BIG's 'omniturm' tower with shifted floorplates takes shape in frankfurt

in 2015, bjarke ingels group (BIG) presented plans for the ‘omniturm’ — a high-rise mixed-use tower with shifted floorplates to be built at the heart of frankfurt am main. containing offices, the lower part of the building is organized as a slender and rational stack, before the floorplates start to slide outwards in a spiraling motion where the tower contains residential programming. in its uppermost portion, the structure returns to a simple tower block, rejoining the orientation of the floors below.

the high-rise tower will contain a mix of programs
image © nils koenning (also main image)

with the tower now taking shape, photographer nils koenning visited the site to document the building in its current state. the images not only illustrate ‘omniturm’ nearing its full height of 185 meters (607 feet), but also the dramatically offset floor-plates that define the tower’s intriguing form. the photos also show the progress being made to the offices in the lower half of the building, which are beginning to receive their glass cladding.

the building is under construction at the heart of frankfurt am main
image © nils koenning

‘by gently shifting the floor plates of the simple elegant volume the tower incorporates all the elements of a real city: spaces for living and working, inside as well as outside,’ explained bjarke ingels when the project was announced. ‘the result is a striking new silhouette on frankfurt’s skyline that looks different purely because it performs differently. the shift at the hip will be a sign that new life has infiltrated the cluster of corporate headquarters in downtown frankfurt.’

the design is defined by its dramatically shifted floorplates
image © nils koenning

the floorplates slide outwards where the tower contains residential programming
image © nils koenning

the lower part of the building is organized as a slender and rational stack
image © nils koenning

in its uppermost portion, the structure returns to a simple tower block
image © nils koenning

‘omniturm’ is nearing its full height of 185 meters (607 feet)
image © nils koenning

the building is visible from across the city
image © nils koenning

the project was first unveiled in 2015
image © nils koenning

the tower is prominently positioned within the city
image © nils koenning

a rendering illustrating the planned appearance of the project
image © bjarke ingels group