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Gatehouse of Trade Fair Complex
Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 1, Frankfurt
1983 - 1984
The gatehouse of the trade fair Frankfurt was built in 1983-1984 according to the design by Oswald Mathias Ungers
and separates the fairground in an eastern and a western part.
For its original and elegant shape the gatehouse was often praised in the eighties. In its volumetrics the building
represents its destiny as a "gateway to Frankfurt". The building consists of three interconnected components:
From a triangular concave low-rise building grows out a reddish stone façade of the tower socle. This volume has a square opening
covering many stories and reaching from front to back. Through this opening, an inner mirror-glassed volume can be seen.
The glass volume is growing higher than the socle and reaches about twice that of its height.
The 30 floors of the building are spread over a total height of 117 meters.
The building complex includes a variety of functions. In addition to the headquarters of the Fair Administration, the gatehouse is the focal point
for exhibitors and visitors. The levels two and three accommodate all the necessary service facilities of contact persons for stand construction,
catering services on the central exhibition, as well as tourist information, supermarket, post office and hairdresser. The trade fair complex Frankfurt
may serve even with a kindergarten. As the only German trade fair location, it offers an in-house chapel as an opportunity for reflective moments (level four).
Also on level four, there is the press center with all service facilities for journalists. From the level three of the gatehouse there is a direct connection to the Frankfurt Messe S-Bahn station since January 1999. Until that time, the trade fair complex Frankfurt was, despite its central location, poorly served by public transport.
and separates the fairground in an eastern and a western part.
For its original and elegant shape the gatehouse was often praised in the eighties. In its volumetrics the building
represents its destiny as a "gateway to Frankfurt". The building consists of three interconnected components:
From a triangular concave low-rise building grows out a reddish stone façade of the tower socle. This volume has a square opening
covering many stories and reaching from front to back. Through this opening, an inner mirror-glassed volume can be seen.
The glass volume is growing higher than the socle and reaches about twice that of its height.
The 30 floors of the building are spread over a total height of 117 meters.
The building complex includes a variety of functions. In addition to the headquarters of the Fair Administration, the gatehouse is the focal point
for exhibitors and visitors. The levels two and three accommodate all the necessary service facilities of contact persons for stand construction,
catering services on the central exhibition, as well as tourist information, supermarket, post office and hairdresser. The trade fair complex Frankfurt
may serve even with a kindergarten. As the only German trade fair location, it offers an in-house chapel as an opportunity for reflective moments (level four).
Also on level four, there is the press center with all service facilities for journalists. From the level three of the gatehouse there is a direct connection to the Frankfurt Messe S-Bahn station since January 1999. Until that time, the trade fair complex Frankfurt was, despite its central location, poorly served by public transport.