On Saturday afternoon, my family and I took one of those rare trips to Frankfurt. I say rare as we tend to go downtown Frankfurt only about two or three times a year.

The most unusual site this time was seeing the Palais Quartier being worked on. It is an impressive site even while under construction – I am sure it will be a real bonus to Frankfurt once it is finished. Some facts:

17.400 qm of downtown Frankfurt asphalt will create 226.000 qm of office, retail, hotel and open space. The city will be enriched by 1390 parking spaces as well.

The name Palais Quartier derives from the original Thurn-und-Taxis-Palais (built between 1729 and 1939). During WW2, this baroque castle was almost completely demolished. Due to lack of space, reconstruction of the former castle will only have four axes instead of its original five.

This gigantic construction will finish in February 2009 and visitors will get plenty of shopping and leisure opportunities on eight floors. Europe’s longest free-floating express-escalator will take visitors to new heights (ground to fourth floor to be exact) in just 120 seconds.

This new Palais Quartier was designed by Architekturbüro KSP Engel&Zimmermann und M fuksas ARCH.

Construction is estimated to run close to a billion Euros.

Advertisement with the Palais Quartier construction in the background

Walking around the block

Something old and something new – just across the street!

Downtown Frankfurt is a busy place on a Saturday afternoon and it is well worth visiting anytime. Nevertheless, we were happy to come home with heavy feet, a light wallet and a renewed appreciation for our quiet suburban life in Oberursel.