With its mix of housing, workspace and shops, the lively district of Messestadt Riem is essentially a city within a city. Covering 556 hectares, it is one of the largest urban development areas in Europe.

The new neighbourhood was developed in line with the principle of “compact, urban, green”. All construction projects were required to be environmentally sound and sustainable. Another important goal was to effectively combine residential housing and workspace. Various different architects were commissioned to design buildings for the site with the aim of achieving greater architectural diversity. Architects nps tchoban voss planned the South Quarter with its offices, apartments and shopping arcades. The hotel and the offices in the East Quarter were designed by Munich-based architects Allmann Sattler Wappner. Thanks to the different materials and design languages used, a diverse ensemble of buildings has been created, generating a fascinating architectural dialogue.

Proof that this new neighbourhood – which incorporates a new exhibition centre – has been highly inspirational for many architects can be seen in the emergence of some of the most interesting and innovative buildings in Munich. Notable examples include the puristic fire station designed by Reinhard Bauer and the futuristic cemetery chapel by Meck and Köppel.

On 25 October 1939, the first commercial airliner from Berlin landed at Riem Airport, which had taken three years to build. Before the airport could be fully completed, however, some 80 per cent of it was destroyed in bombing raids. In 1950, Munich Riem was nonetheless the first airport in Germany to re-open for civil aviation.

53 years later, with passenger numbers having increased from 30,000 to over 10 million a year, a new airport was built at Erdinger Moos, northeast of Munich. This freed up a huge area and the idea of relocating the trade show site to Riem became reality.

The exhibition centre complex and associated development became Munich’s most ambitious town planning project, with the Riem Arcaden StadtQuartier providing the vibrant heart. The new district with its internationally renowned trade show and congress centre has achieved widespread recognition and resulted in Munich being awarded the German City Prize in 2006.