Page 5 - AIT0915_Frankfurt

Foto: Wikipedia Foto: Andreas Praefcke

Poelzig-Bau auf dem Campus Westend (20) • Poelzig Building at the Westend Campus (20) Junior Haus (22) von • by Wilhelm Berentzen

O wing to the Frankfurt’s manageable size, many places 22.00 p.m. – Finally, a visit to the listed hostess bar Pik
can be reached by foot. For comfortable overnight
Dame (17) is worthwhile, which is located between red
stays I recommend Hotel Nizza (1) in the banking and sta- light district and creative scene.
tion district, which is popular among creative people. Alter -
natively, the Lindenberg I (2) – a mixture between hotel and Sunday: Green places in the city
living community – guarantees a relaxed stay near the EZB.
10.00 a.m. – The day starts with a visit to the former Groß -
Saturday: along the Main markthalle (18), built in 1928 by Martin Elsässer. Coop Him -
me(l)bau used the hall as the entrance to the new EZB
10.00 a.m. – In order to get a first overview, a visit to the tower, which was opened earlier this year. Walking around
platform of the Main Tower (3) is worthwhile. the premises, one comes across the Oosten (19) on the
11.30 a.m. – From here, one can reach the construction site Main em bank ment, a café by Dutch designer Piet Hein Eek
of the Dom Römer Quarter by foot. The building shells for above and below historic crane installations.
the “New Frankfurt Old Town” are hidden behind fences, 12.00 noon – From Ostbahnhof we take the underground
but from the top of the Kunstverein (4), the cathedral tower to Grüneburgweg, from where one can comfortably reach
(5) or the Schirn Kunsthalle (6) one can sneak a peek. the Westend Campus (20). In 1931, Hans Poelzig construc-
13.00 p.m. – The Kleinmarkthalle (7) is located a few me - ted the IG Farben Building with the “Casino” building loca-
tres further and provides plenty of options to have lunch. ted behind. As from 2001, the area adjoining to the north
14.30 p.m. – Back at the Römerberg, we continue the tour has been expanded by various architects such as Müller
across the Eiserner Steg to the Museum of Applied Arts (8), Reimann, Ferdinand Heide and Kleihues+Kleihues.
which was implemented by Richard Meier in 1986. A few 14.00 p.m. – After a walk across the campus, the bus takes
metres down the river, Deutsches Architekturmuseum (9) us to the Palmengarten. David Chipperfield let the Gesell -
has resided in a villa converted by Oswald Mathias Ungers schafts haus (21) from 1871 shine in new splendour in 2012.
since 1984. A bit further west, one inevitably comes across The interiors are only accessible when dining at the exqui-
the Städelmuseum (10). The charming café in the Skulp - site Restaurant Lafleur. Café Siesmayer, which at least
turen museum Liebighaus (11) is a perfect place for a rest. grants a view into the Garten, offers also tasty food.
17.30 p.m. – After a 15-minute walk in a southwestern di - 17.30 p.m. – After a short walk to Westend underground
rec tion, we reach the Heimatsiedlung (12). Architect Ernst station, we go to Hauptwache. From here, it is only a few
May developed the urban planning concept for the “New metres to Kaiserplatz with the Junior House (22) by Wil -
Frankfurt” in the mid-1920s and engaged committed archi- helm Berentzen in 1951. The Commerz bank Tower (23) by
tects to implement 12,000 apartments in only five years. Lord Norman Foster in 1997 is situated right next to it. A bit
19.00 p.m. – Across the Friedensbrücke we get back to the further east one discovers the elaborate glass façade of the
Main promenade – if you are tired of walking you can take MyZeil (24) Shopping Centre, implemented by Italian archi-
the tram line 17 to Baseler Platz. One can already see the tect Massimiliano Fuksas in 2009 (see AIT9.2009).
Westhafen Tower (13), which was constructed according to 18.30 p.m. – From the Hauptwache one can quickly reach
plans by Schneider + Schumacher in 2004. Designed by the Eschenheimer Tor. Right next to it is the Bayer Building
the same architects, the bridge building (14) accommoda- (25) completed by Stefan Blattner in 1952: Today, it accom-
tes Café Frankfurter Botschaft with a terrace and a glass modates the Fleming’s Hotel. The old paternoster brings us
rotunda affording views of the river and the harbour basin. to the top floor with the hotel restaurant and bar.
20.00 p.m. – From here, the city centre is located in the For visitors with a bit more time I recommend a visit to the
east. We pass the Mainforum (15) planned by Gruber + Römerstadt located outside the city, which was implemen-
Kleine-Kraneburg in 2003 .The adjoining, internationally ted in 1927 according to a master plan by Ernst-May. The
influenced area around the station (16) provides various May House (26), which was returned to its original condi-
options for a tasty dinner. tion, can be visits all week except on Mondays.