Kroch-Hochhaus (Kroch High-Rise), Leipzig

The Kroch High-Rise in Leipzig stands as the city's first skyscraper, completed in 1928 for the private bank Kroch Jr. KGaA. Designed by architect German Bestelmeyer, the 43-meter-tall building features a clock tower design inspired by Venice’s Torre dell’Orologio. Located on the west side of Augustusplatz, it replaced the dilapidated Theaterpassage front building from 1872, previously owned by Leipzig University.

Construction of the Kroch High-Rise began after a competition organized by the bank and Leipzig City Council in 1926. Although no first place was awarded among the 69 submitted designs, Bestelmeyer’s "Orion" was chosen from the two second-place winners. His design for the twelve-story, limestone-clad office tower aimed to complement the gable height of the nearby Pauline Church, a proposal that stirred controversy over its planned height.

Initially, a provisional building permit allowed only ten floors up to 35.50 meters. To address concerns, the top four floors were constructed as temporary structures to assess the building's impact on the urban landscape. This approach ultimately validated Bestelmeyer's vision, and on December 16, 1927, final approval was granted to complete the high-rise at its intended height of 43.20 meters, making it a landmark of early 20th-century architecture in Leipzig.