SHAPING.THE CITY
Ever since the hour of its birth, the chessboard-like shape of the City of Squares represents its thinkers and creative minds. In 1607 the Palatinate elector Frederick IV had it built according to what was then thought to be an ideal city. Since then, Mannheim has stood out against the rest of the region like an island, is enthroned gracefully between the rivers Rhine and Neckar and, as viewed from above, reminds the visitor of Manhattan which is approximately the same age. Latest standards make the city a didactic play of strategic planning.
Trying something new, exceeding the limits: This is especially true for Mannheim. Architecture is an essential part of the history, culture and lifeworld of the city on the river Neckar. Mannheim does not only continuously extend and improve its living space by committed building projects, but already set standards in the past for a demanding life of a modern urban community.