Seat of the European Central Bank

The European Central Bank headquarters is a modern architectural complex with two connected glass towers stretching 185 meters high across 48 floors. The towers contain workspaces, meeting rooms, and advanced financial technology infrastructure serving as the center for European monetary policy operations.

Construction began in 1999 following an international architecture competition and was completed in 2014. The project integrated the earlier wholesale market structure on the site to preserve historical elements within the new financial complex.

The building preserves the former wholesale market by incorporating its structure into the modern complex. Visitors can see this blend of old and new in how the plaza and façade are designed.

The complex can be viewed from outside during business hours and is located near public transportation in Frankfurt. The surrounding plaza provides adequate space for viewing the architecture and taking photographs.

The deconstructivist façade with twisted glass towers creates completely different visual effects depending on where you stand. This rotation of the towers is not just a design choice but shapes how visitors experience and perceive the building.

Location: Frankfurt-Bornheim/Ostend

Inception: October 2014

Architects: Wolf D. Prix, Coop Himmelb(l)au

Official opening: March 18, 2015

Architectural style: deconstructivism

Floors above the ground: 48

Elevators: 18

Height: 185 m

Address: Sonnemannstraße 20

Website: https://ecb.europa.eu/ecb/premises

GPS coordinates: 50.10944,8.70250

Latest update: December 7, 2025 09:21