A thoroughly fascinating building, the MyZeil Shopping Mall designed by Studio Fuksas in Frankfurt, Germany in 2009 is an exciting melding of contemporary flair with conventional sensibilities. The building is most strongly characterized by an iconic glazed facade of facets which seem to flow across the form.
Conceived as a river flowing across and into the ground it rests upon, this feature is not merely for those viewing the building from its exterior- the character of this bold move fills the interior space in both bounding and interactive roles.
photography by © Karsten Monnerjahn
A ‘vortex’ of glass and steel reaches from an indent in the facade to the mall’s interior, creating interplay between building and inhabitant.
The mall shows two vastly different faces to two different aspects of the city which is its host. On the one side, is the Zeil- the main shopping boulevard in the heart of Frankfurt; on the other, the Thurn and Taxis Palace.
To the Zeil, the mall shows its modern, sleek, and flowing face; to the Palace, a much more formal and constrained appearance.
photography by © Karsten Monnerjahn
Anastasia Andreieva is an accomplished Architectural Projects Editor at Arch2O, bringing a unique blend of linguistic expertise and design enthusiasm to the team. Born and raised in Ukraine, she holds a Master’s degree in Languages from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Her deep passion for architecture and visual storytelling led her to transition from translation and editorial roles into the world of design media. With a keen eye for conceptual clarity and narrative structure, Anastasia curates and presents global architectural projects with precision and flair. She is particularly drawn to parametric and digital design, cultural context, and emerging voices in architecture. When I’m not analyzing the latest architectural trends, you’ll probably find me searching for hidden gems in cityscapes or appreciating the beauty of well-crafted spaces. After all, great design—like great connections—can be found in the most unexpected places. Speaking of connections, because architecture isn’t the only thing that brings people together.