Kaufhaus Isay, Heritage monument in Altstadt-Nord, Germany
Kaufhaus Isay is a four-story commercial building with a hipped roof and gable details located on Zeppelinstrasse in Cologne's historic center. The facade displays classical early 1900s trading house design with symmetrical windows and solid brickwork throughout.
The building was constructed between 1911 and 1913 by architects Helbig and Klöckner as the headquarters for the Isay Brothers textile and wool trading company. It survived World War II with minimal damage and subsequently housed municipal offices and services.
The structure exemplifies early 20th-century commercial architecture and reflects the economic growth of North Rhine-Westphalia during the pre-war period.
The building can be viewed from the outside and displays its original structure with improvements made during major renovation work in the mid-20th century. It sits in an accessible neighborhood within walking distance of other attractions.
The building survived almost unscathed despite Cologne's severe destruction during World War II, making it one of the few intact early 1900s trading palaces in the city. This rarity makes it an important witness to the commercial architecture of that era.
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