The ground-breaking ceremony for the conversion of the Carsch-Haus and the redesign of Heinrich-Heine-Platz took place in Düsseldorf on Tuesday. The KaDeWe Group’s new department store covers 10,000 square meters on seven floors and is scheduled to open in spring 2025.
In the first step, the existing roof of the Carsch-Haus will be opened in April 2023, the construction of the atrium will begin in July 2023, and work on the surface of the square is scheduled to start in March 2024. The completion of the entire project is planned for the end of 2024 and the opening of the fourth department store of the KaDeWe Group will then take place in the spring of 2025, according to the running plan of Signa Real Estate, the builder of the Carsch-Haus.
Fourth German branch of the KaDeWe Group
“Düsseldorf will get its Carsch-Haus back with a new look and Heinrich-Heine-Platz will invite you to linger,” said Mayor Stephan Keller. The construction project contributes to an upgrading of the central location, which represents a link between Schadowstraße/Königsallee and the old town with the Rhine.
According to a design by the architects David Chipperfield Architects, an atrium will be built on Heinrich-Heine-Platz, which will in future serve as the new main entrance to the basement of the Carsch-Haus and connect the upper level of the square with the underground sales areas. Visitors reach the lower level via a generously curved staircase, explains Marco Keller, branch manager of Signa Real Estate in Düsseldorf, which is realizing the construction project.
The square should be planted and invite people to linger. “As a central, vital place in Düsseldorf’s inner-city structure, Heinrich-Heine-Platz can once again assume an appropriate role in Düsseldorf’s social life,” said Markus Bauer, Associate at David Chipperfield Architects.
The new Carsch-Haus is the fourth department store of the KaDeWe Group in Germany, which includes KaDeWe in Berlin, Alsterhaus in Hamburg and Oberpollinger in Munich. The department store offers a curated range of fashion, accessories, cosmetics and food on a total of seven floors.
Women’s Designer & Contemporary, Shoes & Accessories, Beauty and Food are located on the Lower Ground Floor, and Luxury Boulevard is on the Ground Floor. Men’s Designer, Shoes and Accessories can be found on the first floor, Men’s Contemporary, Casual & International Business on the second floor. The Sports Department is on the third floor and Kid’s World and Customer Service are on the fourth floor. The fifth floor is all about culinary delights and a great restaurant with bar is being built on the rooftop, which can be reached through a separate entrance and is open until midnight.
Open Space Gallery
A point of attraction during the renovation phase is the 150 meter long site fence, which shows an open-air photographic art exhibition as an “Open Space Gallery”. The idea was developed by the photographer Wolfgang Sohn, who realized the project with the support of
Signa has realized. Until mid-May 2023, 60 exceptional artists will be showing contemporary photography.
Demonstration at the construction fence
Before the event, there was a small demonstration by Galeria Kaufhof employees at the site fence. Mayor Stephan Keller emphasized that the planned closure of the Kaufhof branch on Schadowstrasse and the Galeria Karstadt branch would hit Düsseldorf right in the heart. He is worried about the employees and therefore invited the works council and Verdi to the town hall for an exchange. He also appealed to the representatives of the Signa Group: “Please reconsider the closure at the Wehrhahn.”
