MyZeil Shopping Mall

The project, designed by Massimiliano Fuksas Architects is located halfway along Haupteinkaufsstrasse, the shopping street of Frankfurt. The brief envisaged the construction, on a 105,000 square metres area,  of structure comprising a shopping mall, a film theatre, a fitness centre, a hotel, meeting rooms, offices, parking spaces.

Its many functions affect not just the main features of the project but also the logistics, opening hours and dividing up of the structure… For a brief of this complexity one level of access is not enough, so we provided another one serving the same functions on the fourth floor. The commercial area is located between these two levels, while the film theatre, sports centre and restaurants are on the fourth floor, making it the reference point for all the entertainment facilities and main level of the building.

The project’s structure was inspired by a fluid form connecting the Zeil, an important shopping street,  to the Thurn and Taxis palace (a building re-built in a historical style). People never stay on the ground floor of the structure: upon entering the building, they find a series of fluid paths easing circulation. A sequence of voids lets the natural light into the interior spaces, making it pleasant to stop over. Such an extensive programme means the structure can be occupied 24 hour a-day, not only for shopping, even though there are more than 100 shops, but also for leisure time, meeting friends, watching a movie, etc.. It is  a nice place to stain in, maybe sheltering from cold and snow.