Frankfurt Airport FoodPlaza to get radical redesign as innovative architecture competition draws to a close

GERMANY. Frankfurt Airport’s Terminal 2 FoodPlaza is to undergo a radical redesign as part of parent group Fraport ambitious plans for the prominent space.

The site, which currently houses a McDonald’s restaurant, a children’s playground and a visitors’ terrace, is to be remodelled as part of a recently concluded student architecture competition initiated by Fraport in conjunction with the Hochschule Darmstadt.

The competition, which began last October, saw 51 students present 19 design proposals, visualisations and models. All were assessed by a jury which included Roland and Stephan Kuffler of Kuffler & Bucher and KÃ¤fer’s, Annette Mützel, a gastronomy expert and designer of the Ikea restaurants, Professor Glucker from the Hochschule Damstadt, Guest Professor Andreas Bartels, Fraport Retail Manager Ute Pohl, Architect Thomas Malkmus and Fraport Category Managers Gastronomy Melanie Wagner and Mark Hallstein.


Otte & Leonhardt’s design was noted for its extensive detail and well-structured visitor flow concept.

Two first prizes were awarded:

Lars Otte & Nicolas Leonhardt’s design was noted for the fineness of the design and the extensive presentation of details. The variable design was recognised as being easy to implement, offering numerous possibilities for different gastronomy concepts.

Josephine Zierbarth & Diana Grimmer’s design offered an “unusual, creative and daring” design approach, the jury noted.

The winning designs will form part of the invitation to tender for architects which is scheduled for summer 2008. The redesign of the FoodPlaza is expected to be completed in 2010. Contracts with current concessionaries expire in September 2009 and new invitations to tender are being planned.

An exhibition of the winning student designs will be on show in the SkyLine Exhibition Area in Terminal 2 from July 24 to the end of August.