Mälzerei Hospeltstraße
A 1899 former malthouse in Cologne-Ehrenfeld, famous for its tall kiln tower and surviving chimney, now home to apartments and offices.
Two partners, a maltster and a merchant, set up shop on Hospeltstraße in the late 19th century to supply malt to Cologne's breweries. Today the tower, chimney and brick façades still bear witness to the old operation.
Source: Wikipedia
At a Glance
- Type
- Historic malthouse, industrial and architectural monument
- Location
- Hospeltstraße, Ehrenfeld district, Cologne
- Founded
- 1899 as "Zepp & Schellenberg"
- Heritage protection
- Listed in the City of Cologne's register of monuments since 1984
- Conversion
- 1995, by architect Wolfhard Kaul
- Current use
- Residential and office building
After closing in the 1930s, the malthouse first served as a storage warehouse for the Städtische Bühnen (city theatres) and was later taken over by the company 4711.
From Malt Factory to Warehouse
The business was founded by maltster Philipp Schellenberg and merchant Gottfried Zepp. Over the years the factory changed hands several times. Malt production ended in the 1930s, and the Städtische Bühnen (the city's theaters) used the site for storage from then on. Later, the company 4711 took over the building.
The Kiln Tower and Its Chimney
The defining feature of the complex is the tall kiln tower on a square floor plan. The kiln was once used to dry barley malt. It originally had two so-called "vapor flues" ("Dunstschläuche"), and one of them can still be seen on the tower today as a chimney.
Structure and Façades
A multi-story building adjoins the tower at the back. This is where the barley was stored, germinated and packed. As was typical of factory buildings of the period, the façades are made of brick. Field-fired bricks and yellow bricks structure and decorate the surfaces.
Conversion into Apartments and Offices
During the 1995 conversion, the rear section of the building gained additional floors, and the side wings were fitted with balconies. Large windows were cut into the sides of the kiln tower. The closed, ornamented front of the tower, by contrast, was preserved almost unchanged.
Timeline
- 1899Founded as "Zepp & Schellenberg" by Philipp Schellenberg and Gottfried Zepp
- 1930erClosed down; used as warehouse of the Städtische Bühnen
- 1984Listed as a protected monument in Cologne's monument register
- 1995Darr tower converted into residential and office building by Wolfhard Kaul
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Sources & links
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-11-08
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