Colorium: using glass dramatically, but within a standard office budget, a landmark tower has been created to help massive regeneration of Dusseldorf's Rhine harbour - Glass Futures - related article: Architect - Brief Article

Architectural Review, The, August, 2002

The Colorium is one of the buildings that are rejuvenating Dusseldorf's once defunct harbour into a media centre. A 17 storey, 62m high office tower has been built on a traditional harbour-side long narrow site with its thin side to the water. To break down the monotony of standardized office floors piled on top of each other, the smooth e-glass walls have been dramatically patterned in colour.

Only 17 different types of glass panel are used, and the bright colours are screen-printed onto them. Colour is restricted where people can look out (alternate windows are openable), and tends to become more opaque to conceal the concrete frame, but this underlying order is at first obscure, and whole elevations are read as huge intricate patterns capped by a projecting red plantroom. When the lights are on at night, the effect is intensified as the building is reflected in the water of the harbour.

RELATED ARTICLE: Architect

Alsop Architects, London

Project team

Jonathan Leah, Uwe Frohmader, Christophe Egret, Sonla Hibbs, Andy McFee, Neil Pusey, Sabina Riss, Shaun Russell, Max Titchmarsh

Structural engineer

Arup GmbH