Haus der Architektur Köln
Köln's centre for building culture: a forum for architecture and urban design in a timber cube near Neumarkt, with talks, exhibitions and tours open to all.
The institution, known as hdak, is aimed at anyone with an interest in architecture and the city, and it is housed in a wooden building right in the heart of Cologne.
Source: Wikipedia
At a Glance
- Type
- Centre for building culture (Baukultur)
- Location
- Josef-Haubrich-Hof, right next to Neumarkt, Altstadt-Nord district (Innenstadt borough)
- Building
- hdak-Kubus (timber construction)
- Founded
- 2005
- Run by
- a non-profit association promoting architecture and urban design
- Weekly event
- Tuesdays at 7 p.m.
Until March 2008, the Haus der Architektur Köln was based in a building designed by Joachim Schürmann; in 2009 it moved into a purpose-designed timber cube near the Neumarkt, which received a commendation at the Cologne Architecture Prize in 2010.
Programme and Events
The house sees itself as a forum for architecture, urban design and open space, as well as for planning and building culture in the region. It hosts public lectures and discussions on topics related to the built environment. A regular fixture is the weekly series "Jeden Dienstag 19 Uhr – eine Stunde Baukultur" (Every Tuesday at 7 p.m. – one hour of building culture). In addition, there are exhibitions, film screenings, guided tours and excursions, as well as continuing education events.
History and Association
The house was founded at the inaugural meeting of its supporting association on 25 February 2005. Cologne architects as well as individuals and institutions with close ties to architecture took part. Until March 2008 the institution was based in a building designed and built by Joachim Schürmann; since 2009 it has been located in the hdak-Kubus. The association now has more than 210 members from many areas of public life.
The hdak-Kubus
The design for the timber building on Josef-Haubrich-Hof was created by Gernot Schulz Architekten Köln. In 2010 the building received a commendation as part of the Kölner Architekturpreis (Cologne Architecture Prize).
Awards
In 2009 the Federal Ministry of Transport honoured the house, together with the Bremen Centre for Building Culture, with the National Prize for Integrated Urban Development and Building Culture (Nationaler Preis für integrierte Stadtentwicklung und Baukultur). In 2015 it received the Honorary Prize of the Kölner Kulturpreis. The laudatory speech was given by Barbara Schock-Werner, the former Cologne cathedral architect (Dombaumeisterin).
Timeline
- 2005Founding assembly of the supporting association on 25 February
- 2008Until March, seat in a building designed by Joachim Schürmann
- 2009Move to the hdak-Kubus on Josef-Haubrich-Hof
- 2009National Prize for Integrated Urban Development and Baukultur
- 2010Recognition at the Cologne Architecture Prize for the hdak-Kubus
- 2015Honorary Award of the Cologne Culture Prize
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Sources & links
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-11-06
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