Market halls are multifunctional spaces whose significance goes far beyond their original trading function. They are central places of social life, cultural exchange points that also make an important contribution to sustainable urban development and regional production cycles.
Until the 1970s, a market hall built in 1934 stood on the site of today's Badisches Staatstheater in Südstadt, which was a central part of the city's commercial infrastructure and an important social meeting place that also served cultural purposes. In 1967, for example, the 15th “Karlsruhe Exhibition” of the German Artists' Association took place in the old market hall in cooperation with the Badischer Kunstverein.
In1970 - at a time when other retail concepts such as large-scale shopping centers in the periphery (big box stores) were favored - operations in the market hall were discontinued and the hall was demolished to enable the construction of the Badisches Staatstheater. The citizens were promised a replacement soon, but this was only realized for a very limited customer group (commercial retailers) with the “Karlsruhe Wholesale Market” on Weinweg further out (source: https://ka.stadtwiki.net/Markthalle). 
As the current problems of department store chains and the high vacancy rates of traditional retail stores in pedestrian zones show, shopping and consumer behavior has changed considerably: Consumers increasingly value individual shopping experiences, sustainability and quality when shopping locally, rather than buying mass-produced goods.
The aim of the design is to investigate the potential offered by market halls with their very flexible range compared to traditional department stores, their proximity to customers and their sustainable regional production cycles. With their authentic and regional shopping experience and the integration of social and cultural offerings and services, can they also be an alternative concept to shopping malls with a strong focus on commerce that also promotes the local economy and crafts?
Based on a general potential analysis of the “market hall” typology, a sustainable usage concept (spatial program) is to be developed for the Karlsruhe location, which draws its added value from synergies between retail and other, e.g. socio-cultural and culinary offerings, while enabling regional food systems. In addition, a suitable location in Karlsruhe is to be identified in line with the utilization concept. The planning implementation will be carried out in close coordination with the Chair of Construction Technology (Prof. Dr. Rosemarie Wagner) on a scale appropriate to the size of the project.

Prüfungstag: 20.02.2025

Regular meetings: Thu. 09:00 am -13:00 pm

First meeting: Thursday, den 10/24/2024, 9:00 am,  Seminar Room BLM

Submission/Exam: Thursday, 02/20/2025