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To meet the client’s additional goal of creating a desirable and unique new apartment typology for Frankfurt, with special consideration given to the requirements of a live-and-work-from-home lifestyle, occupant health and wellness was identified as a primary consideration and driver for the design. In conjunction with the benefit of additional allowed floor area, the integration of green walls totaling 20% of the building’s façade area introduced an opportunity to create a unique ecosystem within the envelope of the tower, while at the same time providing a unique value-add to the building’s residents in terms of health and well-being.
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EDEN Tower is located in the heart of downtown Frankfurt, Germany, the most populous city in the state of Hessen. The building is served by a number of well-developed public transportation systems, including Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof, with trains serving the European Union; the Frankfurt Güterplatz streetcar station; and the Frankfurt Güterplatz bus stop. All of these are within a ten minute or less walk from the site.
A total of ten living green walls run up the façade of the tower on all sides, creating living demising walls between each of the units’ balconies. These walls are visible not only from the balconies but from within the units as well, creating views of the city framed with green. Special attention was given to ensure that these planted zones could be experienced from within each of the apartments, fostering an atmosphere of well-being, serenity, and connection with the living world for residents, even though they may be 75 meters in the air. With the successful integration of these elements, EDEN has become a pioneering project as the first building of its kind to successfully integrate more than 2,000 square meters of living walls in Germany’s climate.
To meet both financial and market goals, the developer aimed to maximize ROI while introducing a unique residential concept to Frankfurt. They leveraged the city’s incentive allowing an extra 50m² GFA per floor if 20% of the façade includes living walls. This innovative green strategy faced significant challenges, particularly due to Germany’s cooler climate—less suited to such intensive façade greening compared to warmer regions. The solution involved vertically integrating three key systems across stacked zones:
A major hurdle was securing plant attachment to the steel substructure. This was resolved using a fireproof, ultra-light NASA-developed fabric. Shaped into linear sacks for the plants, the fabric was affixed with metal grommets bolted to the steel frame—ensuring durability, safety, and growth support.
“We were attracted by the project of a central, highrise residential building with a unique green façade, which we see as a strong signal in the heart of the city. Most of the apartments are compact units with one to three rooms, an offering which is well suited to the population of Frankfurt, where there are a high number of young professionals looking for their first home in the city or an alternative to hotels.”
Jahn is a globally recognized architecture firm founded 60 years ago, known for transforming cities through a shared passion for design, technology, and integrated practice. Rooted in cultural and site-specific research, we emphasize close collaboration with clients and partners to create authentic, high-performing architecture across four continents. Our diverse Chicago-based team works alongside top engineers, builders, and fabricators, blending aesthetics with engineering excellence. Inspired by our founders and led today by Evan Jahn, Philip Castillo FAIA, Scott Seyer AIA, and Steven Cook FAIA, we remain curious and forward-thinking. We explore new materials, sustainable practices, and innovative solutions that define a responsible and dynamic built environment.
