C770 - Technisches Verwaltungsgebäude der Hoechst AG

Technisches Verwaltungsgebäude der Hoechst AG stands within Frankfurt’s Höchst Industrial Park as a brick-expressionist office building designed by Peter Behrens. Its coloured-brick facade divides into three sections, giving the long structure a varied appearance. Two three-storey administrative wings frame a representative entrance with a tower and bridge.

Behrens began designing the building in June 1920, bringing Hoechst’s technical departments together under one roof. Hyperinflation and the French occupation of the Höchst works delayed its opening until 6 June 1924. Later changes converted exhibition halls into telephone exchanges and conference rooms, while restoration began in 1998. The complex now houses the headquarters of Infraserv Höchst and the Hoechst pension fund, and belongs to the Route of Industrial Heritage of the Rhine-Main.

Inside, a basilica-like main hall combines large windows with colourful brickwork and strong vertical lines. The Marble Hall adds travertine wall cladding to the sequence of formal interiors. The tower and bridge featured in Hoechst’s company logo from 1947 to 1997, making the silhouette familiar far beyond Frankfurt. Special guided tours provide access to the building, which otherwise stands within the restricted industrial park.