Cathedral square Cologne

The redesign of the cathedral's surroundings will once again emphasise the impressive presence of Cologne Cathedral in the cityscape and free it from decades of being overshadowed by other buildings. 

Easy-to-read spatial situations restore the quality of the public area at all levels around the cathedral. The planning concept makes the existing structure visible again through reduction. The existing structure is being cleaned up and contoured in individual construction phases with the greatest possible restraint and through a few precisely placed interventions and materials – with the aim of staging the space in the context of the cathedral and neighbouring buildings in an exciting and versatile way.

As part of the redesign of the eastern cathedral area, the baptistery was also redesigned. The oldest documented baptismal site north of the Alps is showcased in a refined shell construction. In front of the baptistery, a spacious public square has been created as part of the overall urban development concept.

The adjacent showrooms of the cathedral workshop and the Romano-Germanic Museum further enrich the urban space as a street museum. The overall urban development concept for the area surrounding Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the result of a moderated participation process involving all stakeholders directly affected by the planning – architects, residents and representatives of politics and administration.