Kranhäuser im Rheinauhafen, Cologne

Kranhaus is a stunning architectural gem located in the northern section of Cologne's Rheinauhafen. The building ensemble comprises of three high-rise crane houses, which were constructed between 2006 and 2010. The architects Hadi Teherani and Alfons Linster won the urban development competition organized by the city of Cologne in 1992 to design this unique structure.

The most striking feature of the Kranhaus buildings is their typical Haft crane shape, which extends its arms at right angles reaching the Rhine. The crane houses are 61 meters tall, with two five-storey building blocks forming a cantilevered crane arm at a height of 40 meters, which stretches towards the river. The total length of the buildings is approximately 70 meters, with a total width of 33 meters.

The three Kranhaus buildings are arranged in a row with a right angle in the north-south direction on the promenade. The Rhine promenade offers open spaces and walkways for visitors to enjoy. Each crane house can be accessed through two entrances, with the main entrance located in the vertical crane hull of the building's glazed reception area. A second glazed elevator and staircase is positioned 32 meters away between the two cantilevered building blocks, serving as an additional support and escape route.

Kranhaus 1 and Kranhaus Mitte were built first in 2006, with flexible floor plans and different office types ranging from 600 to 16,000 square meters. Kranhaus Süd, designed as an office building, was started in 2007, similar to the middle Kranhaus. Kranhaus Nord, the last of the Kranhaus buildings, was completed in 2010. The Kranhaus Nord differs from the other two buildings by its balconies protruding from the facade.