driving to essential perimeter loops and centralizing vehicles in multifunctional hubs, thereby prioritizing active transport such as cycling and walking. Built environment guidelines balance heritage conservation with strategic densification, categorizing actions into refurbishing, retrofitting, removing, or rebuilding structures while preserving historic industrial characteristics.

A multi-stage phasing plan guides implementation from early activations beginning in 2025 through the final completion of the district beyond 2035.