WDR-Arkaden Köln, Broadcasting office complex in Altstadt-Nord, Cologne, Germany
WDR-Arkaden is an office and retail complex in Altstadt-Nord designed with a structured facade featuring arcade-style elements throughout its form. The building integrates workspace areas with a large shopping passage at ground and basement levels.
Designed by architect Gottfried Böhm, the building opened in 1996 after the WDR acquired the site at Nord-Süd-Fahrt in 1968. Its completion marked a turning point in how the broadcaster consolidated its operations in Cologne.
The ground floor includes the WDR shop 'Maus & Co', where visitors can purchase merchandise related to German public broadcasting series and characters. This store reflects how broadcasting productions are woven into people's everyday lives.
The complex features a continuous shopping passage with various shops and restaurants that are accessible during daytime hours. Visitors should be aware that the internal layout with multiple levels and connecting corridors can be somewhat confusing to navigate.
Beyond the broadcast offices, the building houses a public library and press archives that underline the broadcaster's role as an information institution. These collections document decades of German media history in a single location.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
