Location | Messecity, 50679 Cologne |
Client | MesseCity Koeln GmbH & Co.KG |
Building period | Planning stage |
Procedure | Invited Competition 2016, 1st Prize |
The façade of the high-rise on Messebalkon city square reconfigures the central arrival point and hub of the MesseCity in Cologne. With its light-colored artificial stone façade, the building becomes an anchor for the emerging area between the Köln Messe/Deutz station and the Koelnmesse exhibition center. Its materiality draws on that of the surrounding buildings, creating a cohesive, unified design and ensuring a homogenous prelude to the area. The tower rises from the ground as a compact structure without protrusions or recesses, lending it an additional energy. Prominent pilasters deliberately draw attention to the verticality of the 16-storey façade, while subtle recesses taper the building in an upwardly direction and provide dynamism. Variations in the finishes differentiate the base from the upper storeys and create a subtle plasticity. Next to the high-rise is a minimalist bronze pavilion with stark geometric lines, conceived as the radical transformation of an antique temple. Embedded within a generous outdoor staircase, it mediates between the different layers of the quarter as well as between the eaves height of the tower and the public square.