Steel, Glass, Concrete

The inner-city appearance of Cologne reflects a deliberate decision to blend the old with the new. Faced with the prospect of rebuilding a city center that was almost 90% destroyed, Cologne’s city leaders and urban planners decided after World War II to preserve and restore elements of historical significance that shaped the city’s character, while also embracing the leap into modernity.
Rising from the rubble of clay, stones, and shards, a city of steel, glass, and concrete emerged, presenting an often curious mix of styles and striking contrasts in several areas.

This route leads us through these contrasts in Cologne’s cityscape, circling around the cathedral and along some of the city’s most significant modern sacral and secular buildings. The aim of this tour is to sharpen the eye for the connections as well as the ruptures within Cologne’s architecture. While some contrasts appear stark, others blend seamlessly into their architectural compositions. In any case, the constant confrontation of varying styles is indicative of shifts and movements within the world of architecture. Whether a transition is also a disruption in style, or vice versa, is left to the viewer’s interpretation.

Essentially, impression remains purely subjective by nature. What is perceived as beautiful and aesthetic depends greatly on the zeitgeist. Just as we may look back with embarrassment on certain fashion choices from our youth, one might also question in Cologne what appeal there was, for example, in the pervasive tiling of the city during the 1950s.  
“Et es, wie et es” (“It is what it is”), as they say here in Cologne, and despite – or perhaps because of – its imperfections, people are convinced that they are (emotionally) at home in the most beautiful city in the world.

This tour is not necessarily about convincing you that Cologne is the most beautiful city in the world. Instead, this tour aims to highlight and showcase Cologne’s modern architecture, to reveal contrasts and resolve contradictions. Above all, this tour is meant to be a joyful exploration, uncovering the city’s spirit in both grand and subtle ways, and capturing a sense of the city in its contrasting elements.

Tip: Take your time! Many of these buildings, especially the sacral ones, can be visited for free. Try your luck – sometimes true beauty lies within. Should you have a specific interest in visiting certain sites, reach out to the operators to inquire about visiting opportunities and opening hours.

Bon chance!