Robert C. Spies and GRAFT develop concept for Dresden's Ostra Quarter

Plans for a 40,000-square-meter district on the edge of Dresden's old town are moving forward: media group Bertelsmann is planning a new urban quarter on the site surrounding the historic Haus der Presse building.

In close coordination with the city of Dresden, the Office for Urban Planning and Mobility, and the State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments, the real estate company Robert C. Spies and GRAFT have developed a sophisticated urban development concept based on multi-stage planning preparations. The City of Dresden's Design Commission closely monitored the process. With the resolution to adopt the development plan, which was passed on January 14, 2026, the project has reached a key milestone.

A total of four building complexes with a combined gross floor area of around 78,000 square metres are set to be constructed on the Ostra-Allee site. The ensemble is intended for various uses, including apartments, office space, hotels, culture, and leisure.

The Haus der Presse, an ensemble of East Modernist buildings that has shaped the area since the 1960s, and the significant green space towards the theatre workshops on Ostra-Allee will remain as essential elements of the district. A newly designed neighbourhood square and a tree-lined pedestrian route will structure the area and open up new views, connecting several landmarks of the inner city.

Active ground floor zones, public spaces with a high quality of life, and underground access for stationary traffic create a lively neighborhood that blends naturally into the existing urban structure.