Common Monnem

Today we would like to share with you the “supergraphic” Common Monnem—Together Mannheim by Florian Budke. A large graphic that was installed in Mannheim, Germany, on the public space ALTER.

Mannheim, a medium-sized city, is known for its grid-plan city layout, its baroque palace and its architecture—but also, and above all, for its ethnically and culturally diverse population. This mix of people can be experienced, among other places, in Neckarstadt East and West, two districts northwest of the city centre.

The cultural link between is ALTER, a public space situated next to the Alter Messplatz, which, with its free sports and cultural activities, is a place to meet, pass time, and get together.

A graphic has been installed on a sports pitch at ALTER that tries to express all the positive qualities of this community-creating space: a “supergraphic” that seeks to visually represent and strengthen the existing cohesion of the people and its atmosphere. The project also aims to set a marker for the preservation of public cultural spaces.

The 38 × 16 meters “supergraphic” follows a typographic approach. The oversized lettering “Common” forms the focal point of the graphic. The letters are oriented towards the centre of the pitch—analogous to players who gather together in a circle before a game begins: They hook into each other in a circle and thus form a unit. The colored filling of the spaces in between is meant to reinforce this community-creating image. The lettering is supported by the words “Alter” and “Monnem.”

The intended theme of active togetherness was already present during the realization of this project. Numerous interested people spontaneously responded to the public call for help on a daily basis. Thus, while the super graphic was being created, the declared goal of the project was already being realized: Common Monnem.

Common Monnem

Design: Florian Budke
Area: 520 m², 38 × 16 meters
Created: 2021
Photographs: Marius Heimburger

Find out more about the project here.