Grand Central rises just north of the tracks of Central Station, a few minutes' walk from the heart of the city’s financial district. It is one of a large group of skyscrapers by high-profile architects being built in Frankfurt in anticipation of a post-Brexit business boom as financial services move their headquarters from London. Skyline Atlas, a site dedicated to documenting the growth of city horizons, estimates there are 29 skyscrapers currently under construction in the city with completion dates in the next five years – and several more expected to break ground this year.
Mecanoo's design comprises two residential towers, one of nine floors and another of 53 – both topped by roof terraces and faced with glass and copper-coloured cladding.
The towers are connected by an L-shaped footprint sectioned into three zones: one for businesses, another to be used as a kindergarten the final as an entrance and gym for residents. The next six levels will be marketed for rent, while those above – becoming more luxurious towards the top – will be sold.
The complex is developed by Groß & Partner, which is behind a number of Frankfurt's luxury high-rises: a four-tower residential and office complex named Four Frankfurt and designed by UNstudio,,The Spin office and hotel tower by Hadi Teherani, and a medley of office, hotel and homes designed by Cyrus Moser Architects within the 99 West and One Forty West towers.
BIG and Ole Scheeren are also working on towers for the financial district.
Frankfurt's population currently stands at around 750,000, but it is forecast to swell to 820,000 by 2035, with new jobs created by banks moving their headquarters out of the UK in the wake of Brexit contributing to the need for more homes and amenieties – but there is speculation the anticipated influx may never come.
“The arrival of the new residential tower with flexible workspaces, retail, catering, fitness and a kindergarten will be an important impetus for the transformation of this currently business-focussed area into a mixed neighbourhood for living and working,” says Mecanoo.