Collini-Center

The Collini-Center is a brutalist skyscraper in Mannheim that stretches 95 meters high across 32 floors. The complex connects a residential tower and an office tower through a two-story passageway, creating a unified structure for both living and working spaces.

Construction started in 1971 on the former site of Mannheim's tram system and finished in 1975. The project emerged during the city's post-war development and urban renewal period.

The architecture displays characteristic post-war German aesthetics through its stepped tower design and distinctive honeycomb-patterned balconies. This visual language reflects how cities rethought housing and urban living during that era.

The building houses 515 apartments with one to four rooms, including maisonette units, accommodating around 1,300 residents. Visitors can explore the exterior architecture and public passageway areas, while residential and office sections remain private.

The office tower faced serious maintenance issues for years, leading to debates about demolition and triggering grassroots preservation efforts. These discussions reveal tensions between protecting modern architecture and meeting practical building needs.

Location: Mannheim

Inception: 1975

Architects: Karl Schmucker

Architectural style: brutalist architecture

Floors above the ground: 32

Elevators: 5

Height: 95 m

GPS coordinates: 49.49070,8.47784

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:41