Crown Cologne: New landmark with iconic architecture in the heart of Cologne

Where a department store from the 1950s once stood, Crown Cologne is now being built on the corner of Hohe Straße and Schildergasse, creating a striking building for Cologne city centre. Developed by Avalis Investment GmbH, the building complex combines retail, culture and fitness in a prime central location covering over 10,500 m². The building complex combines retail, culture and fitness in a prime central location covering over 10,500 m².

Iconic façade by Max Dudler
Internationally renowned architect Max Dudler has given the former building a completely new identity. The original façade was completely stripped back to the shell and replaced with a folded metal curtain wall with sun protection, which shimmers in bronze and changes colour depending on the incidence of light. The characteristic element is the jagged line on the roof that gives the building its name – an architectural crown that gives the building its name. The folded structure of the façade creates a play of light and shadow, while generous glazing ensures transparency and daylight.

Versatile mix of uses for the city centre
The concept intelligently combines different levels of use: the ground floor features retail space with direct access to Hohe Straße and Schildergasse – including VANS as a tenant. The new Cologne City Library, a public meeting place, will occupy around 5,500 m² on five floors (basement to 3rd floor) in October 2025. As one of the city's most frequented
cultural institutions, it is intended to contribute to the revitalisation of the pedestrian zones at this point between Schildergasse and Hohe Straße. On the 4th and 5th floors, McFit offers around 2,450 m² of training facilities around the clock.

Sustainable and equipped with modern building technology
The Crown Cologne is being built in accordance with current energy standards and is aiming for BREEAM sustainability certification with an ‘excellent’ rating. A 120 kW peak photovoltaic system on the roof forms the basis of the building's own power supply. It supplies the heat pumps for heating and cooling the building and is supplemented by demand-based ventilation. Surplus electricity is fed into the grid.

The building complies with the KfW 55 standard and has natural ventilation options through openable window fronts. The technical infrastructure has been comprehensively renovated: from comprehensive CAT 7 network cabling with fibre optic connections and LED lighting to three completely renovated lifts. Acoustic separation between the fitness area and library, as well as different floor coverings depending on use – from granite to PVC and linoleum to sports flooring – are part of the concept.

Prime location with future prospects
Crown Cologne benefits from a central location in Cologne city centre. Hohe Straße is one of the oldest and busiest shopping streets in Germany, connecting the urban hubs of Wallraffplatz, the cathedral and Schildergasse over a distance of 680 metres. The distance to Cologne Cathedral is around 300 metres, and the main railway station is less than 400
metres away. The roof terrace of the McFit studio offers something special: here, you can enjoy a view (almost) at eye level with the monumental towers of the cathedral. The location is also part of Via Culturalis, a development project by the city of Cologne to strengthen the cultural axis between the cathedral and the Rheinauhafen. Other projects are underway in the immediate vicinity, including the complete renovation of the Althoff Dom Hotel, new hybrid timber buildings and neighbourhood developments. Crown Cologne fits into this development.

"With Crown Cologne, we are making an architectural statement in Cologne's city centre. Max Dudler has succeeded in giving the building a contemporary identity that blends harmoniously into the cityscape. Our concept combines retail, culture and fitness to create a lively urban meeting place. With the new city library at its heart, we are actively contributing to the revitalisation of the city centre and setting an example for future-oriented urban development," says Katrin Kauffmann, Transaction Manager at Avalis Investment GmbH.