Investment climate in WSP deemed favorable following Expo-Real event
At the recent Expo Real trade fair in Munich, WSP and city-building GmbH showcased their plans for spatial densification and hybrid use buildings in Pforzheim, Germany. The duo emphasised their strategies to increase urban density by integrating mixed-use developments that combine residential, commercial, and public spaces within the same building or area.
The goal is to make more efficient use of available land, support sustainable urban growth, and enhance the quality of life by creating multifunctional, vibrant neighbourhoods.
Their plans include developing hybrid-use buildings that blend housing with workspaces, retail, and leisure facilities. They also aim to emphasise spatial densification in existing urban areas to limit urban sprawl. Sustainable design principles will be incorporated to improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
Moreover, these initiatives aim to support local economic growth by fostering flexible spaces that adapt to changing market and community needs. This could potentially create medium-term area potential for manufacturing companies at the former retail locations.
The discussions at the WSP booth were well-attended, with many topics being discussed with project developers, investors, operators, or expansion managers. Markus Epple, head of the WSP economic development department, reported that spatial densification of retail-dominated construction on Karlsruhe Street was a focus of numerous conversations.
The consensus emerging from these conversations is to relocate food discounter locations from the "second row" to newly developed hybrid-use buildings directly on Karlsiehue Street. Follow-up appointments in Pforzheim in the coming weeks were agreed upon for these approaches.
WSP CEO Oliver Reitz reported that both WSP and city-building GmbH found this cross-sectoral and cooperative collaboration enriching. They intend to hold a joint booth presence next year to stimulate and discuss projects under various aspects and utilise synergies to the best possible extent.
However, the current economic and political conditions have posed challenges to the construction and real estate industry and related investments. The increases in interest rates and energy and material costs have dampened the mood at the Expo Real. Despite these challenges, many of the conversation partners at the WSP booth expressed optimism.
As the WSP team returns from the trade fair after three days, they look forward to implementing these plans in Pforzheim, contributing to the city's sustainable and vibrant urban development. Over 1,800 exhibitors participated in the Expo Real, making it a significant platform for such discussions and collaborations.
One sentence could be: "WSP and city-building GmbH are planning to develop hybrid-use buildings in Pforzheim, integrating real-estate such as housing with workspaces, retail, and leisure facilities, to support sustainable urban growth and enhance the quality of life."
Another sentence could be: "In the discussions at the WSP booth at the Expo Real trade fair, there was consensus to relocate food discounters from retail-dominated constructions to newly developed hybrid-use buildings, as part of their strategies to increase urban density and limit urban sprawl."
