THE WID – An open think tank is being created in Cologne’s trendy Ehrenfeld district, with uses including offices, restaurants, and fitness facilities.

The modern construc­tion with its diverse façade design contrasts with the urban indus­trial backdrop and offers space for commu­nic­a­tion, creativ­ity, and leisure. The name of the project is derived from its central location on Widdersdorfer Straße. Not only does the name refer to its location, but the concept is also based on the surround­ing brick build­ings, such as the beauti­fully restored gasworks.

Distinctive architecture

Inspired by the surround­ing build­ings, especially the gasworks and the neigh­bor­ing halls, the idea of a brick-clad base was born. In addition to visual paral­lel­ism, this is also inten­ded to reflect the original uses of the neigh­bor­hood, which are still relev­ant in Ehrenfeld today. These are comple­men­ted by sports and leisure facil­it­ies such as cafés, restaur­ants, yoga and fitness studios, galler­ies, and much more.

The heart of a trendy district

Numerous project devel­op­ments in the district demon­strate the relev­ance of the location. The location is considered the trend­i­est district in Cologne and is charac­ter­ized by individual, color­ful, multi­cul­tural restaur­ants, cafĂ©s, and clubs. Ehrenfeld’s art, culture, club, and creat­ive scene give it a special appeal.

Multifaceted, eccentric, creative

In contrast to the indus­trial backdrop, the base supports a modern office district that symbol­izes Ehrenfeld’s trans­form­a­tion and illus­trates the shift towards sustain­able commerce. In addition to the modern district, the focus is primar­ily on green roofs and green facades. Roofs and balconies are also inten­ded to provide space for work and leisure. Spacious indoor areas and pathways connect­ing all sides round off the concept and make the project a center for living and working. The aim is to create a place for exchange and creat­ive devel­op­ment.

The Wid

Address

Widdersdorfer Str. 158 and 188a, Cologne

Site size

approx. 30.884 mÂČ

GFA (o)

approx. 95.500 mÂČ

Type of use

Retail, restaur­ants, office, educa­tion, hotel

Rental units

tba

Construction start

2026, 1st construc­tion phase

Completion

from 2028

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