PROJECTS / BETONSILO
The New Betonsilo: From Historic Granary to State-of-the-Art Medical and Office Hub
The Betonsilo, part of the Plange Mühle Campus—a dynamic, forward-thinking area at Düsseldorf’s harbor—was developed to meet the highest ecological standards in alignment with Christoph Ingenhoven's supergreen© principles, while respecting the existing building heritage.
Constructed in 1929, the Betonsilo features ten reinforced concrete cylinders, each nearly 30 meters high, arranged in pairs. Its use of free formwork for such heights was groundbreaking at the time. Since April 2000, it has been listed as a historic building. Today, it accommodates a radiology practice, an orthopedic clinic with examination and surgery rooms, and provides modern office spaces with stunning views.
Adapting the Betonsilo for current use presented significant challenges, requiring close collaboration with monument preservation authorities. The renovation involved slicing the cylinders lengthwise, installing new floor slabs, and adding windows to nine of the cylinders. The cylinder next to the Holzsilo was preserved intact and now houses the main staircase and elevators. Daylight now illuminates all but one of the silo cylinders through new aluminum windows on seven floors.
An additional floor, known as the “Überflieger,” connects the Betonsilo with the Holzsilo and features terraces and new floor-to-ceiling windows, originally planned in 1929, offering expansive views over Düsseldorf Harbor and the city center. The Betonsilo's highest accessible level reaches approximately 28.9 meters above ground, making it a high-rise building. The historic stairwell tower was completely refurbished and a new emergency stairwell was added to meet modern safety standards.
