The historic Hotel Schwan in downtown Frankfurt, where European history was made in 1871, could be rebuilt in a contemporary form. Officials are considering plans to either renovate the current complex housing the Hugendubel bookstore or replace it entirely with a new construction.
In May 1871, the original Hotel Schwan on Steinweg witnessed a pivotal moment in European history when German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck and a French delegation signed the Treaty of Frankfurt, ending the Franco-Prussian War. At the time, the Schwan was considered one of the city's most modern buildings and served as a world-class hotel. The original hotel, which was converted to a commercial building in 1919, no longer stands after being destroyed during World War II. Today, a commemorative plaque at the successor building reminds visitors of the Frankfurt Peace treaty.
The property between Steinweg, Rathenauplatz, and Biebergasse has experienced a varied history over the past decades. In 1949, a new building was constructed featuring shops and several movie theaters. The Metro im Schwan, Bambi, and Palette cinemas closed in 1989 to make way for what was then Germany's largest bookstore. Part of the building underwent extensive renovation for the Hugendubel branch with its characteristic glass roof, and books have been sold there since 1990. The bookstore is surrounded by a shell-like structure that rises two stories above the glass roof.
However, the complex, which sits on the vaulted cellars of the old Hotel Schwan, has aged considerably and clearly needs renovation. On the ground floor, Linda shoe salon and fashion retailer Comptoir des Cotonniers have closed. The upper floors of Haus Schwan, which house offices and medical practices, are also reported to have significant vacancy rates.
The ownership structure complicates decisions about the building's future. Approximately half of the property belongs to two family foundations. According to reports, Frankfurt real estate investor Samuel Singer acquired the other half from René Benko's Signa Group. The Signa Group had gradually bought into the property's ownership community before encountering financial difficulties, reportedly maneuvering itself into a dead end due to inability to reach agreements with other owners.
Despite the complicated ownership situation, planning considerations for the property have advanced. Recent days have seen the release of designs created by architects in a small competition. The Berlin-based firm LXSY published visualizations for a hotel called "Neuer Schwan am Platz," proposing renovation of the existing building, whose structure appears suitable for such work.
The competition, which included four participants, was won by Frankfurt-based Cyrus Architekten. According to their website, "In our design, we carefully connect the historical structures with optimized height development." The plan involves removing two floors from the existing buildings and adding four floors using lightweight wooden construction. This would bring the currently five-story complex to the same height as the neighboring Victoria House on Goethe Square and the new Taurus office building on the other side of Biebergasse.
The roof could feature green terraces offering spectacular skyline views. If a hotel is developed, a pool could be installed there. "We harmoniously integrate the additional floors into the urban context and strengthen the architectural edge to the adjacent square," the architects explain.
During building renovation, the bookstore could remain open. However, since demolition and new construction would enable better building structure and facilitate hotel use, the architects have also studied this option. The facade would be similar in both cases. Whether renovated or newly built, the building would open more toward Rathenauplatz while maintaining entrances from Steinweg and Biebergasse as before.
When or whether either design will be implemented remains uncertain. The architectural competition, in which the city reportedly was not involved, was intended to determine the potential of this prominently located property in the city center. To realize this potential, however, the owners must first reach an agreement.
