Shopping Arcades and Mixed-use Residential and Commercial Building in Bonn »Kaiserpassagen«
The Kaiserpassage is part of the "Kaiserblock" development, occupying a prominent urban location between Martinsstraße, Am Neutor, Martinsplatz, Kaiserplatz, and Wesselstraße; it faces the Münster Cathedral and the University. The opportunity to break up this block with a passageway and make it accessible to pedestrians arose from the size of the remaining plot of land after the infill construction of a six-storey residential and commercial building at the corner of Martinsplatz and Wesselstraße. The project was modeled on the arcades and galleries of the 19th century. The spatial grouping of various specialty shops, boutiques, and kiosks, along with a wide range of service providers (cafes, restaurants, cinemas), was intended to invite passersby to linger regardless of the weather.
