Here is Düsseldorf, a cutting-edge city with an amazing collection of buildings created by internationally acclaimed architects.

An important shipping port city from the late Roman Empire all the way until the Second World War. However, the second half of the 20th Century was not that fertile for Düsseldorf as the manufacturing and transport economy declined. Nowadays, Düsseldorf harbour replaced the former warehouses and silos with some spectacular postmodern architecture turning it into one the most modern and attractive part of the city. Or at least it is for me as the area which has been remodelled the most to relaunch it as a district of technological innovation.

Here you can find a selection of the most recent architecture of Düsseldorf. The most famous buildings in the new harbour surely are three twisted constructions designed by the Canadian architect Frank Gehry, spiralling and stretching up high in his well-recognisable Deconstructivist style.

Enjoy this architecture guide of Düsseldorf and make good use out of it.

Ps. as you can see from these photos down below it’s an absolute must to stroll along the banks of the river Rhine until you get to the Media Harbour during sunset.

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NEUER ZOLLHOF |FRANK GEHRY|

Known even as ‘the Gehry’s buildings’, these three contrasting buildings are an iconic landmark in Düsseldorf’s architecture scene. All together they appear like a sinuous sculpture whilst the different facade cladding – white plaster, red brick and polished stainless steel –  give each building its own identity.

Fun fact: originally the architectural design competition for the site was won by Zaha Hadid however never commissioned due to the project’s high cost.

FRANK GEHRY

Gehry-Bauten, Neuer Zollhof 3, 40221 Düsseldorf

To know more about Frank Gehry check even

FONDATION LOUIS VUITTON in Paris

DANCING HOUSE in Prague

RHINE TOWER |HARALD DEILMANN|

The Rhine Tower, designed by Harald Deilmann and inaugurated in 1981, is surely the most known landmark of Düsseldorf and still remains its highest building. This concrete telecommunications tower is also the largest digital clock in the world conceived as a light installation.  So you can see yellow lights which are arranged in a vertical line and indicate the time while the hours, minutes and seconds are divided by horizontal red lights. At the height of 172 metres an observation deck allows you a great view of the city so don’t miss that! Plus the restaurant ‘Top 180’ rotates around the shaft of the tower once every hour. How cool is that!

RHEINTURM

Stromstraße 20, 40212 Düsseldorf

RHEINKNIEBRÜCKE BRIDGE

The Rheinkniebrücke bridge is a beautiful cable-stayed bridge over the Rhine in the Harbour district. Built in 1969, based on plans by Friedrich Tamms it is one of the most photographed landmarks of the city.

HAFENBRÜCKE BRIDGE

COLORIUM |WILL ALSOP|

If you keep walking in Mediahafen you can’t visually miss Colorium. The curtain wall of this tower is formed of a multicoloured patchwork of glass panels that turns it into a mosaic artwork. And if you know other Will Alsop’s realisations you can notice that he frequently uses primary, bright colours on its facades (check his CHIPS building in Manchester).  It is an office development but you can take the lift up to the View restaurant to enjoy a nice view over the Harbour.

MELIA HOTEL  |  THE VIEW RESTAURANT

WILL ALSOP

Speditionstraße 9, 40221 Düsseldorf

HYATT REGENCY |JSK ARCHITECTS|

HYATT REGENCY HOTEL

Speditionstraße 19, 40221 Düsseldorf

GAP 15 |JSK ARCHITECTS|

Graf-Adolf-Platz 15, 40213 Düsseldorf

SEVENS

So many places to stop for some shopping. As usual don’t forget to look up, look at staircases and escalators!

Königsallee 56, 40212 Düsseldorf

K-21 |KIESSLER+PARTNER|

Added in 2002, this new museum is dedicated to modern and contemporary art. The glazed domed roof that you can see even from the entrance hall is just beautiful. The art installation ‘in orbit’ of Tomás Saraceno surely is its highlight!

K-21

KIESSLER+PARTNER

Ständehausstraße 1, 40217 Düsseldorf

DERAG LIVINGHOTEL DE MEDICI

Just a quick suggestion for everyone who likes staircases, Renaissance period inspired.

DERAG LIVINGHOTEL DE MEDICI

Mühlenstraße 31, 40213 Düsseldorf

DÜSSELDORF CENTRAL STATION

KÖ-BOGEN |DANIEL LIBESKIND|

Kö-Bogen is another architectural landmark in the city. It’s a multi-use complex with plenty of retail spaces, offices, restaurants and even beautifully designed green courtyards. Well it’s easy to notice its main feature. One of its facades is literally defined by cuts, as the established Daniel Libeskind signature style. This action creates geometrical patterns that are filled with plants creating a sort of hanging mini-gardens.

KÖ-BOGEN

DANIEL LIBESKIND

Königsallee 2, 40212 Düsseldorf

To know more about Daniel Libeskind check even

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM in Manchester

DREISCHEIBENHAUS |HPP ARCHITECTS|

An administrative tower born as ThyssenKrupp headquarters that became an icon of German post-war modernism architecture. It’s simple in its compact and slim floor plan with a very striking and sleek curtain wall façade and a stainless steel cladding on the sides. In 2011 HPP Architects was commissioned for its refurbishment that led the firm to win the MIPIM Award 2015 in the Best Refurbished Building Category. Plus I’ve been lucky enough to get to see the entire city of Düsseldorf from its roof terrace and the view is just amazing, specially looking over Kö–Bogen.

DREISCHEIBENHAUS

HPP ARCHITECTS

Dreischeibenhaus, August-Thyssen-Straße 1, 40211 Düsseldorf

SCHAUSPIELHAUS |BERNHARD PFAU|

All photos edited using LUMINAR 4 and AURORA HDR