Residential and Commercial Building Hansemannstraße 2

The house belonged to Ehrenfeld's earliest development, predating its incorporation into Cologne. In the second half of the 19th century the district grew rapidly through industrial settlement, and the former Jacobstraße—today's Hansemannstraße—was laid out by 1880 as one of the first streets branching off Venloer Straße. As an example of this early building phase, the house reflected the district's social history and the “growing self-confidence of Ehrenfeld's residents during this period of economic upswing.” A baker, Peter Riem, is already documented as owner in 1891.

The final owner was an investment entity of WvM Immobilien + Projektentwicklung GmbH, which was simultaneously building on the adjoining plot. According to the developer, demolition had not been planned—an already-approved renovation was meant to integrate the house into the new neighbouring development. As a protective measure against the excavation work, concrete beams were installed to underpin the building. In May 2018 the vaulted cellar gave way, the house sank several centimetres, and a visible crack ran through the structure. Fearing collapse, the city briefly closed Hansemannstraße, banned entry to the house, and halted work next door. About a week later the house was shored up with timber beams, an event that triggered emotional public reactions and a police and fire brigade response. As of January 2019, the developer said the exact cause had still not been conclusively determined.