Wilhelm Marx House, Dusseldorf

Wilhelm Marx House, a landmark in Dusseldorf’s central district, stands as one of Germany's pioneering high-rises and a testament to early 20th-century architectural ambition. Designed by architect Wilhelm Kreis, the building was completed in 1924, following its groundbreaking in 1922. Standing at 57 meters with 13 stories, it marked one of the first European ventures into skyscraper architecture—a nod to the emerging American trend that inspired the building’s creation.

Named after Wilhelm Marx, the then-mayor of Dusseldorf who led a major city modernization initiative, the building embodies modernist architectural ideals, including functionality and minimalism. It features characteristic elements like flat roofs, prefabricated components, and curtain glass facades—traits that would later influence post-war modernism. Although the building has been sometimes linked to the chancellor of the same name, Wilhelm Marx, they were in fact, different individuals.

Initially housing the Dusseldorf Stock Exchange, Wilhelm Marx House today hosts the "JuTA" ("Young Theatre in the Old Town"), which infuses it with cultural vibrance. After its 1990s renovation, this high-rise continues to stand as a historical and architectural icon on Heinrich-Heine-Allee.