A. Schaaffhausen’sches Bank Palace
Cologne bank palace of 1859–1862 blending Neoclassical form with Italian Renaissance splendor—destroyed in the war.
The building housed the A. Schaaffhausen’scher Bankverein, a financial institution of major importance to the Rhineland and the Rhenish-Westphalian industrial region during the Gründerzeit era.
Source: Wikipedia
At a Glance
- Type
- Former bank building
- Location
- Unter Sachsenhausen 4, Cologne, Altstadt-Nord district, Innenstadt borough
- Architect
- Hermann Otto Pflaume
- Construction
- 1859–1862, opened 22 August 1863
- Renovation
- 1902
- Structure
- Three storeys, nine-bay façade
- Fate
- Destroyed in World War II
After the 1902 renovation, the original central main entrance with its portal flanked by caryatids was simply bricked up and replaced by two new side entrances.
Palace and Banking House
According to sources, the building unmistakably displayed palace-like features while also housing a substantial commercial operation inside. Architecturally, it is regarded as a prime example of a bank building from the second phase of bank architecture.
Architecture
The combination of Neoclassical forms with those of the Italian Renaissance was meant to evoke banking's distant past: the Neoclassical elements recalled the temple-banks of antiquity, while the Renaissance forms referenced the palazzi of Florentine bankers.
Façade
The side risalits each occupied a single bay. Above the rusticated ground floor, colossal-order Corinthian columns united the two upper storeys. Until the 1902 renovation, the central bay held a portal flanked by caryatids; afterward the building had two entrances set into the side risalits, each framed by caryatids and topped with a balcony, while the former main entrance was bricked up. The caryatids bore attributes such as a book and a paintbrush, symbolizing science and the arts, while the pediments featured male figures representing industry and trade.
Interior
The grand ceremonial hall in the residential wing featured a wide frieze of putti, depicting four thematic pairs: viticulture and architecture, craft and agriculture, commerce and technology, and art and science.
Timeline
- 1859–1862Building constructed by architect Hermann Otto Pflaume
- 1863Opened on 22 August
- 1902Building renovated
Map
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Sources & links
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-09-16
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