FOUR Frankfurt - Timelapse Documentation of an Architectural Highlight

MK timelapse
Oct 21
4 min read

The Most Spectacular View of the Frankfurt Skyline - 7 Years of Timelapse Documentation

FOUR Frankfurt - A New Chapter for Frankfurt's Skyline

With FOUR Frankfurt, one of the most significant and largest construction projects in Frankfurt in recent decades is taking shape right in the city center. On the site where the former Deutsche Bank complex once stood, a new urban quarter is emerging that aims to shape the city’s development sustainably.

The four towers, reaching heights of up to 233 meters, combine residential, office, hotel, dining, and retail spaces in a visionary overall concept. It’s not just about four new skyscrapers for Frankfurt, but about opening up a previously inaccessible area to the public, with plazas, passages, and green spaces designed to bring life to the city center.

FOUR is therefore far more than just a construction project: it is a symbol of Frankfurt’s transformation into a modern, international, and livable metropolis. Between the Main River, the financial district, and the shopping streets, an urban quarter is emerging that expands the skyline and enhances the quality of life in the heart of the city.

Project Implementation - Architecture, Engineering and Challenges

The FOUR Frankfurt construction project is one of the most complex undertakings the city has ever seen. It was designed by the renowned architecture firm UNStudio, known worldwide for innovative and sustainable high-rise architecture. On the approximately 16,000-square-meter site, four towers are rising, with heights ranging from 100 to 233 meters, connected by a shared podium building.

Particularly remarkable is the mix of uses: in addition to office spaces, the project includes around 600 apartments, a hotel, dining options, and retail spaces. In this way, FOUR goes beyond the typical skyscrapers in Frankfurt, creating a multifunctional urban quarter.

However, the project faced major challenges before construction began. The former Deutsche Bank site had been a closed-off area for many years, with no public access. Only with the demolition of the old towers could the foundation for a completely new part of the city center be laid. During the construction phase, the architects and engineers had to consider not only the tight urban location in the heart of Frankfurt, but also develop logistical and technical solutions for building the four towers, which are being constructed simultaneously yet in different phases.

Another central goal was sustainability: energy-efficient façades, innovative building technology, and a concept that combines urban living with high-quality public spaces make FOUR one of the most modern construction projects in Frankfurt.

Footage of the demolition and foundation excavation phase.

Construction Site Camera Frankfurt - Setup at FOUR Frankfurt — Installation of the construction site camera in Frankfurt for the FOUR Frankfurt project.

Our Timelapse Work in Frankfurt

For us at MK Timelapse, the FOUR Frankfurt construction project was one of the largest and most exciting projects of recent years. Even before construction began, we installed our first cameras and have since documented the entire construction progress. Over the seven-year period, up to five of our cameras were active on the project.

We used our MK V50 systems with 50-megapixel resolution, specially developed for long-term timelapse projects. Each camera captured one image per minute, resulting in approximately 9 million photos over the entire period. With installations on adjacent high-rises, the construction cranes themselves, and a panoramic view from the roof of the MyZeil shopping center, we captured both detailed shots of individual construction phases and comprehensive views of the skyline and the project as a whole.

A key focus was continuous documentation without interruptions, from the demolition of the old buildings to the laying of the foundation and the erection of the four towers. Our systems are designed for long-term operation and ran reliably for many years, despite weather conditions and the challenging environment in the heart of Frankfurt.

A special highlight: Camera 4 is still in use today – it continues to serve as a public webcam, offering what is probably the most spectacular view of the Frankfurt skyline.

Construction Site Camera in Frankfurt — MK V50 Timelapse System on a Roof Edge

Systems

5x MK V50

Resolution

50 Megapixels

Interval

1 Frame per Minute

Field of View

70 - 150 Degrees

Highlights

Impressive View of the Frankfurt Skyline

An Amazing Project and Stunning Images

With FOUR Frankfurt, a new architectural landmark has emerged in the heart of the skyline. The four towers not only make a strong urban statement, but also symbolize the transformation of Frankfurt’s city center into a modern, vibrant quarter with residences, offices, a hotel, and public spaces.

For us, it was a special experience to document this Frankfurt construction project with our cameras over seven years. We captured unique footage from the demolition to completion, creating a visual chronicle that documents the development of FOUR and the continuous evolution of Frankfurt’s high-rises.

The project demonstrates the value of long-term timelapse for developers, architects, and the public. For us, FOUR Frankfurt remains a highlight in our company’s history, not only because of the stunning images, but also because of the scale and significance of this extraordinary construction project.