Kö-Bogen and Kö-Bogen II are two striking landmarks at the northern end of Düsseldorf’s Königsallee. Completed in 2013, the first Kö-Bogen pairs Daniel Libeskind’s angular glass-and-stone architecture with high-end shops and offices. Nearby, Christoph Ingenhoven’s Kö-Bogen II, completed in 2020, is wrapped in dense hornbeam hedges that make its sloping façade one of the city’s most recognizable sights.
Together, the developments tell a story about how Düsseldorf has reshaped its centre. Road traffic was moved underground, making room for a more pedestrian-friendly setting around the Hofgarten and Gustav-Gründgens-Platz. The contrast is part of the appeal: Libeskind’s sharp, sculptural lines sit a short walk from Kö-Bogen II’s greenery and the sweeping white façade of the Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus.
Come between late spring and early autumn to see the hornbeams in leaf; in winter, their brown foliage gives the building a different character. Schadowstraße U-Bahn station is close by, and both complexes are easy to explore on foot from the Kö. The exteriors and public spaces are free to enjoy, so there’s no need to shop to appreciate the architecture.