Breidenbacher Hof, Düsseldorf

  • Breidenbacher Hof lobby
  • Breidenbacher Hof entrance
  • Breidenbacher Hof room

1 / Introduction

Originally built in 1812, this iconic hotel in the centre of Düsseldorf was completely rebuilt in 2005-2008. It’s now a multi-use building featuring a retail level and offices, as well as offering hotel guests the very best facilities and a truly indulgent environment.

Key facts

  • Original hotel built in 1812
  • Rebuilt in 1950 then again in 2005-2008
  • Tripled building volume 95 guest rooms, offices, apartments and retail levels
  • Three storey basement
  • Excavated old city wall
  • Cantilevered building over route of future underground line 

Related Disciplines

The Project Details

  • Client:
    Pearl of Kuwait Real Estate Company
  • Architect:
    HPP
  • Project value:
    €65m
  • Buro Happold services:
    Structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, building services/MEP engineering

2 / Challenge

Building in an inner city location means there are lot of aspects to consider. Initially, the preferred option on this project was to refurbish the existing hotel, but after a thorough and incredibly detailed investigation, that quantified all risks we recommended that the better solution was to rebuild the hotel.

The brief included a three storey basement - a requirement made particularly tricky due of the sites tight and constrained location as well as the allowances required for a future underground line across the site. Through a complete excavation of the site, we were able to overcome the site restrictions whilst creating the space required of a modern hotel operating at the highest standards. 

During excavation a significant section of the old city wall was discvered, painstakingly revealed this important artefact has become the centrepiece of the hotels new reception and preserved for future generations

3 / Solution

By starting the build from scratch we enabled the hotel to triple in volume from 10,000 to 30,000m2. With space at a premium, this development added significantly to the buildings investment value. We also saved time by programming the basement excavations to coincide with the above ground works.

Our geotechnical team’s excavation of the site and discovery of the city wall lead to a more thorough archaeological investigation and we restored part of the wall for guests to enjoy.

In order to make provisions for the future underground line, we cantilevered the building off its proposed route – ensuring that there will be no disruption to the hotel or the city’s development.

4 / Value

Guests can enjoy the 95 bedroom hotel in five star luxury and an environment that lives up to historic grandeur. With a quarter of the building reserved as offices, and two floors of residential apartments, new value has been generated and the retail level, function rooms, and restaurants add to the overall usability of Breidenbacher Hof, making it a fully multi-use building for the 21st Century.