The WINX Tower stands on the edge of Mainhattan – an accent in Frankfurt’s silhouette on the banks of the Main. What makes it so special? Its location? Its architecture? Its internationally acclaimed art?
A tower in the heart of Europe
The WINX Tower stands in a unique location in the heart of Frankfurt, directly on the River Main and within easy reach of major cultural and business hotspots. Embedded in the lively MainTor quarter, it combines historic old town flair with state-of-the-art infrastructure. From here, the banking district, main railway station, Römer and Museumsufer are just a few steps away – a location that not only guarantees urban life, but also ideal transport connections. This combination makes the WINX Tower a vibrant center for working and meeting in the Main metropolis.
1959
The Degussa site from the east: the quarter was hermetically sealed like a castle.
2018
The MainTor area from the east: returned to the city’s network of spaces and paths and with WINX in the center, urban life is once again pulsating in the district. Only the core of the old Degussa high-rise building has been preserved.
The location of the WINX Tower tells a fascinating story. As the only high-rise building within Frankfurt’s medieval old town, it stands on ground steeped in history, where the Staufer city wall once ran. Today’s MainTor quarter was created from the remains of a district destroyed in the Second World War and was reintegrated into the urban structure using a modern, permeable urban planning concept. The tower itself reflects this combination of tradition and modernity, creating an exciting dialog between past and future.
Architecture
You can experience a high-rise building from at least three perspectives: from a distance as a silhouette, from closer up from the street and inside, with a view over the city.
With its impressive height of 110 meters and its striking, curved façade, the WINX Tower dominates the skyline of Frankfurt’s banking district. The modern design of the building combines glass and steel in an elegant design language that radiates transparency and dynamism. Inside, innovative office space is combined with breathtaking views of the Main and the city. As part of the “MainTor” quarter, the WINX Tower combines architectural excellence with urban quality of life – a landmark for the future of the Main metropolis.
Entrance
Most high-rise office buildings lack an appropriate entrance. The WINX Tower does not have this problem.
Room height
One of the feel-good factors is the room height of 2.91 meters on the office floors.
The building process
The construction phase of the WINX Tower in Frankfurt was an impressive demonstration of modern construction technology. The foundations reached deeper into the ground than any previous development and created a stable base in load-bearing soil layers with powerful bored piles. The iconic butterfly floor plan of the high-rise building became apparent early on in the excavation pit.
Step by step, the tower grew upwards, accompanied by the rising scaffolding, whose lettering was visible from afar. Complex high-tech elevators with precise rail and cable systems were integrated to later transport visitors and employees safely and efficiently. The millimetre-precise assembly of the façade elements finally gave the building its characteristic glass outer skin.
By reaching the terrace and service floor, the WINX Tower not only crowned the Frankfurt skyline, but also an outstanding construction achievement.
The characteristic butterfly floor plan of the high-rise building is already emerging in the excavation pit.
The outer skin is a modular system. The façade elements and windows are mounted with millimeter precision on a precise substructure.
Art on the building
Art and history merge in the WINX Tower: Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota has created “Passage “, an impressive installation of bright red and white boats that run through the eleven-metre-high foyer. Inspired by the historical significance of the location – a hub of trade, book art and exchange – the work poetically combines past and present. The boats symbolize journeys into the unknown, carried by memories and new perspectives. Shiota’s first permanent work of art is a living landmark that gives passers-by pause and redefines the space. A dialog of movement, transparency and history – unique and unforgettable.
For the realization of “Passage”, Chiharu Shiota developed a UV-resistant, non-flammable material that enables the characteristic red thread mesh. Innovative solutions also integrated fire protection measures and secured the installation both indoors and outdoors.
Successful smoke extraction attempt after complete installation of the artwork. Cold smoke is generated here, which is extracted via fans in the roof area.
Visionaries in dialog: Architecture, art and the urban future
These personalities shape the WINX Tower in Frankfurt: entrepreneur Susanne Klatten, architect Jürgen Engel and artist Chiharu Shiota. Her works and visions connect the city, people and culture in an impressive way.
Susanne Klatten is an entrepreneur and the owner of the WINX Tower. The future of cities and the challenges of urban space are not only on Susanne Klatten's mind in connection with the WINX Tower: with the Munich Urban Colab, she has initiated an urban start-up center in Munich. Here, concepts for liveable, sustainable and intelligent cities (smart cities) are developed and implemented in close cooperation between start-ups, the creative industries, established companies and city administrations.
Jürgen Engel is a renowned architect and the creative mind behind the WINX Tower in Frankfurt. With his office KSP Engel, he has realized numerous important projects in Germany and abroad. The WINX Tower exemplifies his vision of modern, urban architecture that combines aesthetics, functionality and sustainability. Jürgen Engel deals intensively with the challenges of urban construction and sees the dialog between the city, people and the environment as a central starting point for future-oriented solutions.
Chiharu Shiota is an internationally acclaimed artist, known for her expansive installations of filigree thread structures. Her work "Passage" in the WINX Tower in Frankfurt combines art and architecture in an impressive way. With her artistic networks of red threads, Shiota addresses central questions of memory, identity and human connections. "Passage" invites viewers to explore the relationship between space and emotion, creating a poetic reflection on transitions and movement in an urban context.
Perfect location for successful names
All space in the WINX Tower has been let. The main tenants include Union Investment with over 30,000 square meters, the law firm DLA Piper, Watson Farley & Williams, the office center Contora as well as Frankfurt Construction Management (FCM) and the food retailer Tegut.
WINX. New life in the neighborhood
This book describes how the WINX Tower complements Frankfurt’s high-rise silhouette and revitalizes the district. The volume provides insights into plans and floors, provides information about Chiharu Shiota’s “Passage” and presents the building in pictures with fascinating perspectives – from the shell to the completed tower.