DÜSSELDORF | GERMANY | – ARCHITECTURE CITY GUIDE

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.

Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_medienhafen
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_medienhafen
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_medienhafen

NEUER ZOLLHOF |FRANK GEHRY|

Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_medienhafen designed by the architect Frank Gehry (20)
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_medienhafen designed by the architect Frank Gehry (13)
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_medienhafen designed by the architect Frank Gehry (3)
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_medienhafen designed by the architect Frank Gehry (4)
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_medienhafen designed by the architect Frank Gehry (2)
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_medienhafen designed by the architect Frank Gehry
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_medienhafen designed by the architect Frank Gehry (19)
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_medienhafen designed by the architect Frank Gehry (18)
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_medienhafen designed by the architect Frank Gehry (12)
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_medienhafen designed by the architect Frank Gehry (10)
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_medienhafen designed by the architect Frank Gehry (11)
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_medienhafen designed by the architect Frank Gehry (8)
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_medienhafen designed by the architect Frank Gehry (5)
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_medienhafen designed by the architect Frank Gehry (6)
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_medienhafen designed by the architect Frank Gehry (7)
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_medienhafen designed by the architect Frank Gehry (9)
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_medienhafen designed by the architect Frank Gehry (21)
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_medienhafen designed by the architect Frank Gehry (17)
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_medienhafen designed by the architect Frank Gehry (16)
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_medienhafen designed by the architect Frank Gehry (15)

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|

Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_rhine tower designed by the architect 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

Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_RHEINKNIEBRÜCKE BRIDGE

Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_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

Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_RHEINKNIEBRÜCKE BRIDGE

Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_RHEINKNIEBRÜCKE 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|

Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_view from HYATT REGENCY designed by JSK ARCHITECTS (2)

Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_view from HYATT REGENCY designed by JSK ARCHITECTS

HYATT REGENCY HOTEL

Speditionstraße 19, 40221 Düsseldorf

GAP 15 |JSK ARCHITECTS|

Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_GAP 15 designed by JSK ARCHITECTS

Graf-Adolf-Platz 15, 40213 Düsseldorf

SEVENS

Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_KO GALERIE staircase

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|

Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_K-21 museum designed by KIESSLER+PARTNER
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_K-21 museum designed by KIESSLER+PARTNER
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_K-21 museum designed by 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

Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_staircase DERAG LIVINGHOTEL DE MEDICI
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_staircase 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

Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_central train station (2)
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_central train station
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_central train station (3)

KÖ-BOGEN |DANIEL LIBESKIND|

Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_KÖ-BOGEN designed by the architect DANIEL LIBESKIND
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_KÖ-BOGEN designed by the architect DANIEL LIBESKIND
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_KÖ-BOGEN designed by the architect DANIEL LIBESKIND
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_KÖ-BOGEN designed by the architect DANIEL LIBESKIND
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_KÖ-BOGEN designed by the architect DANIEL LIBESKIND (7)
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_KÖ-BOGEN designed by the architect DANIEL LIBESKIND (7)

Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_KÖ-BOGEN designed by the architect DANIEL LIBESKIND at night

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|

 

Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_DREISCHEIBENHAUS designed by HPP ARCHITECTS
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_DREISCHEIBENHAUS designed by HPP ARCHITECTS
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_DREISCHEIBENHAUS designed by HPP ARCHITECTS
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_DREISCHEIBENHAUS designed by HPP ARCHITECTS
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_DREISCHEIBENHAUS designed by HPP ARCHITECTS
Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_DREISCHEIBENHAUS designed by 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|

Un post condiviso da ????Paris | NANCY (@_nancy0_0) in data:

 

SCHAUSPIELHAUS

 TONHALLE |HPP ARCHITECTS|

TONHALLE HPP ARCHITECTS

The Tonhalle is a stunning concert hall which was originally constructed as a planetarium by German architect Wilhelm Kreis. Converted later in the 1970s and renovated by Hentrich-Petschnigg & Partner (HPP) Architects to give it a more modern feel and solve some acoustic problems. Unfortunately I can’t show you my photos but check the links below to see the interiors. It’s unbelievably beautiful. Just so you know, the Tonhalle was awarded as Building of the Year in 2009.

TONHALLE

HPP ARCHITECTS

Ehrenhof 1, 40479 Düsseldorf

ROCHUS KIRCHE

Dusseldorf architecture city guide. best architecture to see in Germany_rochus kirche (2)

ROCHUS KIRCHE

Rochusmarkt 5, 40479 Düsseldorf

Lastly I want to thank VISIT DÜSSELDORF for their kindness and for being so welcoming. Go and check more travel details on their page.

Now a couple of things I want to ask you.

First of all, have you been in Düsseldorf? If so let me know writing a comment down here. I want to know what you think of it.

And if you know the city maybe you even know other interesting or remarkable places that I should add?

I collected here everything regarding architecture to visit that you wouldn’t normally find in an ordinary travel guide. My intention is to make it useful for all the architecture lovers out there so if you have suggestions just write me and let me know. 

Lastly it would be very much appreciated if you can share it with anyone you think may be interested in having a look at this guide. 

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3 comments

  1. I have been twice in Dusseldorf and I am planning a third time in the summer. It’s an exciting modern green city and very easy to move around. I would recommend a visit to the Benrath Palace too.

    1. you’re absolutely right Marthie, Dusseldorf is a beautiful modern and compact city. Definitely worth a third visit! And thanks for your suggestion, I didn’t know about Benrath Palace, I googled it and it looks so lovely! It’s on my list for my next visit 😉

    2. Hi Marthie, thank you for your suggestion! Didn’t know about Benrath Palace but it looks lovely with that pink facade! Dusseldorf is definitely worth a third visit, I’m sure you will enjoy the city even more during summer 😉 Let me know if you’re going to use this guide and what you’ll see!! Nancy

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