Sky's the limit

Tower blocks race towards the clouds and the airport undergoes huge expansion as Germany's financial capital evolves into a cool cosmopolitan hub

- TAMSIN COCKS

Clusters of skyscrapers rise from the centre of Frankfurt am Main, proudly signalling the city's position as Germany's economic hub. While the number of high-rise buildings may pale in comparison to the likes of New York City (there's currently about 40 that stretch past the 100-metre mark), their presence has nonetheless earned the nickname "Mainhatten". In fact, of Germany's 15 highest buildings only one is not located in Frankfurt, the tallest being the 56-storey, 300-metre tall Commerzbank Tower.

There are plenty more towering edifices to come. Eight new skyscrapers that will soar well over 100 and 200 metres are currently in development. A major site of interest is a collection of four skyscrapers in the heart of the financial district, dubbed FOUR Frankfurt, which will form a new city quarter when complete in 2024.

The project has been conceived as an urban solution to blur the line (and reduce the commute) between corporate areas and residential districts by creating a cohesive neighbourhood for people to live and work. Tower 1, the tallest at 233 metres, and Tower 4 (100 metres) will predominantly feature office space, while Towers 2 and 3 will house more than 600 residential apartments, plus two hotels (Hyatt House serviced apartments in Tower 2 and a Kimpton Hotel in Tower 3). The complex will also feature restaurant and retail outlets, plus daycare and fitness facilities.

Mixed-use towers featuring luxury residential apartments  are a relatively new phenomenon for the German city, and a frenzy for such upmarket residences saw the city's real estate market balloon in value by up to 50 per cent between 2016 and 2021. In 2021, Allianz AG signed a deal to purchase Tower 1 of the FOUR Frankfurt development for €1.4 billion, making it the most expensive single building ever sold in Germany.