Poelzig Park in Frankfurt

 

Poelzig Park in Frankfurt

The 14-hectare park now houses parts of Frankfurt University in its buildings. Particularly impressive is the historic central building, designed by the Berlin art architect Hans Poelzig. It was intended as the headquarters of the fourth-largest industrial corporation in the world in the late 1920s and is now a listed building along with the park. The company (IG Farben) was founded in 1926 through the merger of numerous chemical companies. After the Second World War, the site was used by the American military as headquarters until 1995, as it had not been destroyed. 

The park was designed by Frankfurt's horticultural director Max Bromme and was intended to soften the austerity of the architecture. Today it is characterised by extensive lawns and valuable old trees. Perennial plantings and water basins complement the garden design. The park is popular as a place for students to spend time.