From a potato factory
to a digital
high-performing
center
The WERK1 building has a long history: first a potato factory, then “Kultfabrik” and now home to digital startups, Coworkers and Colivers in the Werksviertel-Mitte district at Ostbahnhof.
How it all began…
1949 was the birth of the Pfanni brand in Munich. The brand was launched with the Pfanni potato pancake. The legendary potato dumpling followed a year later and mashed potatoes in 1959. Pfanni specialized in everything related to the German potato, and the company relied on advertising to promote its products from an early stage.
But what does all this have to do with today’s WERK1? Quite simple: in 1955, the WERK1 building became Pfanni’s administrative headquarter. Werner Eckart, the founder of Pfanni, the advertising department, accounting, and the cash register moved into the new office building.
A slide show about the history of the Werksviertel-Mitte site can be found here.
From a dumpling empire to a cultural capital
In 1996, the former potato stronghold at Ostbahnhof transformed into a vibrant cultural and artistic hub. In September 1996 the “Kunstpark Ost” was opened on the site of what is now Munich’s Werksviertel-Mitte. The repurposing of industrial facilities for rock and techno concerts embodied the allure of innovation. For the hipsters of the time, the location, events and lifestyle became symbols of the newfound freedom.
New clubs, bars and studios for artists were constantly emerging. Icons such as the “Nachtkantine”, New York Table Dance and Starskys were just some of the cultural institutions that made the district something very special even back then.
In 2003, “Kunstpark Ost” became the “Kultfabrik” with over 25 clubs, discos, bars, concert halls and various event locations. It became a hotspot for all kinds of music.
You can read more about “Kunstpark Ost” and the “Kultfabrik” here.
The WERK1 at Werksviertel-Mitte Munich
At the beginning of 2013, WERK1 finally became the home of the digital start-up scene. b-neun Media & Technology Center GmbH moved from Unterföhring to the premises in the Werksviertel and was renamed WERK1. It was one of the first projects in the newly emerging Werksviertel-Mitte. The large area, located directly at Munich’s Ostbahnhof, is one of the most exciting urban development projects in Germany. Where potato products and lubricants were once produced, a new urban district is now being created.
The largest part of the new Werksviertel Munich used to be the former Pfanni factories, where potato products were developed, produced, and packaged. Even the name WERK1 is a legacy of that time: today’s WERK1 was the former Pfanni Werk1, which was home to the laboratories and packaging of the local production.
The future: WERK1.4
For 10 years now, digital game changers have found the ideal conditions at WERK1 to realize their entrepreneurial dreams. With a startup incubator, two Coworking spaces, a café, event locations and a variety of events, we have become one of the central hubs for digital companies in Munich. With the new building WERK1.4, we expanded our space to over 10,000 square meters in summer 2023 and opened the first Coliving concept for startups in Munich.
“With the addition of the Coliving concept, WERK1 aims to meet the needs of the rapidly growing tech startup scene in Munich and to make the city of Munich even more attractive for the regional and international startup scene. WERK1 remains true to its commitment of being the most startup-friendly place in Munich”
Dr. Robert R. Richter, CEO WERK1
One of the most exciting district development in the country
The Werksviertel is a prime example of a long-term transformation from an industrial area to a refreshing, mixed-use and vibrant district.
The creative revitalization of existing structures serves as the guiding principle throughout all the plans, whereby the recently opened Werk 1.4 is surprising as a new building, although it gives the impression of an extensively renovated old building structure – an effect of the intensive examination of the history, identity and architecture of the site by Hild und K (Munich/Berlin).
Press inquiries, logos and images
Do you have any questions or are you looking for pictures? Then write us a mail! If you are looking for pictures of WERK1 or WERK1.4, you’ll find them in the press kit.