Design and architecture

The architecture of our exhibition halls is as diverse as the trade fairs that we organise. Each building is unique and reflects the architectural style of the time of its construction. A walk around the exhibition grounds is therefore also a journey through the history of Messe Frankfurt.

Internationally known architects such as Helmut Jahn, Oswald M. Ungers, Nicholas Grimshaw, Rainer Hascher and Sebastian Jehle have shaped the face of Messe Frankfurt and left their mark on the unmistakable appearance of our exhibition grounds. Over the years, these grounds have grown to become a city within a city. A wide variety of architectural styles – art nouveau, Bauhaus, post modern – unite to form a work of art. The exhibition halls are not just pleasing to the eye, however. They are also highly functional, fulfilling the exhibitors’ every need.

The cornerstone of this landscape was laid from 1907 to 1909 with the construction of the Festhalle. This building forms the foundation of the modern exhibition industry. Its neo-classical façade lends a particular charm to the modern architectural ensemble of the Messe Frankfurt site. Additional halls and buildings followed over the years. Just in time for the 2009 IAA motor show, the new Hall 11 and the Portalhaus entrance building were inaugurated on the western side of the Frankfurt exhibition grounds. They join the other one-of-a-kind buildings, their two-year construction period reflecting the utilitarian principles of modern architecture. At the same time, both buildings live up to our high aesthetic standards.

The indoor spaces of Messe Frankfurt also reflect what is seen outside – careful attention was paid to the interior design of the buildings. The most recent example is the childcare centre: In autumn 2008, it was awarded a special prize for social facilities by the Association of German Interior Designers (BDIA). The Press Center, the central information point for journalists from around the world, has also been redesigned and received a fresh new look.