Six architectural highlights that you have to see

How old and new come together 

There are truly many ways to experience the many facets of Düsseldorf. You can wander through the museums and galleries, feast your way through the rich restaurant scene or conquer the city on a fashion stroll. But what about the architecture? Have you ever thought about taking a closer look at the many striking and aesthetically significant buildings in the Rhine metropolis? And did you know that a whole host of world-famous architects have immortalized themselves here? Architecturally speaking, Düsseldorf celebrates diversity and combines the old with the new with great finesse and flair. This keeps the cityscape on the move without losing its characteristic face. Curious? We'll show you six landmarks of Düsseldorf's architecture and give you tips on what to discover there.  

Court of honor 

Directly on the Rhine and very impressive: the Ehrenhof is a monumental ensemble of buildings in the brick expressionist style. It was built in 1925 and 1926 according to the plans of architect Wilhelm Kreis. Kreis, who also gave Düsseldorf the first steel skeleton high-rise building in Europe with the Wilhelm Marx House, designed an elongated courtyard around which archaic monumental buildings with brick façades are grouped axially symmetrically. The Ehrenhof was already a crowd-puller in the 1920s: Germany's largest trade fair was held here in 1926. Today, the exhibitions of two major art museums, the NRW-Forum and the Kunstpalast, attract culture lovers from all over the world. Our tip: If you want to explore the Ehrenhof and its museums, plan to spend a whole afternoon here. Afterwards, you can enjoy the sunset from the terrace of the neighboring Tonhalle.   

Three-disc house 

Still timelessly modern today and a widely visible testimony to the economic miracle: the Dreischeibenhaus grew straight up into the sky between 1957 and 1960. The modernist glass and steel building consisting of three staggered panes is 94 meters high - a dizzying height by the standards of the time. The progressive design brought the architects Helmut Hentrich and Hubert Petschnigg international attention. The building was used by Thyssen AG until 2010, and today the elegant Phoenix restaurant is located in the former reception lobby. Another highlight is the terrace on the 22nd floor, which is open to the public on selected days: It offers perhaps the most beautiful panoramic view in the city.  

Düsseldorf Playhouse 

Right next door: the gleaming white, organically curved façade of the Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus. Built between 1965 and 1969 according to the plans of Düsseldorf architect Bernhard Pfau, the building is the design antithesis to the neighboring Dreischeibenhaus. Pfau's design won out over star architect Richard Neutra from Los Angeles. The Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus is the only state theater in North Rhine-Westphalia and one of the most important theaters in the German-speaking world. Internationally renowned directors, stage designers and actors regularly fill the theater to capacity. That's why we recommend exploring the interior of the theater during a visit. It's well worth it!  

Gehry buildings 

A masterpiece that has almost become a symbol of modern Düsseldorf: the Neue Zollhof by US architect Frank O. Gehry stands for the structural change of Düsseldorf's port and for the architectural awakening in the state capital. Just in time for the turn of the millennium, the expressive ensemble of buildings was added to the list of Düsseldorf landmarks. Gehry created three sculptural, organically shaped buildings that are not subject to any geometry and also differ in terms of materiality, height and design language. The three façades are particularly rich in contrast: Clinker brick meets stainless steel and bright white plaster. But architecture fans are not the only ones who will get their money's worth at Neuer Zollhof: two restaurants on the first floor of the Gehry buildings, the Meerbar and the Rocca 800 °C, also provide culinary delights.  

Kö-Bogen II 

Urban planning also has to do with foresight. The ground-breaking ceremony for the major Kö-Bogen urban planning project took place in 2009 - the final construction phase, known as Kö-Bogen II, was completed in 2021. The square between Düsseldorf's Schauspielhaus theater and Schadowstraße was redesigned by the renowned Düsseldorf architect Christoph Ingenhoven, known for his sustainable and nature-oriented projects. A market hall with an accessible green roof based on the model of New York's Lincoln Center stands opposite a block of buildings with stepped walls and eight kilometers of beech hedges. In combination with the Dreischeibenhaus and the Schauspielhaus, a new architectural triad has been created here, which has been enthusiastically received by the people of Düsseldorf. Very instagrammable!  

Renzo Piano's Float 

Float is the latest addition to the ranks of architectural masterpieces. The administrative building by star architect Renzo Piano flanks the new access road in Düsseldorf's southern Medienhafen between Franziusstrasse and Holzstrasse. The buildings, which are connected to each other by a transition, look like randomly broken up ice floes and correspond in their axes with the streets that surround the spacious site. At the same time, the free-standing first floor makes the building appear to float above everything. Architect Renzo Piano became famous for his museum buildings - including the Centre Pompidou in Paris, which he completed together with his recently deceased colleague Richard Rogers in 1977. Both are Pritzker Prize winners, meaning they have received the "Nobel Prize for Architecture", just like Frank Gehry. You can also find out this and other exciting details about Düsseldorf's landmarks on the guided tour of the Medienhafen.  

Cover picture: Düsseldorf Tourismus