Integrated architecture & landscape design to create welcoming arrival point for students

Tenderstream member Henning Larsen has won the design competition for a new mobility hub at the University of Konstanz, conceived as an integrated architecture and landscape project. Located near the Swiss border on the shores of Lake Constance in Germany, the new 7,000 sq m hub consists of a new bicycle garage, a wood-sheltered bus stop, and a central plaza that will form the university's main entrance.

The design reimagines the traditionally dark, grey underground garage as an open and integrated environment. Constructed from recycled concrete, the new bicycle garage is not only an infrastructure for mobility, but a spatial experience that connects architecture, nature, and people. The garage features a canopy-like roof with strategically placed openings that bring daylight and natural ventilation to the lower level, while also creating space for trees to grow through the structure itself.

Above ground, the roof becomes the central plaza, creating a multifunctional setting for everyday gatherings, events, and informal activity. Across its two levels, the building takes on a dual role: providing space for bicycle parking while guiding users from their arrival point toward campus entrances and facilities through a network of access points and paths.

The roof is slightly concave, channelling rainwater to retention boxes for irrigation and evaporation. Drought-tolerant, biodiversity-supporting plants reduce the need for additional watering. A natural garden establishes a calm environment that supports well-being and reduces exam-related stress. Details such as wooden bus stop structures on the upper plaza act as landmarks and welcoming gestures, linking directly to the lower level and forming a cohesive architectural and social centre. 

Hendrik Porst, head of the Ideas & Concept Department at Henning Larsen, stated: “Nature guides the experience in our design, when we deprioritize cars and instead let people move through light, greenery, and open space, the campus comes alive.”

The project is expected to complete in 2031.

Lucy Nordberg
Tenderstream Head of Research

This tender was first published by Tenderstream on 02.06.2025 here

Start your free trial here or email our team directly at customerservices@tenderstream.com