Dreischeibenhaus

Dreischeibenhaus is a 94-meter tower block in Stadtmitte, Germany, made of three parallel rectangular slabs with different heights that meet at several intersection points. These three glass volumes rise above the surrounding streets and create a distinctive structure of overlapping transparent planes.

Construction began in 1957 as headquarters for Phoenix-Rheinrohr AG and was completed in 1960 during a period of German economic recovery. Helmut Hentrich and Hubert Petschnigg designed the building with the aim of redefining modernist architecture in a previously destroyed neighborhood.

The name refers directly to the three stacked glass and steel discs that make the building an instantly recognizable landmark in the cityscape. Today it serves as an office complex housing different companies, and it stands as a symbol of postwar reconstruction and modern urban development.

Elevators and service facilities are positioned at the intersection points of the three slabs, leaving each floor with large continuous office space. From the surrounding sidewalks you can view the striking facade from different angles, with each perspective offering a different sense of how the interlocking slabs fit together.

The building received the MIPIM Award for Best Refurbishment in 2015 following a renovation that added roof terraces. The refurbished space now covers 35,000 square meters (approximately 377,000 square feet) of office area, all while preserving the original three-part form.