The rhythmic clang of the railway. A sound that shaped Sechzigviertel. This is Sechzigviertel in Cologne a neighbourhood born from the industry of the railway.
In 1862 the Cologne-Nippes railway repair works opened. A wild settlement grew up in front of the main gate. They called it Sechzig. Sixty. Perhaps for the sixty acres the Rhine Railway Company bought. They built their works there.
Sechzigviertel grew slowly. Pubs and shops appeared. Later worker housing. When Neusser Strasse was built Sechzigviertel grew into Nippes. In 1883 a school opened. The Protestant Luther Church in 1889. The Catholic St Joseph’s Church followed in 1907.
The Luther Church became something special. Since 2002 it has been the Kulturkirche Cologne. Concerts readings workshops and more fill this church. It is a venue for the lit.Cologne festival each March. Famous international stars have appeared here.
Not all of Sechzigviertel is famous. Some buildings are quietly important. Houses on Sechzigstrasse numbers 23 and 25 are listed buildings. They are at the corner of Zonser Strasse. One housed a barber shop around 1875. A restoration project won a national award for craftsmanship in 2017. This shows the care taken to preserve Sechzigviertel’s history.
The former Kriescher Inn is another example. Its facade is extraordinary. Ali Yünlü designed it. He was inspired by Friedensreich Hundertwasser and Antonio Gaudí. He used colourful stones and handmade ceramic tiles. A true marvel of Sechzigviertel.
Sechzigviertel is more than just buildings. It’s a story of industry of community of preservation. A story written in the rhythm of the railway the clang of hammers and the quiet hum of everyday life. It is a testament to a past that continues to shape this lively vibrant neighbourhood. It is a place where history and present day life intermingle. A place worth exploring. A place to remember. This is Sechzigviertel.