Finials of Cologne Cathedral, Concrete artwork at Kardinal-Höffner-Platz, Cologne, Germany
The finial replica at Kardinal-Höffner-Platz is a full-scale concrete copy of the cathedral spires, positioned between the VisitKöln entrance and the main cathedral facade. It shows the exact form and proportions that repeat 150 meters above street level.
The original finials were installed in 1880 atop both cathedral towers and have shaped the city's skyline since then. This replica was created to bring the monumental architecture closer to people at eye level.
The replica displays Gothic features that match the original work high above on the cathedral towers. Visitors can study here the craftsmanship required for such towering spire construction.
The replica stands directly on a public square and is accessible around the clock. Information panels surrounding the work explain its construction and significance in multiple languages.
The work consists of 24 individual concrete pieces weighing about 37 cubic meters in total, requiring complex structural engineering. This modular construction made it possible to create an exact copy of an element that few people ever see up close at that height.
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