European Central Bank
Coop Himmelb(l)au

Image courtesy Coop Himmelb(l)au

The European Central Bank (ECB) has announced Coop Himmelb(l)au as the winners of an international urban planning and architectural design competition for its new premises to be built on the site of the Grossmarkthalle (wholesale market), an area on the river in the eastern part of Frankfurt am Main which the ECB purchased  from the City of Frankfurt in March 2002.

Image courtesy Coop Himmelb(l)au

The ensemble by Coop Himmelb(l)au is formed from three basic elements: the Grossmarkthalle, a "groundscraper" and polygonal twin towers.

The two towers are connected by a sky-lit atrium known as a "vertical city".  
The "groundscraper" runs parallel to the Grossmarkthalle leaving the historic building untouched. The Grossmarkthalle will serve as the ECB's main entrance and public area, and is linked to the two office towers by the conference centre in the "groundscraper". The jury considered the concept concise and functional.

This concept has an intelligent combination of old and new in a sculptural form.

/The Jury

Image courtesy Coop Himmelb(l)au

Image courtesy Coop Himmelb(l)au

The site will be developed to accommodate 2,500 workplaces, with office space and special areas covering a main usable area of approximately 100,000 square meters plus all the necessary parking areas and technical facilities.

Model photo courtesy ECB

Model photo courtesy ECB

Site Plan courtesy ECB