Architecture Walking Tour

Design Concept: Neue Deutsche Oper

A striking appearance in a unique location in the city – the Neue Deutsche Oper am Rhein could be the new cultural venue for the City of Düsseldorf, its citizens and visitors. An opera house that represents the state capital in a modern and cosmopolitan way by international standards; and an opera house on the Rhine for all of Düsseldorf's citizens. The design concept aims to inspire, sketch out ideas, and point out a possible new location for the Neue Deutsche Oper am Rhein.

Pier One

Pier One is a spectacular new building in Düsseldorf’s harbour. The building sits above the water, supported on 180 piles. Another special feature that will change the port forever: radiating from Pier One are four new slender bridges, connecting 3 different, previously isolated streets. This creates both a new transit route and a new public space on the water – emblematic for the harbour’s transformation in recent decades and a catalyst of further development. Construction is planned to begin in 2021. In terms of urban planning, Pier One is a logical next step in the development of the Düsseldorf Harbour – an area that is central to the urban development of the metropolis on the Rhine. In 1886, the city’s first port facility, one of the most modern of its time, was opened and accelerated Düsseldorf’s rise as an important hub of trade and industry. In 1906 Georg Plange, owner of the largest milling company in Europe at that time, erected a striking flour mill building, visible from afar, to produce the Diamant flour brand. The economic boom during post-war reconstruction in the 1950s was followed by a comprehensive restructuring of the port, triggered by the advent of container shipping as well as the coal and steel crisis. From the mid-1970s onwards, offices and businesses increasingly moved in among the industrial enterprises, and from 1990 onwards development of the MedienHafen [Media Harbour] has transformed the area into the city’s go-to district. But new uses of the harbour beyond trade and industry also requires adequate long-term infrastructure. The historic quays reach far into the harbour, meaning that visitors must cross long distances to reach the tip of the headland. A new, smart transport route can only be established with the help of bridges. The idea of directly connecting the headlands in Düsseldorf’s port goes back to the “Living Bridges” exhibition. Curated by the Centre Pompidou Paris and the Royal Academy London and hosted at the NRW-Forum in Düsseldorf in 2000, the show presented the office’s urban development vision for the commercial port: a network of floating bridges and footbridges.With Pier One, this idea is now becoming a reality. A new building and, together with the bridges, a new infrastructure will be created. Like Kö-Bogen II in the Düsseldorf city centre, this project is an expression of a paradigm shift – both the symbol of a new era and a catalyst for the port’s further transformation. Built on a pile foundation, Pier One responds to the dynamics of the peninsula. The architecture is based on the lightness of typical pier buildings. Two, five-storey building sections with an additional staggered storey and projecting roof terraces rise above a parking level and are connected by a public atrium. Generous 21,500 square metres of gross floor space offer room for offices, showrooms, or a hotel. The ground floor attracts the public with an assortment of cafés, restaurants, and unexpected perspectives.

Betonsilo - from zero to hero

From a historic granary to a state-of-the-art medical, creative and office site – the new Betonsilo With the Betonsilo, the refurbishment and ambitious conversion of the Plange Mühle historic building ensemble is now complete. The Betonsilo is part of the Plange Mühle Campus – a lively, future-forward quarter at Düsseldorf’s harbour, planned according to the highest ecological standards in line with the supergreen© principles of ingenhoven associates and with a special appreciation for the existing building fabric. The new Betonsilo Built in 1929, the Betonsilo (concrete silo) comprises ten reinforced concrete cylinders standing nearly 30 metres high and arranged in pairs. It was constructed using free formwork, which was unusual for such construction heights at that time. Since April 2000, it has been a listed building. Today, the Betonsilo houses, among others, a radiology practice and an orthopaedic clinic with reception rooms, surgery, and bed floors; other medical uses will follow. In addition, it offers contemporary office space with magnificent views. Adapting the Betonsilo for contemporary use was a particularly challenging task given the type of building, and the work was conducted in close consultation with the monument preservation authorities. The cylinders were sliced open lengthwise, new floor slabs were inserted by partially demolishing the inner silo walls, and windows were integrated into nine of the cylinders. The cylinder immediately adjacent to the Holzsilo (wooden silo) on the campus side was preserved in its original, closed condition. Inside it are the main staircase, two passenger elevators, and a freight elevator. Daylight now enters all the other silo cylinders through two new aluminium windows on each of the seven floors.. An additional setback floor, the “Überflieger”, serves as a skywalk, connecting the Betonsilo with the neighbouring Holzsilo. Terraces and new floor-to-ceiling windows, the latter already part of the original plans according to building records from 1929, offer expansive views over Düsseldorf Harbour and the city centre. With its topmost accessible level approximately 28.9 metres above the ground level, the Betonsilo is considered a highrise building. The historic stairwell tower, which adjoins the silo cylinders and opens onto the skywalk, was completely gutted. In its place, a new emergency stairwell was integrated that complies with current safety regulations. Since large temporary openings in the facade were not permitted by the preservation authorities, the Betonsilo was revitalized “from the inside and above”: all building logistics were brought into the structure through an opening made in the roof. Instead of a conventional composite thermal insulation system, a 15 cm layer of plaster was applied to the facade during renovation, which also underscores the authentic expression of the entire ensemble. The Betonsilo is part of the new Plange Mühle Campus – home to companies from the fashion, medical, architecture, and consulting industries, plus a variety of catering and event spaces. Traces of the site’s history remain legible: at the heart of the campus is the striking industrial architecture from 1906, the brick buildings of the former Georg Plange wheat mill.

Heinrich Campus Deloitte Office

We Build Big, but We Plan On a Human Scale An innovative office campus has been established in Düsseldorf’s Derendorf quarter. The tiered arrangement of the three five- to seven-story blocks – distinguished by recesses and varied heights – allows the building to blend harmoniously into the urban fabric while creating generous open spaces. The brick facade recalls the area’s industrial past. The brightness of the bricks is graduated across the three volumes, while articulated brick detailing on the outer elevations accentuates the rhythm of the openings in the perforated facade. Home for All Initially planned for multiple tenants, the building is now fully occupied by auditing and consulting firm Deloitte. Their agile work culture, focus on process optimization, and high standards for security and discretion were addressed in close dialogue with caspar., resulting in a workplace that goes beyond conventional standards and anticipates the future of work. With around 3,500 employees in Düsseldorf, Deloitte’s presence is growing. The Heinrich Campus provides 900 standard-compliant workstations and an additional 2,000 across a variety of settings. An app-based booking system eliminates hierarchy, enabling anyone to reserve a workspace as needed. Deloitte’s aim that “everyone should find a home here” reflects a broader shift toward office environments that offer the comfort and autonomy associated with remote work. In the competition for talent, the quality of the physical workplace has become a key differentiator. Welcoming Presence Despite Deloitte’s stringent security requirements, the Heinrich Campus exudes an open and inviting atmosphere. The firm’s main entrance is centrally located on the sheltered south side. From the public forecourt, visitors and employees enter a glazed lobby with an open gallery above, accessible beyond the security gate. Oak finishes, indoor greenery, and unobstructed views lend the space a professional yet relaxed feel. The flexible layout accommodates large events, with movable furnishings enhancing adaptability. The lobby connects to special use zones: a recruiting area at the front and a light-filled food court positioned between the inner courtyard and forecourt. The westernmost of the three courtyards contains a double-height, column-free event hall for up to 500 people, which can be connected directly to the lobby when needed. This showcase space is equipped to high technical standards, including 360° 3D projection. New Work Custom-designed furniture and a robust technical infrastructure support seamless activity-based working across the campus. Fully equipped workstations allow employees to begin immediately with minimal setup. Warm oak floors and furnishings contrast with black ceilings and white Corian counters to create a balanced, authentic atmosphere. Thoughtfully designed open spaces and interior greenery enhance employee wellbeing and foster a healthy microclimate. Deloitte’s investment in interior quality is matched by a forward-looking sustainability concept. Certified DGNB Gold, the building uses durable materials and energy-efficient systems based on the LowEx principle – delivering high comfort with low energy consumption. The result is a holistic synthesis of architectural integrity and cutting-edge workplace design.

Kö-Bogen II

Kö-Bogen II marks the conclusion of an extensive urban renewal project in the heart of Düsseldorf. The commercial and office building represents a paradigm shift: With Europe’s largest green façade – 8 kilometres of hornbeam hedges, over 30,000 plants – the ensemble offers an architectural response to climate change. From an urban perspective, it signals the departure from the automotive era and a turn towards people-oriented planning. Giving back as much green as possible to the city is a task that the practice has been working on for decades and across different climate zones. With its supergreen® concept, the office is taking a comprehensive approach to sustainability. Today, at the site where an elevated motorway once dominated the landscape, the Hofgarten has moved back into the heart of the city. Kö-Bogen II was developed in response to the existing urban situation. With their sloping facades turned towards each other, the five-storey, trapezoidal main building, together with its smaller, triangular counterpart, form a dynamic entrance to Gustaf-Gründgens-Platz. The composition of the green facades is inspired by Land Art and enables the new building complex to oscillate in a deliberate indeterminacy between city and park. The whole ensemble opens up the view to icons of post-war modernism – the clear austerity of the Dreischeibenhaus [1960] and the buoyant lightness of the Schauspielhaus [1970], whose renovation was also undertaken by the practice. Kö-Bogen II is a contemporary response to these two historic landmarks, without competing with them. Since 1992, the office has been pursuing the idea of redesigning the centre of Düsseldorf. With studies, urban planning concepts, and concrete projects, he has provided essential impulses for the evolution of a city that was long oriented towards cars and the unimpeded flow of traffic. The hornbeam was intentionally selected as a native hardwood species that keeps its leaves in winter. A comprehensive phytotechnological concept was developed together with an expert and protects against the sun’s rays in summer and reduces urban heat, binds carbon dioxide, stores moisture, attenuates noise, and supports biodiversity. The ecological benefit of the hornbeam hedges is equivalent to that of approximately 80 fully grown deciduous trees. The integration of nature into architecture as a contemporary response to climate change.

Oberkasseler Brücke

Theodor Heuss Bridge

Bridge.

Arag-Tower

Architectural structure.

Eclipse

Landmark of Dusseldorf‘s North Together with the L‘Oréal building on the opposite side of the Kennedydamm, the 16-storey office tower Eclipse will form the northern gateway to Dusseldorf’s city centre. The triangular shape of the building is inspired by the street outline and neighbouring hotel. It also gives users of the building a 360-degree city vista. A vertical Ecosystem The vertical work campus provides areas for communication and connection, which, in conjunction with landscaped atria, create inspiring environments with a variety of interior and exterior spatial elements. The spiral of green atria forms the central communicative space of the high-rise campus building, designed to inspire encounter and interaction. The atria are fundamental meeting places, represent the central connections between the different storeys and serve as spaces for regeneration, where employees can spend breaks, but also come together for informal meetings or enjoy a coffee together. Sustainable & Smart The Eclipse office building is being planned as a smart building. This enables sensor control of lights and temperature at the workplaces, dynamic information on workplace usage, presence-controlled air-conditioning and even an intelligent parking system. The building will also be a certified ‘Green Building’ in line with the DGNB Platinum standard. A two-storey underground car park will provide charging stations for electric vehicles, ample bike stands as well as charging points for e-bikes. Connected & Collaborative The floor plans of the vertical office campus ensure good daylight on every side and high flexibility: individual offices, open-plan or cubicle designs or a mixture of the two, anything is possible. Whilst these areas enable concentrated, undisturbed and if necessary confidential working, the characteristic atria enhance office efficiency by the added value of social spaces. Smart technologies ensure that the building can be adapted to user requirements and optimise functional and working processes and energy consumption. Scaled Facade The distinctive glass façade is framed with scale-like copper-coloured elements. Smooth and transparent sections of the façade trace the helix shape of the atria within. Inviting Oasis Between the office tower and the existing hotel, an inviting two-storey podium forms a transparent link and, together with the main entrance, creates a flowing transition to the exterior space. A landscaped roof garden provides an additional peaceful oasis from street noise. To highlight the main entrance and accentuate the volumes of podium and tower, the eloquent apex of the tower is cantilevered approx. 11 metres over the adjacent vehicle entrance. The seemingly suspended tower structure is supported by a striking three-dimensional v-shaped pillar. Under construction The Eclipse office building is already under construction and due for completion at the end of 2022.

Flughafenbrücke

Motorway bridge crossing the Rhine in Düsseldorf, Germany.