Association extends Cologne city wall with a spectacular extension

Created: 05/12/2022, 17:39

By: Johanna Werning

The Blaue Funken extend the Sachsenturm in Cologne (draft viewed from the Sachsenring) © Anderhalten Architekten/ Blaue Funken

The Sachsenturm in Cologne is home to the Blaue Funken carnival society – and is now being expanded.

We show first pictures.

Cologne – For over 50 years, the Blaue Funken Köln have been based in the Sachsenturm – affectionately known as the Blauer Funken Tower.

But the old tower of the Cologne city wall is now too small for the traditional corps from Cologne.

In addition, there is a lack of accessibility.

But moving out is out of the question for the revelers.

Blaue Funken Köln expand the city tower: Large event hall

A competition was therefore started in 2018 to find the right design for the Sachsenturm in downtown Cologne (Südstadt).

The design by the team from Anderhalten Architects from Berlin won.

In addition to accessibility and more space for the carnival society, there will also be a new hall in the future, reports 24RHEIN.

"This will also be available to the public as an event location," the Blue Sparks continue to promise.

But what exactly should the expansion look like?

Carnival Cologne: This is how the extension of the Blue Sparks should look like

The Sachsenturm is to be extended in the direction of Ulrichgasse (design viewed from Kartäuserwall) © Anderhalten Architekten/ Blaue Funken

The Blaue Funken Tower is to be extended parallel to the Kartäuser Wall in the direction of Ulrichgasse.

Currently there are trees and a green area here.

The extension will be approximately 12 meters wide and 33 meters long.

This corresponds to a total area of ​​around 610 square meters.

Designed to match the city wall that once ran here.

This is what the new hall in the Blauen Funken Tower should look like © Anderhalten Architekten/ Blaue Funken

Blaue Funken Köln expand Sachsenturm – want to “start construction as soon as possible”

But cultivation is not easy.

Because the Sachsenturm is under monument protection.

This is also the reason why a simple conversion was out of the question.

But the extension must also be compatible with the "monument protection of the Sachsenturm and the monument-worthy green area", according to the Cologne Carnival Society.

The current design has done that.

But the project had to be approved by the city council first.

That happened at the council meeting in early May.

The next step is now that the building permit is granted.

Only then can construction work actually begin.

If the blue sparks have their way, however, this is more likely to happen today than tomorrow.

They want to "start construction as soon as possible, as soon as the building permit is available." It is not yet clear when the enlarged Blue Spark home will be completed.