Participating in the competition for the New ECB Premises

The European Central Bank (ECB) has launched an international urban planning and architectural design competition for its new premises. The purpose of this competition is to identify the best design concepts for the ECB's future home and to select an architect to carry out the detailed planning work for the new premises and, possibly, to implement the project.

The new premises are to be built on the site of the Grossmarkthalle (wholesale market), an area of 120,000 m² on the river in the eastern part of Frankfurt am Main which the ECB purchased from the City of Frankfurt in March 2002. The site will be developed to accommodate 2,500 workplaces, with office space and special areas covering a main usable area of approximately 100,000 m² plus all the necessary parking areas and technical facilities.

Architects from around the globe were invited to apply to the competition by 20 January 2003. Based on the criteria laid down in the Competition Notice, a Pre-Selection Committee, consisting of five ECB staff members and supported by architects on the international Jury, selected 80 architects (70 ‘established’ and 10 ‘emerging young’ architects, (see: candidature) from some 300 applications received in response to the worldwide Call for Candidature. These architects were then asked to anonymously submit a design concept for the first phase of the competition (1st phase) by 7 July 2003. On 28-29 August the international Jury selected 12 candidates for the second phase of the competition (2nd phase).

The 12 candidates admitted to the second phase of the competition were then requested to present more detailed architectural design concepts by December 2003. The final Jury meeting for the second phase was held on 12-13 February 2004 and selected three prize winning design proposals (prize winners):

All three prize winners were invited by the Governing Council of the European Central Bank to the project’s revision phase.

On 13 January the Governing Council decided on the final design of the ECB’s new premises.The Governing Council concluded that the revised design concept of Coop Himmelb(l)au (revision phase) best meets the functional and technical requirements specified by the ECB, and has features that reflect the ECB’s values and translate them into architectural language. At the same time, the Governing Council considered it necessary to launch an optimisation phase to review the functional, spatial and technical requirements with the aim of minimising costs and ensuring an optimal use of resources.

On 15 December 2005 the Governing Council approved COOP HIMMELB(L)AU’s optimised design concept for the ECB’s new premises, which fully meets the requirements of the ECB, and the building cost estimates were well within the envisaged cost frame. The Governing Council also decided on the launch of the planning phase, which will commence in March 2006.

On 20 February 2007, the European Central Bank (ECB) presented the outcome of the preliminary planning phase for its new premises, which will be built in Frankfurt on the site of the Grossmarkthalle, the former wholesale fruit and vegetable market. During this phase, which paves the way for a detailed planning phase, the architects further modified their design proposal on the basis of the results of the optimisation phase.

This work resulted in the following adaptations in relation to the optimised design:

In line with the requirements of the historic preservation authorities, the grid structure of the existing concrete facade has been maintained, and the skyscraper and the entrance building connecting the Grossmarkthalle to the skyscraper have been moved to the west, over the part of the building which was rebuilt after the Second World War.
Several of the envisaged functions of the Grossmarkthalle (e.g. conference, kitchen and restaurant areas) have been reorganised on the basis of historic preservation and space requirements, in particular with regard to the conservation of the concrete grid facade.
The facade of the skyscraper has been further improved with state-of-the-art solar protection, thus rendering it highly energy-efficient and enabling the use of a more conventional cooling system.
The landscape design of the site has been redefined and further developed, particularly with regard to the integration of the ECB’s security requirements into the modulated landscape.
Finally, the top of the skyscraper has been changed in shape. The new slanted roof improves the overall shape and clarity of the building in its urban context and is more energy-efficient.

The ECB will continue to cooperate with the city and state authorities regarding the ongoing process of submitting a request for the necessary building permits, which is expected to be finalised as scheduled by the end of October 2007. Construction is envisaged to start in early 2008, with finalisation foreseen by the end of 2011.