Open House: Wenn eine Villa von 1900 zur Büroimmobilie der Zukunft wird Objektführungen Schanzenstrasse 24, Köln-Mülheim

What to do with a historic, listed executive residence from the Gründerzeit era located on the former industrial site of Felten & Guilleaume? Tear it down and rebuild?

A natural stone facade, three stories high, impressive down to the last detail—because the city of Mülheim insists on beautiful facades facing Schanzenstrasse. 120 years later, the building still stands. And it’s currently undergoing a complete renovation—not despite its history, but because of it.

We’re opening the construction site for two guided tours—and along the way, we’ll share the story of what happened on this site: At its peak, the Carlswerk factory owned by Felten & Guilleaume employed 23,560 people here.  The Rhine cable car, the Mülheim Bridge, the first transatlantic telephone cable—all were produced less than 500 meters from here.

Jamestown Europe and Apleona invite you to tour the building while the renovation is underway.

What to expect:

You’ll gain insight into a renovation project that demonstrates just how much potential an old building holds—and how much CO₂ is saved by preserving it rather than replacing it. An independent life-cycle analysis by Agradblue has shown that, over 50 years, the renovation of this building will result in 43% fewer CO₂ emissions than a comparable new construction. Not because we’re building in a particularly clever way—but because we didn’t build a new building at all.

The details:

📍 Schanzenstrasse 24, 51063 Cologne-Mülheim

🕑 Guided tours at 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. (Registration required; groups limited to 10 people each)

🦺 Please wear sturdy shoes—we’ll be on an active construction site

🚋 Accessible via the Mülheim S-Bahn or Tram Line 4

A visit on this day makes double the sense: “Local Cologne,” taking place in the adjacent courtyard and organized by Koelnistkool, is happening for the 6th time and starts at 2:00 p.m. Visitors can expect a diverse selection—from handmade jewelry, fashion, and curated vintage pieces to interior design and art. As always, there is free admission.

Local.cologne is a pop-up market concept from Cologne that connects local creatives, artists, labels, and small businesses. The goal is to showcase the city’s creative diversity and bring people together—through design, music, food, and social interaction.