KölnTriangle
Triangular skyscraper in Cologne-Deutz with a fully glazed observation deck "Cologne View" at just over 100 metres, offering panoramic views across the city.
The KölnTriangle is a skyscraper on the right bank of the Rhine in Cologne, best known for its triangular footprint and the publicly accessible observation deck "Cologne View." Located at Ottoplatz in the Deutz district, it ranks as the second-tallest high-rise on the right-bank side of the city.
At a Glance
- Type
- Skyscraper with public observation deck "Cologne View"
- Location
- Ottoplatz, Deutz district (Innenstadt borough)
- Height
- 103.20 m, 29 floors, 565 steps
- Footprint
- Triangular with curved convex sides (Reuleaux triangle form)
- Architecture
- Gatermann+Schossig; mono-double façade of glass and aluminium
- Completed
- Tower November 2004; observation deck opened 24 May 2006
During the construction of KölnTriangle, UNESCO placed Cologne Cathedral on its list of endangered World Heritage Sites – the skyscraper was the direct trigger for this internationally noted designation, which ultimately led to a complete revision of the high-rise development concept for the Cologne-Deutz district.
Things to do here
- Ride the elevator up to around 100 metres
- Soak up the panoramic view over Cologne and the Rhine
- Photograph Cologne Cathedral from across the Rhine
- Spot landmarks across the city from behind the all-glass platform
- Marvel at the 565 steps and the triangular architecture
- Discover the "Deutz Twins" water installation on Ottoplatz
Size comparison
Height compared with other landmarks in Cologne.
Architecture and Name
The name comes directly from the building's shape: a triangle with three convex curved sides and a round core — closely resembling a Reuleaux triangle. The mono-double glass-and-aluminium façade earned the building the 2006 Innovation Prize for Architecture and Glass. The KölnTriangle was built alongside the LVR-Horionhaus and is connected to it via two gate structures enclosing a publicly accessible courtyard.
History and the High-Rise Debate
The building was planned and developed by the Rheinische Versorgungskassen as an investment property. Its height was politically contentious from the start, and the foundations were built more substantially than the original planning permission required. During construction, the KölnTriangle triggered UNESCO to place Cologne Cathedral on its list of endangered World Heritage Sites — a debate that made national headlines and ultimately led to a revision of the high-rise development concept for Cologne-Deutz.
Observation Deck and Use
The fully glazed "Cologne View" platform is operated by Rheinland Kultur GmbH and reached via a separate entrance. Since opening in 2006, it has welcomed more than 600,000 visitors, with around 8,000 people attending a single open-day event on 2 September 2006. The 27th and 28th floors below the platform are used by KölnSky as an event and conference venue. The deck has also served as a filming location — including auditions for the German TV show Deutschland sucht den Superstar and several WDR Tatort episodes.
Public Art
A cohesive colour and design concept runs throughout the building and extends to its public art commissions. In the entrance area, artist Rainer Gross created a typographic mural tracing the history of the Deutz neighbourhood. He also designed the ten-metre-high water installation Deutz Twins on the western section of Ottoplatz, set in a purpose-built ten-metre-wide reflecting pool that creates a mirrored visual unity with the tower.
Timeline
- 2004Tower completed in November 2004
- 2004–2006Construction phase of KölnTriangle
- 2. September 2006Official opening of building and observation platform
- 24. Mai 2006Opening of the observation platform (per official website)
- 2006Innovation Award Architecture and Glass for the mono-double facade
- 2008Nomination for the Prime Property Award
- bis Juni 2016EASA as main office tenant (more than 11,000 m²)
- Dezember 2016City of Cologne building management takes over office space (~13,000 m²)
- 2020Extensive complete renovation of the large-format glass tiles
Map
Blue dots: other places nearby — tap to explore.
Address
Ottopl. 1
50679 Köln
Hours
Mo: 11:00–20:00
Di: 11:00–20:00
Mi: 11:00–20:00
Do: 11:00–20:00
Fr: 11:00–22:00
Sa: 11:00–22:00
So: 11:00–20:00
Contact
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Sources & links
- Official website
- Official website (retrieved 2026-06-25)
- Wikidata (retrieved 2026-06-23)
- Wikipedia (retrieved 2026-06-23, rev 263965181)
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-06-26
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