The “Three Disc House” in Dusseldorf

Dreischeibenhaus in Düsseldorf.
Photography: Thomas Klingberg

Architects and development of the Dreischeibenhaus

The Dreischeibenhaus was built between 1957 and 1960 and designed by the architects Helmut Hentrich and Hubert Petschnigg (Architekturbüro Hentrich, Petschnigg & Partner). With the Dreischeibenhaus, the architects created a visionary high-rise building that attracted international attention thanks to its clear design language and elegant design.

Architecture and design

The building owes its name to its tripartite shape: It consists of three vertical, disc-like structures that stand parallel to each other. The middle disc houses the main use, while the two outer, narrower discs form the façades. This construction gives the building its slender, almost floating effect.

The façade of the Dreischeibenhaus is characterised by a clear glass and aluminium construction, which was innovative for the time and underlines the elegance of the International Style. The front sides are clad with bevelled stainless steel surfaces, which gives the building additional radiance. It is worth noting that this is a steel frame construction, which was unique in Europe at the time.

Facts and figures

• Height: 95 metres
• Floors: 25
• Façade: The glass and aluminium façade is typical of the modern architecture of the 1950s and underlines the elegant, functional character of the building.
• Architectural style: International modernism / post-war modernism

Use and importance of the Dreischeibenhaus

The Dreischeibenhaus looks back on an eventful history. After its completion in 1960, it initially served as the headquarters of Phoenix-Rheinrohr AG Vereinigte Hütten- und Röhrenwerke, which was taken over by Thyssen AG in 1964. In the decades that followed, the building was closely associated with the Thyssen industrial group and was long regarded as one of the most modern office buildings in Germany. After the merger of Thyssen and Krupp in 1999, the Dreischeibenhaus was also part of the headquarters of the new ThyssenKrupp AG.

In 2010, ThyssenKrupp moved out of the building and it was subsequently sold. Between 2013 and 2015, the tower block was extensively refurbished by architects HPP Hentrich-Petschnigg und Partner, who had designed the original building. They succeeded in preserving the listed façade while at the same time bringing the technical standards up to a contemporary level.

Today, the Dreischeibenhaus is once again used as a state-of-the-art office building and is home to numerous well-known companies, including A.T. Kearney, Allen & Overy, Alltours, Black Horse Investment, Cadman, Collection Business Center, Gleiss Lutz, Jones Lang LaSalle, Latham & Watkins, Roland Berger and the international commercial law firm Clyde & Co. The ground floor is also home to the upscale restaurant ‘Phoenix’, which is housed in the former telephone exchange and has been part of the gastronomic offering in Düsseldorf city centre since December 2015.

The Dreischeibenhaus is therefore not only an architectural landmark of the post-war period, but also a vibrant part of the city’s economic and cultural centre.

Monument and restoration

The Dreischeibenhaus has been a listed building since 1990. It was extensively renovated between 2012 and 2015. The refurbishment was carried out in accordance with the preservation order, so that the original aesthetics were preserved, but at the same time modern standards in terms of technology and energy efficiency were implemented.

The Dreischeibenhaus is not only a masterpiece of architecture, but also an important cultural and economic landmark in Düsseldorf. It symbolises new beginnings, modernity and the architectural quality of post-war Germany.

Art print of the Dreischeibenhaus

You can purchase an art print of the image above of the Dreischeibenhaus in Düsseldorf here: Art print Dreischeibenhaus