Frankfurt Approves 212m Tall Jean Nouvel Tower

After several years of arguments, approval has finally been given to a new project for Frankfurt.

Named the Urban Entertainment Centre or to save time, words and delay the onset of carpel tunnel syndrome, UEC, it will comprise of two towers and several smaller residential buildings.

The towers designed by French architect Jean Nouvel will stand at 212 metres and 160 metres the tallest allocated to office space and the second housing a hotel. This will be a Grand Hyatt hotel and offer patrons five star luxury along with 450 rooms, fitness and well being centre as well as restaurants and bars. A visitors centre open to the public is also under consideration to allow the average Joe to enjoy the spectacular views from the top of the tower.

The towers will stand amongst smaller buildings that will provide accommodation, entertainment and shopping facilities for the site. Located next door to the famous post-modern Messe Turm, it will be the centrepiece of the inner-city redevelopment project called Europaviertel ( European Quarter) which will replace old cargo rail terminals and tracks.

The towers are quite simple in design, seemingly slim looking from the front they taper outwards at the back creating a sort of rounded off slim triangle. Both sport the ever popular sleek glass facades which are clearly not modelled on Germany's most popular and hairy superstar David Hasselhoff but rather on Nouvel's love of glass.

The facades will allow passers-by to have a snoop at what is going on in the building whilst giving workers of the office tower and patrons of the hotel lovely views of the surrounding city.

Developers Vivico hope to begin construction in spring of this year, although the office tower may not start until a main tenant can be hooked and landed.