27.06.2024
SLA designs first major project in Germany
We are happy to present our first major project in Germany: The 47,000 m2 nature-based neighborhood of Sugar Valley.
Sugar Valley is one of Munich’s largest and most ambitious urban development projects, transforming an old industrial area into a new, mixed, and nature-based neighborhood.
The project’s declared vision is to create ‘the neighborhood of the future’ and one of Germany’s most sustainable neighborhoods – for example by making the development 100% carbon neutral.
“In Sugar Valley, we are integrating buildings, infrastructure, rainwater management, microclimate, and outdoor spaces into one big comprehensive plan. By reusing the existing industrial structures, materials, and atmospheres and creating a large, car-free city floor, the neighborhood gains a completely new identity in Munich.”
— Franziska Meisel, Associate Partner, SLA
The Sugar Valley site includes Siemens’ former factories and constitutes a 47,000 m2 industrial area in the southwest of Munich.
When completed, the district is planned to contain more than 20,000 m2 of green and publicly accessible outdoor spaces, including a 400 m-long blue-green ‘city nature axis’ that follows the main route of the former factories.
The public space and nature design has been central to the plan’s ambition to maximize the neighborhood’s important ecosystem services.
“The landscape is designed with inspiration from the Alps and Munich's surrounding valleys, ensuring that the project supports the development of local biodiversity. The natural microclimate absorbs, cleans, and alleviates rainwater during torrential downpours and minimizes urban heat islands during summer heat waves - a problem that is only getting worse in southern Germany.”
— Franziska Meisel, Associate Partner, SLA
It is the German real estate developer Salvis who is behind the Sugar Valley project.
The master plan for Sugar Valley is designed by SLA in collaboration with Dutch KCAP and Danish COBE. The landscape is designed by SLA in collaboration with local German landscape architect MGK.
31.01.2025
Grønningen-Bispeparken wins Årets Arne 2025
We are incredibly proud and delighted to share that our Grønningen-Bispeparken has won Årets Arne 2025 – the most prestigious architecture award given by the Danish Architecture Association (Arkitektforeningen) in Copenhagen.
27.01.2025
Pickering to be transferred into Rouge National Urban Park
We are beyond thrilled to share that the Government of Canada today announced the transfer of the Pickering Lands into an Expanded Rouge National Urban Park.
22.01.2025
New book: Critique of the Aesthetic Sense of Nature
We are pleased to present ‘Critique of the Aesthetic Sense of Nature’ – the new book by SLA founding partner Stig L. Andersson.