Hansahochhaus, Brick Expressionist high-rise building in Neustadt-Nord, Germany
The Hansahochhaus is a 65-meter high-rise with 17 floors located in Cologne's Neustadt-Nord district. Its facade features distinctive red-brown brick with green limestone window frames that give it a highly recognizable appearance.
Designed by architect Jacob Koerfer and built between 1924 and 1925, it became Cologne's first skyscraper. The building briefly held the distinction of being Europe's tallest structure, marking a turning point in the city's architectural history.
The building displays Brick Expressionism through its bold red-brown brick walls and green limestone frames, a style that conveys industrial strength and modernity. These materials and proportions were meant to express power and progress to people walking past.
The building stands at Hansaring 97 in Cologne and currently houses a hotel with exhibition spaces. Visitors can view the architecture from the street and may access interior areas depending on current programming and business operations.
The structure was completed in remarkably short order, with only 135 working days of actual construction spread across 15 months. This rapid pace was noteworthy for the era and demonstrated advanced building organization and modern construction techniques.
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