Join our tour of Freiburg, the German city leading the way in sustainable architecture
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

An island of liberalism in the conservative south, Freiburg is a charming university town and one of the warmest and most sustainable cities in Germany, where Mediterranean climes mean passive heating systems are the norm and trams trump cars at every turn. A medieval town sadly flattened by the war, its considerable cache of modern eco-friendly buildings has been augmented by a new town hall that situates it firmly on the map of cutting-edge green architecture.
The winner of the 2018 Balthasar Neumann award, the new Freiburg town hall by Ingenhoven Architects that opened last November has the feel of an eco-coliseum. A beacon of sustainability, with a skin of vertically staggered photovoltaic cells and locally sourced birch, its inner sanctum is a vaguely sci-fi feeling courtyard where domed skylights are flanked by indigenous grasses and plantings.
The pedestrian-level floors are glazed to promote a literal and figurative sense of transparency, while its roof boasts a giant oculus that opens up to a breathtaking view of the surrounding city. The world’s first public net-surplus-energy building also enjoys an adjacent day nursery – a kind of mini-me version of the town hall – and a public plaza.
Vaubon, Freiburg’s uber-green enclave that morphed from squatters’ communes to city-subsidised independent housing, is home to the groundbreaking Green City hotel (by Barkow Leibinger) as well as the red-toned cubed Montessori school by Spiecker Sauter Lauer.
A new tram stop and café with a distinctive curved roof on the edge of Freiburg’s historic district by J. MAYER H in partnership with Architekten structure will soon be complete.
And Dietenbach – a new district slated to be one of the biggest urban developments in Germany – will be located at the edge of the city centre, covering an area of 100 hectares, and promises to house up to 14,000 inhabitants in 5500 new sustainable dwellings.
A 2018 Balthasar Neumann award winner, the Freiburg Town Hall by Ingenhoven Architects reads like an eco-coliseum.
While the future looks green, the past is alive and well at the edge of Freiburg’s oldest cemetery, where a new parish building by Stocker Dewes Architekten quietly pays homage to an adjacent mid-century church with skylights that open up to its bell tower, while medieval burial stones are displayed as installation art. The very touristic, historical old town is brought into the 21st century by the 2016 Degelo Architekten + IttenbrechBühl library – which sits across from a plaza that was the former site of the city’s 19th-century synagogue (destroyed during Kristallnacht), now transformed into a memorial fountain.
Meanwhile in Wiehre, the upscale 19th-century residential district established by silver miners (that escaped the worst of the Second World War bombing) turned bohemian design enclave, Germany’s oldest and only women’s schwimmbad (swimming pool) offers the option of a refreshing dip, while 500 metres away, refugee housing by Stocker Dewes offers succour to those fleeing war zones.
Overlooking the city from its scenic foothills, Germany’s first United World College was built (by Peter Kulka Architektur and Hotz + Architekten) on the bones of a Carthusian monastery. Energy efficient cube-shaped student residences offer a Bauhaus inspired vision of an idyllic international and sustainable community, where sheep graze amidst modernist monastic interventions and a sweeping view of the city of the future below.
Freiburg Town Hall by Ingenhoven Architects
A beacon of sustainability, with a skin of vertically staggered photovoltaic cells and locally sourced birch, this is the world’s first public net-surplus-energy building.
Freiburg City Library by Degelo Architects
This 2016 project by Degelo Architects took down parts of the original 1970’s library, streamlining it and reshaping it into an energy efficient urban jewel.
Freiburg City Library by Degelo Architects
The diamond like façade of electrochemically treated chrome steel becomes a two way mirror – reflecting both the historic buildings around it and revealing its interior activities.
Refugee housing by Stocker Dewes Architekten
Located in the upscale residential neighbourhood of Wiehre, this housing project is in keeping with the city’s plan to integrate refugees rather than isolate them.
Refugee housing by Stocker Dewes Architekten
The simple yet sociable design by Stocker Dewes Architekten offers privacy and community to those seeking refuge from war torn homelands.
Maria Magdalena Church / Double Church For Two Faiths by KSG Architekten
This architectural ode to cross denominational harmony contains a Protestant and a Catholic church in a single building.
Maria Magdalena Church / Double Church For Two Faiths by KSG Architekten
Employing a kind of flexible brutalism and sophisticated engineering, KSG Architekten has created a multi-aisle structure with moveable inner walls that can make way for single ecumenical church space.
Black Forest House by Stocker Dewes Architekten
The husband and wife team of Stocker Dewes Architekten created their combined home/office space at the edge of the Black Forest from the bones of an old horse stable.
Black Forest House by Stocker Dewes Architekten
The work/living space is delineated by an interior wall/stairwell that separates the two functions, even as a long corridor unites them. Clad in wavy grain wood to complement the surrounding environment, the forest is brought inside by extensive glazing.
United World College by Peter Kulka Architektur and Hotz + Architekten
Germany’s first United World College was built (by Peter Kulka Architektur and Hotz + Architekten) on the bones of a Carthusian monastery.
United World College by Peter Kulka Architektur and Hotz + Architekten
Now, energy efficient cube shaped student residences offer a Bauhaus inspired vision of an idyllic international and sustainable community.
die evangelische Pfarrgemeinde Nord by Stocker Dewes Architekten
At the edge of Freiburg’s oldest cemetery, a new parish building by Stocker Dewes Architekten pays homage to the adjacent mid-century Ludwigskirche church.
die evangelische Pfarrgemeinde Nord by Stocker Dewes Architekten
The structure features skylights that open up to its bell tower, and a sober yet luminescent interior.
Green City Hotel Vauban by Barkow Leibinger
In Freiburg’s sustainable car free neighbourhood of Vaubon, the ’living wall’ clad Green City Hotel combines green architecture and social responsibility. Employing people with disabilities, and a simple palette of stone glass and wood, this hotel offers eco-hospitality at its best.
Green City Hotel Vauban by Barkow Leibinger
Large punched out windows in the lobby bring the outside in, while green furniture and plantings add colour to match the living wall outside.
Sasbach Winery by ABMP Architekten
In nearby Sasbach, this winery by ABMP Architekten combines a fairy tale style original weinhaus with a modern building offering more room for storage and tastings.
Sasbach Winery by ABMP Architekten
Reflecting the evolution of viticulture, the winery morphs from Black Forest vernacular to sleek concrete flooring and metal cladding.
Dietenbach District (various architects)
Dietenbach, a new district slated to be one of the biggest urban developments in Germany – will be located at the edge of the city center, covering an area of 100ha, and promises to house up to 14.000 inhabitants in 5500 new sustainable dwellings.
Tram stop and Café by J. Mayer. H.
Located at the edge of Freiburg’s historic district, this new tram stop boasts a dynamic, undulating roof structure.
Tram stop and Café by J. Mayer. H.
An adjoining café features floor to ceiling glazing and circular white mesh interior fixtures. The project is due for completion in spring 2019.
Protestant Montessori School by Spiecker Sauter Lauer
This Montessori school by Spiecker Sauter Lauer packs a lot of building onto a small lot. It’s notable for its mottled red concrete cube that appears to float over the street, supported only by thin diagonal columns.
Protestant Montessori School by Spiecker Sauter Lauer
Open interior spaces reflect the Montessori concept of flexible learning environments.
-
Sabato De Sarno is appointed new creative director of Gucci
Italian designer Sabato De Sarno – formerly of Valentino – is the new creative director of Gucci, replacing Alessandro Michele who left the house last November
By Jack Moss • Published
-
Sotheby’s to auction Marie-Antoinette’s armchairs, amid other regal lots, in aid of French château
Sotheby’s Paris will auction works from the collection of interior designer Jacques Garcia in aid of Château du Champ de Bataille
By Martha Elliott • Published
-
Marco Campardo wins Design Museum’s emerging designer prize
The Design Museum, London, announces Marco Campardo as winner of The Ralph Saltzman Prize, an annual accolade to celebrate and support emerging designers
By Rosa Bertoli • Published
-
Sustainable architecture: innovative and inspiring building design
This is sustainable architecture at its best: from amazing abodes to centres of care and hard-working offices, these buildings not only look good but also do good
By Ellie Stathaki • Published
-
Is ProxyAddress architecture’s answer to solving homelessness?
ProxyAddress founder Chris Hildrey talks to us about architecture changing the world, and his pioneering initiative to help solve homelessness
By Ellie Stathaki • Published
-
Vinu Daniel on the glory of garbage in architecture and Chuzhi House
With an ethos of reuse and local sourcing, architect Vinu Daniel of Wallmakers is rewriting the rulebook for sustainable architecture and wins Best Earth Builder at the Wallpaper* Design Awards 2023
By Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar • Published
-
Hive Earth leads the charge in contemporary building with earth
Hive Earth from Ghana is part of our series of profiles of architects, spatial designers and builders shaping West Africa's architectural future
By Ellie Stathaki • Published
-
‘Ole Scheeren: Spaces of Life’ celebrates ‘form follows fiction’ in architecture
‘Ole Scheeren: Spaces of Life’, a comprehensive look into the work of the German architect, opens at ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe
By Ellie Stathaki • Published
-
Kéré Architecture’s Uganda community centre provides safety and opportunity
A Uganda community centre created by Kéré Architecture was designed with development in mind
By Martha Elliott • Published
-
Steven Holl Architects' Rubenstein Commons building is a seasonal delight
Rubenstein Commons building in Princeton by Steven Holl Architects is designed with the seasons and academic excellence in mind
By Martha Elliott • Last updated
-
Architecture for animals leads the way at this school for dogs
Details are designed with dogs in mind at Spain’s Educan School for Dogs, Humans and Other Species
By Hannah Silver • Published