Medienhafen and Gehry Buildings

The Medienhafen is a former Rhine harbour in the Hafen district of Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, redeveloped from the 1990s into a showcase of contemporary architecture and a base for media, advertising and design firms. Its best-known landmark is the Neuer Zollhof at Neuer Zollhof 1-3, three curved office buildings by Frank Gehry completed in 1999. One is clad in brushed stainless steel that reflects the harbour, one in white plaster, and one in red brick, and their flowing, tilted facades look different from every direction. The buildings are offices and can only be admired from outside. Around them the harbour basin is lined with other notable works, including colourful buildings by the architect William Alsop, converted warehouses, and angular glass blocks, with bars, restaurants and hotels at ground level. A waterside promenade runs along the old quays, with the Rheinturm and the Landtag rising nearby, and the Rhine meadows within a short walk. Visitors usually spend one to two hours walking the circuit, stopping for photographs and a meal. The best photo angles for the Gehry buildings are from the pedestrian bridge area and from the harbour edge looking back at the curved facades, and the steel building gives striking reflections in late afternoon light. Blue hour, when the facades pick up the colours of the sky, is especially rewarding. Weekday mornings are quiet, while warm evenings, especially in summer, bring diners and office workers to the terraces. Rheinbahn trams and buses stop at Stadttor and Medienhafen, and the Rheinturm is about 20 minutes away on foot. Entry to the harbour area is free and it stays open at all hours, though restaurants keep their own opening times.