IG Farben Building Frankfurt: Visiting Hours, Tickets, and Historical Significance
Date: 03/07/2025
Introduction
The IG Farben Building, also known as the Poelzig Building, is one of Frankfurt’s most significant architectural and historical landmarks. Built between 1928 and 1931 to serve as the headquarters of IG Farben, then the world’s largest chemical conglomerate, the building stands as a striking example of early 20th-century modernist architecture. Today, as part of Goethe University’s Westend Campus, it offers visitors a chance to explore a site where industrial ambition, architectural innovation, and Germany’s complex 20th-century history converge. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the IG Farben Building’s history, architectural features, visitor information—including visiting hours and ticketing—and tips for those planning a visit.
Table of Contents
- Historical Background
- Architectural Significance
- The Nazi Era and Wartime History
- Allied Occupation and Denazification
- Transformation and Memorialization
- Visitor Information
- FAQ
- Conclusion and Call to Action
- References
Historical Background
Origins and Context
Situated on the Grüneburggelände, an area acquired by the Rothschild family in the 19th century, the IG Farben Building’s site has long been part of Frankfurt’s urban development. The area evolved from farmland to a psychiatric hospital in the late 1800s and later became home to the monumental office complex in the aftermath of World War I (Vielfalt der Moderne).
IG Farben’s Role and the Building’s Conception
IG Farben was formed in 1925/1926 by the merger of major German chemical companies such as BASF, Bayer, and Hoechst (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum). Seeking headquarters that reflected their industrial power, IG Farben acquired the Grüneburg estate in 1927. A design competition led to the selection of architect Hans Poelzig, whose modernist vision became one of the era’s most innovative corporate buildings (Goethe University Frankfurt).
Architectural Significance
Hans Poelzig’s Vision
Hans Poelzig’s design embodies the New Objectivity movement—favoring functionality, clarity, and understated elegance. The building stretches 250 meters, rises nine stories, and features a steel skeleton clad in travertine marble (Vielfalt der Moderne). Its main axis is flanked by six wings, maximizing natural light and efficient circulation through over 2,000 windows.
Design Features and Innovations
- Structural Innovations: The steel frame allowed for open-plan offices and vast dimensions, making it the largest office building in Europe until the 1950s (Vielfalt der Moderne).
- Façade and Materials: The light-colored travertine marble façade and rolled copper roof highlight its technical and aesthetic ambitions.
- Interior Detailing: Advanced amenities included file elevators, rare paternoster lifts, mechanical ventilation, and linoleum flooring produced by IG Farben, with craftsmanship evident in bronze doors and marble walls.
- Landscape Integration: Max Bromme and collaborators designed surrounding parklands, integrating geometric gardens and water features with adjacent Grüneburgpark (Vielfalt der Moderne).
- Artistic Elements: Notable artworks include Fritz Klimsch’s “Nymphenskulptur” and Gerhard Marcks’ “Empedocles” sculpture in the entrance hall.
The Nazi Era and Wartime History
IG Farben’s Activities
From 1930, the building became the command center for IG Farben’s vast operations. Under the Nazi regime, IG Farben played a notorious role in war crimes—manufacturing synthetic materials essential to the war effort and Zyklon B, the gas used in Holocaust extermination camps (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum). The building also managed the Monowitz plant near Auschwitz, which exploited forced labor (Frankfurt Tourism).
Allied Occupation and Denazification
U.S. Army Headquarters and the IG Farben Trial
Spared from Allied bombing—legend has it due to its anticipated postwar use—the IG Farben Building became the U.S. Army’s Supreme Allied Command headquarters in 1945. General Dwight D. Eisenhower worked here, and the building was central in postwar reconstruction and denazification (Frankfurt Tourism, U.S. Army Europe). From 1947 to 1948, it hosted the IG Farben Trial, where 24 executives were prosecuted for war crimes, setting precedents in corporate accountability (Harvard Law School Library).
Transformation and Memorialization
Goethe University and Remembrance
After the U.S. Army vacated in 1995, the building underwent restoration and reopened in 2001 as part of Goethe University (Goethe University Frankfurt). It now houses faculties, administration, and public spaces for academic and cultural events, fostering dialogue around its complex past.
Key Memorials and Sculptures
- Wollheim Memorial: Commemorating Holocaust survivor and forced laborer Norbert Wollheim, this memorial stands near the building and features interpretive panels (Wollheim Memorial).
- “Am Wasser” Sculpture: A water nymph statue, removed during U.S. occupation and returned in 1995, sits by a reflecting pool (operasandcycling.com).
Visitor Information
Address, Opening Hours, and Tickets
- Location: Grüneburgplatz 1, 60323 Frankfurt am Main, Germany (trip.com)
- Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM–6:00 PM. Weekend visits are possible by appointment or during special events (Goethe University Frankfurt).
- Admission: Free for public areas and memorials. Guided tours require advance booking and may have a nominal fee.
Guided Tours and Accessibility
- Tours: Offered by Goethe University and local societies, tours provide insights into architecture and history. Book in advance (Goethe University Frankfurt).
- Accessibility: The building is wheelchair accessible, but the historic paternoster elevators are not suitable for those with mobility impairments. Ramps and lifts are available in public areas.
Practical Tips & Nearby Attractions
- Transport: Easily accessible by public transport; the closest stop is “Bockenheimer Warte” (Frankfurt Public Transport).
- Nearby Sites: Explore Grüneburgpark, the Palmengarten botanical gardens, Senckenberg Natural History Museum, and the Museumsufer district.
- Photography: Permitted in public areas; be respectful in memorial zones and avoid photographing students or staff without permission.
FAQ
Q: What are the IG Farben Building visiting hours?
A: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM–6:00 PM; weekends by appointment.
Q: Is admission free?
A: Yes, entry to public areas and memorials is free. Special tours may require a fee.
Q: Are guided tours available?
A: Yes, tours are available by reservation.
Q: Is the building wheelchair accessible?
A: Public areas are accessible; paternoster lifts are not suitable for those with mobility issues.
Q: Can I take photographs?
A: Yes, in public spaces, but please be respectful in memorial and academic zones.
Conclusion and Call to Action
The IG Farben Building stands as a powerful symbol of Germany’s industrial ambition, architectural achievement, and complex history. Its transformation from corporate headquarters and wartime command center to a university campus and site of remembrance exemplifies the city’s resilience and dedication to confronting the past. Visitors can experience its architectural splendor, reflect at its memorials, and explore nearby cultural sites.
Plan your visit by checking current hours and tour availability. For more insights and updates, download the Audiala app and follow official channels for the latest on events and exhibitions related to the IG Farben Building and Frankfurt’s rich historical landscape.
References
- Vielfalt der Moderne – IG Farben Building
- Goethe University Frankfurt – IG Farben Building
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum – IG Farben Article
- Frankfurt Tourism – IG Farben House
- Lonely Planet – IG Farben Building Attraction
- Frankfurt Public Transport
- Operas and Cycling – IG Farben Building Article
- Wollheim Memorial
- Trip.com – IG Farben Building
