As you drive through the Kö-Bogen Tunnel in Düsseldorf from north to south, you'll emerge near St. John's Church, greeted by a short, sudden, expansive view that might catch you by surprise. Since 2023, the Vertikum has stood prominently at this location, evoking a small "Manhattan moment" reminiscent of New York's Flatiron Building with its bold wedge shape and strong verticality. Of course, at nine floors, the height is relative – Düsseldorf is no Manhattan nor does it pretend to be anything other than Düsseldorf. And this is exactly what the Vertikum stands for with its powerful presence.
The Vertikum is an office building with retail space on the ground floor. Positioned on a trapezoidal plot at the forefront of the building block, this project was viewed as a minimally invasive form of urban repair, playing an important mediating role within the cityscape. The Vertikum asserts itself through a classic emphasis on the corner, while the facade's geometry and materiality create a strong and clear visual identity. The shell around the reinforced concrete structure does not give away any space; it fully encloses the building from sidewalk to parapet and tightly around the curved corners, without sacrifying depth. Utilizing three primary materials – Jura Poros (a light natural stone); narrow black-gray aluminium profiules, and glass – the facade achieves a striking yet refined appearance through the consistent repetition of an adaptive grid. The stone structure, which has been reduced to a minimum horizontally, appears delicate and refined through its handcrafted details.
The vertical structure is classically composed: the plinth combines the ground and first floors, adding visual weight through double-height spaces. Similarly, the crown, comprising the 7th and 8th floors forms a sweeping retreat from the neighboring structure. A nice bonus is the roof terrace nestled within the protected intermediate space.
