For years, the bank of the Rhine in the Deutz district of Cologne, Germany was seen as a part of the city with no significance. In response to this, the City of Cologne launched a redevelopment of the boulevard, creating an attractive space for citizens and visitors alike. Today, the steps by the Rhine are a popular spot for whiling away the afternoon, and the generous promenade draws in people from miles around as the perfect area for a stroll. A gastronomy concept was also developed in order to make the area even more appealing. Two glass pavilions in front of the Hyatt Regency Hotel offer an unparalleled view of the city’s famous cathedral and historic town centre.
The new “Rheinboulevard” offers visitors the opportunity to view the city from a new perspective. But the generous steps and lively promenade still needed other amenities, such as restaurants and kiosks. With this in mind, visitors and users of the Hyatt Regency Hotel engaged the services of architects’ bureau Gatermann + Schossig to develop efficient gastronomic structures on the bank of the Rhine that would offer a view of the cathedral and a high-quality place to relax and recharge. One of the project’s biggest challenges was how to handle the intersection between the public boulevard and the hotel. On the one hand, the construction project needed to emphasise the prestigious entrance to the five-star hotel. At the same time, however, the restaurants needed to be clearly welcoming and accessible to visitors and people walking along Rheinboulevard itself. In-depth discussions with owners and the Town Planning Office – an enthusiastic partner and supporter of the project – led to the birth of a “walk-in art project” that acts as an extension to the promenade and its steps. A clear theme runs through the shapes of the two glass pavilions that house the Grissini Italian restaurant and street-food joint Sticky Fingers. With its minimalist aesthetic and unique facade design, the ensemble of buildings draws the eye to the Rheinboulevard around it.