Case Studie on the Kö-Bogen II design

Location: Dusseldorf, Germany

Built up area: 41,370 m²

Architect: Ingenhoven Architects

Today, where an elevated motorway once dominated the landscape,

the Hofgarten has moved back into the heart of the city. Kö-Bogen’s
sloping green facades face one another in a composition inspired by
Land Art. The new building complex oscillates in a deliberate
indeterminacy between city and park. The two structures form a
dynamic entrance to Gustaf-Gründgens-Platz, which opens up the view
to icons of post-war modernism – the clear austerity of the
Dreischeibenhaus (1960) and the buoyant lightness of the
Schauspielhaus (1970). Kö-Bogen II is a contemporary response to
these two historic landmarks, without competing with them.
The Kö-Bogen II project in Düsseldorf, Germany, is a remarkable

example of sustainable urban development and architectural design.

Sustainability is a mission: Eight kilometers of hornbeam hedges for a

supergreen®-project. Over 30,000 plants – Europe’s largest green
facade. The facade is an essential element of the Kö-Bogen II
commercial and office building. The ensemble marks the conclusion of
an urban renewal project in the heart of Düsseldorf. It also represents a
paradigm shift: from an urban perspective, it signals a departure from
the automotive era and a turn towards people-oriented planning. With
Europe’s largest green facade, it offers an urban response to climate
change and creating a new green heart in Düsseldorf’s inner city.

• Architectural Vision: Designed by ingenhoven architects, Kö-

Bogen II is a commercial and office building that represents the
conclusion of an extensive urban renewal project in the heart of
Düsseldorf1.
• Urban Response to Climate Change: The project is a paradigm
shift from car-centric urban planning to a people-oriented
approach. It features Europe’s largest green facade, with eight
kilometers of hornbeam hedges and over 30,000 plants, offering
an urban response to climate change1.
• Integration with the Environment: The building complex
oscillates between being an urban project and a park, forming a
dynamic entrance to Gustaf-Gründgens-Platz and opening up
views to icons of post-war modernism1.
• Phytotechnology: A comprehensive phytotechnological concept
was developed to incorporate the hedges into the building design,
ensuring that the plants are integral to the building’s function and
not just an aesthetic addition1.
• Historical Context: Kö-Bogen II is a contemporary response to
historic landmarks such as the Dreischeibenhaus and the
 Schauspielhaus, enhancing the cityscape without competing with
them1.
• Sustainability as a Mission: The project’s green facade is not
only aesthetically pleasing but also contributes significantly to the
building’s sustainability by improving the microclimate, protecting
from the sun, storing moisture, and reducing city noise, while also
absorbing CO2