ARCHITECTURAL FOCUS
CONFEX , KOELNMESSE TRADE FAIR
CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION HALL , COLOGNE TRADE FAIR
Koelnmesse plans to upgrade its inner-city campus and expand its exhibition schedule by 2030 . The investment program , “ Koelnmesse 3.0 ”, laid the foundation for this future expansion and enhancement of the grounds . As a result , the following key tasks were defined : the replacement of Exhibition Hall 1 ( approximately 10,000 m ² of exhibition space ), a new multifunctional event hall for up to 6,200 participants , and a new East-West terminal as the central axis , including new entrance gates .
JSWD won the multi-phase competition in 2016 . After the completion of Hall 1 in 2020 , Confex – a portmanteau of conference and exhibition center – opened in 2024 .
JSWD combined the various uses of the building into a single cuboidal structure with a stately yet welcoming appearance . The building has a different character when viewed from different angles , originating from the strictly vertical segmentation of the existing halls .
The rhythmic vertical structure of the facade allows Confex to blend harmoniously into the ensemble of the existing trade fair buildings .
At the same time , it forms the structural end point of the exhibition grounds towards the Rheinpark to the west .
While the front of the building , facing both Cologne and MesseCity , is grand in scale , the interior appears more compact . Guests coming from the train station are led up to the height of Confex Plaza by a wide staircase . With 5,600 m ² of open-air space , the plaza allows events to generate visibility and welcome visitors before they even walk through the doors .
The view of the interior is staggered . As an open reception hall , the 27-meter-high arcade makes an inviting gesture . Depending on one ’ s perspective , the 11 extremely slender pillars appear to form a curtain .
Under the roof of the arcade , a translucent , storyhigh LED screen runs the entire width of the building , adding moving images , messages , colors , and light to the space . The white facade is cut into horizontal thirds , matching the number of stories inside the building ; narrow openings , windows , or ventilation are installed at the levels defined by the pilaster strips and correspond to the different conference areas .
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