5 modern buildings in Germany   Glass, Concrete and High-Tech

Germany is well-known for its historic buildings. The best example is Schloss Neuschwanstein. But today it is primarily modern buildings with impressive architecture and striking appeal that define the cities here.

Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg

The planning phase took almost two decades, then in 2017 they opened one of Germany’s most famous concert halls: the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg. The building, designed by the acclaimed Swiss architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron, is located in HafenCity, near the Hamburg district of Speicherstadt. The aim of this flagship project was to erect a “cultural monument for all” and a new landmark for the city. The Elphie, as the building is affectionately nicknamed, consists of a plinth topped by a modern superstructure. The plinth is the façade of the former warehouse Kaispeicher A, which was gutted specifically for the Elbphilharmonie. The glass structure is designed to be reminiscent of ocean waves, sails or icebergs – perfect for a port city. The Elbphilharmonie offers not only two concert halls, but also a publicly accessible viewing platform, a hotel with restaurant, and even apartments. Admittedly the entire project went significantly over budget: instead of 77 million euros, they had to raise a staggering 866 million euros.

Phaeno in Wolfsburg

The Phaeno is both a museum and interactive learning centre dedicated to science. It is situated right next to  the Autostadt attraction in Wolfsburg. Since it opened in 2005, curious visitors have been flocking to the building – which was designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid (1950-2016). Hadid ensured that state-of-the-art special building materials such as self‑compacting concrete and steel were used in the construction of the museum. The 170-metre-long building stands on six conical concrete pillars. Inside, slanting walls and a folded, exposed steel roof structure create unusual impressions. Gentle and flowing gradients are broken up again and again by rugged and angular sections. The science exhibition in the Phaeno invites all visitors to try the hands-on experience – regardless of age. There are 300 experimenting stations, some even designed by artists, and they all promise amazing experiences.

BMW Welt in Munich

Munich’s Olympic Park sparkles with architecturally stunning buildings such as the Olympiahalle and the Olympic Stadium. But there’s an even newer building directly alongside: BMW Welt. Between 2003 and 2007, the car manufacturer commissioned the construction of a large-scale facility for exhibitions, vehicle handovers and events. More than 200 proposals were submitted to the architecture competition, and ultimately the design by Viennese professor Wolf D. Prix from Coop Himmelb(l)au architects’ office won the contract. You can’t miss the glass and steel façade at BMW Welt. A particular stand-out feature is a structure known as the Double Cone, which gives the building a dynamic appearance. It has solar panels on the roof. BMW World receives over three million visitors every year. They are interested in the new models from the BMW Group brands that are exhibited there.

Omniturm in Frankfurt

The cityscape of Frankfurt am Main is defined by its skyline. One of the many skyscrapers is particularly interesting: the Omniturm. This building is 190 metres high and is what they call a mixed-use building – which means it combines offices, living space and public areas. Situated in Frankfurt city centre, the Omniturm was built between 2016 and the end of 2019, although the plans were much older. US property developer Tishman Speyer Properties oversaw the construction, which was designed by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels. Architecturally, the high‑rise is striking thanks to its spiral axis shift in the centre, known as the “Hip Swing”. The levels are offset from the base by up to five metres between the 16th and 22nd floors. This provides space for the terraces belonging to the apartments located on these floors.

Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein

Near the Swiss city of Basel, in Weil am Rhein, the Vitra Design Museum has been casting its spell on architecture enthusiasts since November 1989. This extraordinary building welcomes up to ten exhibitions a year with a focus on architecture and design. Rolf Fehlbaum, former owner of the Swiss furniture manufacturer Vitra, initially intended the building to showcase his chair and furniture collection, but in the end decided to use it as a museum with changing exhibitions. They commissioned US star architect Frank O. Gehry (1929-2025) to design the museum along with the production and administration building behind it. Günter Pfeifer, an architect from Lörrach, helped him turn the vision into reality. It took just three years to build, following which the Vitra Design Museum – Frank O. Gehry’s first building in Europe – opened its doors to the public.

January 2026