FRM Magazine Spring 2009

The magazine on the
FrankfurtRhineMain metropolitan region
Digital Hubs Top position in global data traffic Eintracht Frankfurt Cosmopolitan
and tied to the region
Club Scene Hip clubs in FRM
Community Seoul on the Main
River Discoveries The phenomenology of the “Wasserhäuschen” Rheingau The
sparkling region plus FRM Pocket Guide Restaurants, excursions, events and more
>glish
SUMMER 2009
En ion
Edit
Global Market Leaders in FRM
The Hidden
Champions
Frank Schirrmacher
“The future belongs
to the cities”
Campus Westend
The House of
Finance
//
Editorial
DEAR READERS
>
FrankfurtRhineMain combines the qualities of a dynamic metropo-
lis with those of smaller cities and country towns. We are one of the
most powerful economic regions in both Germany and Europe, if not in the whole
world and at the same time distinguished by the great quality of life that makes us
such an appealing place to live and work.
This is the product not only of our excellence as a banking and financial center, a
major transportation and traffic hub and a renowned trade fair location, but also
reflects the concentration of colleges and universities, the many corporations
throughout the FrankfurtRhineMain region that have become global players and
also the diversity of the local media landscape and the many cultural institutions
and historical landmarks. FrankfurtRhineMain is characterized by a unique blend
of internationalism, dynamism and change, together with traditional structures
and familiarity.
FrankfurtRhineMain is therefore much more than just the sum of its outstanding
individual institutions. The compactness and complexity of the region offer the
convenience of short distances, close proximity or direct location in green recreational areas and the possibility of moving between the cultural and recreational
activities of a major city and those of the countryside in less than 30 minutes.
Giving expression to these strengths, exploring and describing them in a new
light is the task of FRM – The magazine on the FrankfurtRhineMain metropolitan region. Published on behalf of FrankfurtRhineMain GmbH, it seeks to tell the
region’s story from an unusual perspective, presenting the old in a new light and
pointing you in the direction of details that are definitely worthy of your attention.
FRM – The magazine on the FrankfurtRhineMain metropolitan region offers any
number of interesting stories and surprising insights into our region. And we are
very glad to be able to share them with you.
Yours most cordially,
Petra Roth
Mayor of Frankfurt am Main
//
Contents
12
20
CHAMPIONS ON THE
GLOBAL MARKET
House of Finance
36
48
HUBS
Rheingau
How a think tank for the world of finance is emerging
on the Westend Campus at the University of Frankfurt
Where the hidden global market leaders from
the FrankfurtRhineMain region are at home
Why the FrankfurtRhineMain region is the interface
for international data traffic in the digital world
Why the land of the Riesling is world class and
offers enjoyment in its purest form
03 Editorial: Petra Roth
06 People in FRM
GIESSEN
Sebastian Vettel
Jessica Schwarz
Oliver Reese
12
20
30
34
35
36
40
44
48
56
60
62
66
Champions on the Global Market
Imprint
LIMBURG
FRIEDBERG
The House of Finance
Interview: Frank Schirrmacher
News
FRM Pocket Guide
Hubs
Seoul on the Main
Global Players, Local Fans
BAD HOMBURG
BAD SCHWALBACH
HOFHEIM
Wiesbaden
FRANKFURT
HANAU
OFFENBACH
MAINZ
ASCHAFFENBURG
GROSS-GERAU
DARMSTADT
The Sparkling Region
Clubbing
The Making of Art
“Wasserhäuschen” in FRM
Preview
4 5
4
FRM 01 I 09
HEPPENHEIM
Erbach
sebastian
Vettel
It all started in Heppenheim where he did his first laps in a
go-cart. Today he is considered the biggest talent in Formula 1:
Sebastian Vettel – the fastest Hessian in the world
6 6
FRM 01 I 09
ve the
ed. I’m
ays on the
t for
perfect
From pole position to Bergstrasse
Christmas was the last time that
Sebastian Vettel traveled to
Heppenheim to visit his parents.
The FrankfurtRhineMain region is
still home to the racing driver
From the region to the race
track Alongside Sebastian
Vettel, the fastest German
Formula One racing drivers are
also from FrankfurtRhineMain:
Timo Glock (Lindenfels / Odenwald, right) and Nico
Rosberg (Wiesbaden, left)
Formula One favorite
Vettel is regarded as a cheerful,
relaxed character – which doesn’t
stop him from pursuing his
goals with determination
Comparisons with racing legend Michael Schumacher still flatter Sebastian Vet-
GEO DATA
1
tel, even if you can read them in some newspaper or other almost every day. Only
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when comparisons are drawn between his home town of Heppenheim and Kerpen, the town where Michael Schumacher grew up, does the Formula One pilot
get serious. Asked whether Heppenheim was the new Kerpen, the 21-year-old
remarked, “Definitely not, our town is a lot better.” So it comes as no surprise
2007 Getty Images/Mark Thompson
2009 Getty Images/Paul Gilham, picture-alliance/dpa (2), 2009 Bongarts
I lo
spe
alw
hun
the
LAP
F
that Vettel did not hesitate to accept the official title “Ambassador of the Bergstrasse”. And the region surely could not wish for a better representative. Swift
1
as an arrow, the racing prodigy from FrankfurtRhineMain is now known all over
the world. Even in pouring rain Vettel pilots his Formula One car from the Red
Bull team around the course with incredible expertise, as if it was second nature
to him. Even Niki Lauda is impressed: “Sebastian is by no means at his peak –
he’s going to get even better.” For FrankfurtRhineMain it could hardly be going
any better in Formula 1. No region sends more drivers onto the race tracks of the
F1 circuit. Sebastian Vettel, Timo Glock and Nico Rosberg – the speedy trio from
Hessen.
www.sebastianvettel.de
//
People in FRM
For us, t
building
always h
a soul a
was full
stories
JESSICA SCHWARZ
his
ad
nd
of
Two sisters
Sandra and Jessica Schwarz have
been familiar with the old house since
their childhood, when they were sure:
This place is haunted!
She left Michelstadt at the age of 16. Full of courage, curiosity and yearning to live life at big-city
1
pace, she turned her back on the Odenwald and her familiar surroundings, trying her hand at
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2
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modeling, presenting, and finally – acting (“Buddenbrooks”, “Romy”). Today Jessica Schwarz, 32,
lives in Berlin but she returns to Michelstadt as often as her shooting schedule permits. To catch her
breath – and to look after her second job as a hostess. Together with her sister Sandra, she has been
managing “die träumerei” (the dreamery) since August 2008. The two sisters transformed the then
F
derelict timber-framed house, which was built in 1623 and had been vacant for 30 past years, into
a hotel – a little gem with only four rooms, each furnished individually and boasting a different
design. Cool and romantic. In the café, breakfast is served until 3 pm. Keeping with the pace of the
big city. Just like a dream. 8 9
FRM 01 I 09
www.die-traeumerei.com
1
2
The art of transforming herself
is her job. And each time Jessica
Schwarz returns to Michelstadt,
she undergoes yet another transformation – from film star to professional hostess.
Joachim Gern/photoselection, Markus Hintzen (2)
GEO DATA
The
brai
thr
hea has
text
sens
way to the
n leads
ough the
rt. Theater
to convey the
through
ory experience
The director Oliver
Reese often worked
with Ulrich Matthes at
the Deutsches Theater
in Berlin – will he be
appearing in Frankfurt
as well soon?
The author
For “Goebbels” Reese assembled
thousands of pages from the diaries of Hitler’s head of propaganda
– to form a revealing text collage
GEO DATA
Oliver REESE
10 10
FRM 01 I 09
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3
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Gorki Theatre and the Deutsches Theater in Berlin where Oliver Reese excelled in these roles. The
45-year-old is regarded by many as the main driving force behind the success of these venues.
Reese is now about to stage a bona fide new beginning in Frankfurt: As Schauspiel’s new Artistic Director, he has not only replaced but – bringing ten actors from the capital with him – also
expanded the entire ensemble. The new season’s program will feature 30 of Reese’s own productions, with five premieres in the first ten days alone. All right at the beginning. His choice of a
picture-alliance/dpa (2), Freese/drama-berlin.de
The newcomer at Frankfurt Schauspiel:
Beginning with the 2009 / 2010 season,
Artistic Director Oliver Reese will also initiate
a new era at the Frankfurt theater
Theater manager, dramaturge, director, playwright. For the past 15 years it was primarily at the
1
play set in antiquity to start his future career is certainly deliberate – the season at Schauspiel
F
Frankfurt will kick off with Sophocles’ “Oedipus/Antigone” on October 1. The play is direct-
3
1
2
ed by Michael Thalheimer, also known as the “Master of Economy”. Theater fans in the region
had set their hopes on Reese bringing one of his closest directing partners “to his home turf”.
Thalheimer, who spent his childhood in Kelkheim (Taunus) and Darmstadt-Dieburg, is now celebrated as one of the most highly acclaimed directors on the German stage. All over Germany,
journalists from the arts and entertainment sector have their eyes firmly fixed on Frankfurt.
Watch this space. www.schauspielfrankfurt.de
//
Business
1
2
3
4
5
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08°27‘08.40“E
The Darmstadt-based
chemical and pharmaceuticals company supplies
60 percent of all liquid
crystals for modern flat
screens and displays.
The 100-year-old
Frankfurt pharmaceuticals company is
a world market leader
with its medication
for Alzheimer’s.
The Hanau family business is a world leader in
several areas – and dominates the market for the
precious metal balls used
in fountain pen nibs.
X-ray security scanners
produced by this Wiesbaden company can be
found in 85% of the
worlds commercial
airports.
The family-run business
from Hofheim is the
worlds No. 1 when it
comes to high-speed
cutters for the graphics
industry.
www.merck.de
www.merz.de
www.heraeus.de
www.smithsdetection.com
www.polar-mohr.com
Champions
on the global
market
Did you know that most flat screens contain
liquid crystals from Darmstadt? Or that
almost every airport in the world has an x-ray
machine from Wiesbaden? The history of
“hidden” world market leaders from the region
by Christian sälzer
12 13
FRM 01 I 09
> Veritas, Ixetic, Vitronic, Smiths Heimann. Ever
ministries and embassies. The range extends from scanners that
heard of these names? No? You should make a mental
check post to high-energy systems that can x-ray entire trucks
note of them as they reveal the most amazing stories from the
or containers.
FrankfurtRhineMain region. Let’s take Smiths Heimann for example. Walter Heimann, a pioneer of German television technol-
Ixetic, Veritas and Vitronic can tell similar success stories.
ogy, founded Heimann GmbH in Wiesbaden in 1946. When air-
Ixetic GmbH, based in Bad Homburg, is a global leader in the
plane hijackings increased in the 1970s, Heimann responded by
manufacture of hydraulic and vacuum pumps for the automo-
supplying the first x-ray machine to check hand luggage. Later
bile industry. Veritas from Gelnhausen leads the global market
he expanded his range with devices identifying explosives and
in the field of pipe systems for fuel, oil and charge air in vehicles.
weapons, smuggled goods and drugs. Today the company, which
And Vitronic from Wiesbaden is the internationally most suc-
has been part of the British Smiths Group since 2002, is the glo-
cessful supplier of industrial image processing systems. By way
bal market leader for x-ray inspection systems. 85% of airports
of example, the company fitted out the world’s largest package
have machines from Wiesbaden. And it is not only here that they
distribution center, belonging to UPS in Louisville, USA, with
are used. Smiths Heimann products are used wherever banned
weighing stations and systems to read packages and measure
goods could be transported across borders or into sensitive re-
their volume. In addition, it supplied the in-house control units
gions, for example, at border stations, harbors and entrances to
for the German HGV (heavy goods vehicle) toll. When we think
//
Business
Champions
on the global
market
Jack Wolfskin, Braun and Glasbau
Hahn are at home in the Frankfurt
RhineMain region, as are Deutsche
Bank, Deutsche Börse and Fraport.
These names are well known throughout
the world …
6
7
8
9
10
11
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08°38‘08.33“E
50°12‘51.89“N
08°37 ‘16.7 3“E
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The IT company from
Darmstadt is the biggest
independent provider of
infrastructure software
for business processes
worldwide.
With branches in the USA
and Japan, the company
from Bad Homburg is a
world leader in hydraulic
and vacuum pumps for
the automobile industry.
The Frankfurt Chassis
& Safety Division of
the German tire manufacturer dominates the
world market for hydraulic break systems.
The Darmstadt-based
company is one of the
world leaders in the areas
of weighing, dosage, filtering and automation.
The glass specialist
from Mainz is in the international elite with its
solar receivers for solar
thermal power plants.
The Offenbach-based
company is a leading
global supplier of power
transmission components and systems for
the automobile industry.
www.softwareag.com
www.ixetic.com
www.conti-online.com
www.schenckprocess.com
www.schott.com
www.gknservice.com
… There are, however, around two dozen
world leaders in the region that only industry
insiders know.
of successful regional companies, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche
it does things others haven’t thought of yet. Thus in 2002, the
Börse and Fraport readily come to mind. Some might also think
medium-sized company succeeded in doing something no giant
of Braun (razors) and Jack Wolfskin (outdoor clothing). But Ixetic
pharmaceutical company has to date, namely, developing a drug
and what was it again? No, at best specialists are familiar with
that alleviates the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. The active ingredi-
these companies, because they are involved in niche markets.
ent is memantine. Alzheimer’s patients taking this medication
Although they are very successful. Hidden champions is the spe-
can regain abilities that they appeared to have lost, for exam-
cialist term. There are roughly two dozen hidden champions in
ple, washing and dressing themselves. The drug is a big hit, and
the FrankfurtRhineMain region. They are relatively small, high-
this year it will break through the US $ 1 billion sales mark in
ly specialized, extremely innovative, more or less unknown, yet
the US market for the first time. Merz is thriving. Growing staff
global leaders in their field.
numbers, ever new markets, rapidly increasing sales. “And more
profit to invest in the future”, adds Zügel. Merz Pharmaceuticals
14 15
FRM 01 I 09
And they are modest. There can’t be many global market leaders
has tripled its number of researchers since 2004. Was there a sys-
whose headquarters are in the same building as a discount store.
tem behind the memantine coup – or was it simply luck? Zügel
Merz is one of them. The pharmaceutical company has been
shakes his head. “You can’t force success, but you can deter-
based in the center of Frankfurt for exactly 100 years. “We don’t
mine where you want it.” The next big seller could be a drug for
live off buildings”, says Dr. Martin Zügel. The company refuses
tinnitus. It is currently undergoing clinical testing. No-one else
to do a lot of things other companies believe they should do. And
in the world has got that far.
//
Business
Champions
40,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
on the global
market
so 40 trillion – liquid crystal molecules by the company Merck are in an LCD screen with a screen
diagonal of 2.75 meters.
12
km/h – and yet Vitronic’s detection
system can still reliably scan the
license plate.
13
14
6
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49°52‘36.08“N
0 8 ° 3 8 ‘ 2 3 . 7 6“ E
5 0 ° 0 3‘ 5 4 . 3 5“ N
0 8 ° 1 5 ‘ 2 2 . 2 9 “ E
Fresenius Medical Care
(FMC) in Bad Homburg is
the leading provider of
products and services for
people with chronic kidney
failure worldwide.
The Gelnhausen-based
company supplies all
well-known car manufacturers with piping systems for fuel, oil and
supercharged air.
The Darmstadt-based
company has a number
of products that are
unique in the world, for
example in the area of
food and animal feed
analysis.
The company located in
Wiesbaden is one of the
leading organizations
worldwide in the field of industrial image processing
– for example with cameras to identify text and
codes.
www.fmc-ag.de
www.veritas-ag.de
www.r-biopharm.com
www.vitronic.com
Contrac’s airport bus, COBUS 3000, can transport 112
passengers, as opposed to 50 that fit into a normal city bus.
Heraeus’ sensors still function at 1,750 degrees
Celsius, the temperature at which it measures
the melting of steel.
The secret champions have their strengths
in the automobile, engineering,
chemistry and pharmaceuticals industries.
dialysis patients are attended to by
Fresenius Medical Care.
The braking distance of a car traveling at 100 km/h
is shortened by 33 meters if it is fitted with a braking
system by Continental.
A change of scene to Merck, in the south of the region. The
molecules come from Darmstadt. Dr. Werner Becker, head of the
pharmaceutical and chemical company has deep roots in Darm-
Technology Department in the Liquid Crystals Division at Merck,
stadt, as the most important employer, economic lighthouse
says, “With a more than 50% share, we are the global market
and supporter of educational, cultural and social institutions.
leader in liquid crystals, and in TV applications our market share
Today, 70% of the world’s oldest pharmaceutical and chemical
is considerably higher.”
company is still owned by the Merck family. However, only industry insiders know what the global player with its approxi-
A truck can have a height of 4.2 meters
and it will still fit through Smiths
Heiman’s HCV CAB 2000 M mobile
x-ray detection system.
16 17
FRM 01 I 09
millimeter production accuracy – that’s the quality
standard at Ixetic, which supplies pumps for the
automobile industry.
So just why is the company so successful? It is all due to great
mately 33,000 employees in 60 countries actually makes: drugs
innovative strength, an intelligent patent strategy, a strong cli-
and medicines, from the classic Nasivin to vitamin and mineral
ent focus, constant optimization of the synthesizing processes,
supplements, as well as medication for complex diseases such as
target-oriented internationalization and continual develop-
cancer and multiple sclerosis. However, Merck is the global lead-
ment. Thus a new LC research and development center is be-
er primarily with a technology used in special chemicals, so-
ing built only a few meters away from the LC production facil-
called liquid crystals. Be it in TVs, cell phones, PCs or train ticket
ity in Darmstadt. “LC technology is far from being exhausted.
machines, liquid crystals are used in modern liquid crystal dis-
The latest top technology is called PS-VA”, says Dr. Werner
plays, or LCDs, everywhere. And in most of them, the high-tech
Becker.
//
Business
Champions
on the global
market
BAD HOMBURG
HOFHEIM
FRANKFURT
HANAU
WIESBADEN
GELNHAUSEN
MAINZ
offenbach
DARMSTADT
Modest, but innovative:
The global market leaders from FrankfurtRhineMain
carve out their own path.
The excellent traffic connections
and perfect infrastructure promote the entry
to international business.
18 19
FRM 01 I 09
Last stop: Hanau. In a showroom in the Heraeus Holding com-
the family-owned company with five group divisions, over 100
plex you can see what the company can do. There are sensors
branches worldwide and 4,700 patents develops tailor-made
that analyze the chemical composition of steel at 1,750°C, a
products and is even the global market leader in several fields.
six-foot cylinder made of synthetic fused quartz, used to make
Thus 93% of all fountain pens have precious metal nibs with
fiberglass cables, electrodes for pacemakers, whose coating
ruthenium-osmium alloys from Hanau. “We are active in many
is a thousandth of a millimeter thick, thinly woven platinum
niche markets, and we aim to be among the top three in each
meshes, dental implants, UV and infrared lights, special paints
one”, says Jörg Wetterau, Technology Communicator of the
and paper-thin gold wires. At first glance, it is difficult to see
company. Heraeus is probably the most invisible of all the hid-
how they are all linked. But in the end Heraeus always looks
den champions from the FrankfurtRhineMain region. For the
to process materials, especially precious metals, in such a way
company does not supply finished products, but rather produc-
that their properties change in a particular, desired way. For
es components for further processing. According to Wetterau,
example, it wants to make platinum more robust, glass less
“There probably isn’t a car in the world that doesn’t have at least
brittle and light more intensive. Whatever the client wants,
one component from Heraeus in it.”
\\
//
Science
HOUSE
OF FINANCE
Frankfurt’s Goethe University
Westend Campus is home to
the House of Finance – the new think tank
in the international world of finance
BY Martin Orth And michael Hudler (PHOTOGRAPHS)
GEO DATA
1
50°07 '30.66"N
0 8 °4 0 ' 0 3 . 5 7 " E
F
1
Good prospects
The students on the sun
terrace don’t have to
go far to meet their future
employers
20 21
FRM 01 I 09
//
Science
Interdisciplinary approach
Dr. Raphaela Henze
and Class President Jaime
Caringal are working on
law and finance
22 23
FRM 01 I 09
International
collaboration Jingjing Chai
from China assists
Professor Raimond Maurer
in his research
//
Science
Excellent working
conditions The lecture
theaters feature high-tech
equipment, group work
stations with large flat
screens
>
Sometimes, when he gets to his office in the morning, he still needs to pinch himself. Is
this real? Or is it all just a dream, Wolfgang König then asks himself. From the fourth floor at
Frankfurt’s Goethe University, the Professor of Business Studies has an astonishing view over the Westend Campus – probably the most beautiful and innovative downtown academic campus in Europe. Located in Frankfurt’s Westend, the extensive university grounds, which are directly adjacent to Grüneburg
park, also provide a view of the skyline. The grounds’ landmark and architectural leitmotif is the monumental Poelzig building: Once headquarters of the IG Farben Corporation, it now sets the architectural
benchmark for the new buildings. From the cafeteria to the center of the lecture hall complex, all building
façades feature a uniform stone design – an ensemble not unlike that of the Getty Center situated in the
hills above Los Angeles. With manifest foresight, University President Werner Meissner first stated an
interest in the grounds when, in the early 1990s, the potential future use of the area was up for discussion.
After the War, the US military had used the grounds as their European central base; however, in the wake
of German reunification, they soon announced their plans to withdraw. The first expansion phase has
long since been completed. Seven of the overall 16 faculties have already moved from Bockenheim to the
new campus. In 2014, to mark the university’s centenary, the campus is expected to be fully completed to
accommodate 25,000 students.
Professor König’s office is situated in the House of Finance. The striking standalone building on the
new campus is unique not only from an architectural perspective, but also on a programmatic level. In
2008, for the first time ever, the finance-related disciplines hitherto housed in the Departments of Business Studies, Economics and Law and (linked via a common office) Mathematics/Computer Science were
brought together under one roof. “This combination of different departments as a single entity is unpre­
cedented in the world” says Wolfgang König, since 2008 also Executive Director of the House of Finance.
“We believe we are in the same league as the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, the Stern
School at New York University or the Financial Markets Group at the London School of Economics.” Working in an interdisciplinary fashion is of major importance. The House of Finance plans to team finance-related research with a top-flight education. “Conditions are really excellent,” comments Wolfgang König,
“no other place in Germany can offer such a pool of expert knowledge as Frankfurt in the financial area.”
In addition to being closely integrated in the traditional degree courses provided by the departments of
Economics and Law (B.A. and M.A. programs, for example), the institutes at the House of Finance provide specialist Ph.D. curricula as well as postgraduate courses. The 350 registered students could easily
mistake their campus for that of some private university in the US – not only because of the splendid
interior, which boasts leather armchairs, marble and giant LCD screens for group work. Sponsors include
the crème de la crème of the international finance world, while the boards are staffed by the “Who’s Who”
of the German financial world, from Otmar Issing to Josef Ackermann. 28 professors and 120 research assistants are currently working at eleven teaching and research institutes in the House of Finance. And the
trend is clearly upward. Additional institutes are currently being set up, such as the institute of “Insurance and Compliance”, for example. Two astonishing statistics illustrate the strong interest the business
world has in House of Finance: 26 percent of the funding for the House of Finance is provided by the State
of Hesse, while 74 percent comes from external sources. Among the 28 chairs, there are ten endowed
professorships.
24 25
FRM 01 I 09
Modern management
Professor Wolfgang König
(left) and Stephan Späthe, one
of the two House of Finance
managing directors
//
Science
University work place:
The new Campus Westend
provides a perfect environment for lecturers and students – also during breaks
26 27
FRM 01 I 09
//
Science
“What the FrankfurtRhineMain Region needs is a
USP, a Unique Selling Proposition, if the region is to
become a strong magnet attracting people and companies alike. We should consider a special economic zone,
along the lines of Hamburg’s Free Port.”
Wolfgang König,
Executive Director of the House of Finance
One of these is held by Raimond Maurer, Professor of Investment, Portfolio Management and Pension
Finance at the Department of Economics. The chair is endowed by the Federal Association of Investment
and Asset Management (BVI) for a full decade. Professor Maurer has been working on the subject of “life
cycle models for private households” for many years. His research focuses on how private individuals can
manage their investments and spend their savings sensibly throughout the entire life cycle of their household. So far, there have only been models that reflect one or the other aspect of this subject. The answers
are equally as interesting to politicians as they are to product providers. 26-year-old Jingjing Chai from
China assists Raimond Maurer in his research. Having lived in Germany for six years, Jingjing Chai was appointed Maurer’s research assistant in January 2008. From very early on, the student’s excellent academic
performance impressed Maurer and he supported her further by getting her to participate in his research
projects. He also supervised her diploma project – a work that came second in the DZ Bank Group’s Career
Prize in April 2009. Title of the thesis: “Analysis of Savings and Withdrawal Strategies in the Stochastic Life
Cycle Asset Model”. The creative environment provided by the new institution is what Professor Maurer
appreciates most. “After all, here the idea for a new research project may well first see the light of day in
the lift”, he says.
The Institute for Law and Finance (ILF) strongly emphasizes teaching, in other words, training executives
from Germany and abroad. Each year, there are more than a thousand applicants for its LL.M (Finance)
program, a masters course costing EUR 15,000 and taught in English. All candidates must have graduated with top marks from a university in Law or Economics and have fluent English skills. Some of them
have already gained work experience, such as Jaime Caringal who, in 2008, was able to secure one of the
50 sought-after places along with a scholarship. Originally from the Philippines, the student has already
worked for a pension fund in his home country and wants to return to Asia once he has completed his
studies. Upon his return, however, he would prefer places like Hong Kong or Singapore – the Philippine
market being simply too small for his future qualifications. Raphaela Henze, Managing Director of the ILF
Foundation since November 2006, fully supports such endeavors, as the ILF also provides active support
for all its graduates. The 280 international alumni who have graduated so far meet at regular intervals – in
Frankfurt, Milan, London or elsewhere in the world. “The alumni can help our students by getting them
work placements, for example. They work at ministries, banks, law offices, management consultancy firms
or accountancy firms all over the world,” says the scholarship manager.
At the E-Finance Lab, jointly managed by Professor Wolfgang König and Professor Peter Gomber, basic and
applied research on the industrialization of financial services takes pride of place. Regarding his role as Executive Director of the House of Finance, König remarks: “My central role is to bring together scholars from
different departments and gradually to get them to pull together as a single unit, meaning we tap all the
potential synergies effectively.” Having already gained some experience in his previous position as spokesman of a special research unit named “Networking as a Competitive Factor”, he nonetheless considers his
Campus Westend Europe’s
most modern inner-city
campus has the feel of an
American private university
28 29
FRM 01 I 09
new task to be far more complex. “What we are talking about here is a kind of terrarium – an experimental
area that will highlight for us what potential collaboration and networking strategies could emerge in the
university of tomorrow.”
www.houseoffinance.eu
//
Interview
I firmly
I firmlybelieve
believethat
thatininthe
thefuture
futurethe
therole
roleof
ofaaregion
regionsuch
suchas
asours
ours
will
willtend
tendto
togrow
growrather
ratherthan
thandwindle.
dwindle.After
Afterall,
all,creative
creativeminds
mindsneed
need
functioning
functioningmarkets,
markets,too.
too._ _One
Onemajor
majorproblem
problemisisthe
thefact
factthat
thatthe
the
region
regiondoes
doesnot
notas
asyet
yethave
haveaaclear
clearidentity
identityof
of
its
itsown.
own.Someone
Someonewho
wholives
livesininFrankfurt
Frankfurtwill
will
not
not
believe
believe
that
that
aa
resident
resident
of
of
Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden
belongs
belongs ON THE REGION’S POTENTIAL
Co-publisher of the F.A.Z. interviewed by FRM
to
tothe
thesame
sameregion,
region,although
althoughthe
thedistance
distance
between
betweenthe
thetwo
twocities
citiesisisless
lessthan
thanthat
thatfrom
from
one
oneside
sideof
ofBerlin
Berlinto
tothe
theother.
other.It’s
It’saasense
sense
of
ofbelonging
belongingthat
thatisislacking.
lacking.There
Thereisisaa
great
greatdeal
dealof
ofcreativity
creativityininthe
theregion,
region,many
many
themes
themesthat
thatcould
couldeasily
easilybe
bemade
madeinto
intogreater
greater
and
andbetter
betterthings:
things:The
Thefocus
focushere
hereshould
should
not
notbe
beon
onhistory,
history,but
buton
onthings
thingsmodern,
modern,avant
avant
garde,
garde,and
andexperimental._
experimental._Frankfurt
Frankfurtand
andthe
the
Rhine
RhineMain
Mainregion
regionalso
alsoenjoy
enjoyan
anincredible
incredible
strength
strengthinininternational
internationalreach
reachand
andflair
flair
_ _Frankfurt
Frankfurtneeds
needsto
toshed
shedits
itsstrange
strangesense
sense
of
oftimeliness,
timeliness,of
ofsplendid
splendidisolation.
isolation.But
Butthe
themain
mainproblem
problemisisthat
thatthe
thecity
city
needs
needsto
tomore
morestrongly
stronglysucceed
succeedininattracting
attractingpeople
peopleininthe
theevening
evening
and
andat
atthe
theweekend.
weekend.What
WhatFrankfurt
Frankfurtlacks
lacksmost
mostisisaareal
realcenter.
center.
SCHIRRMACHER
Mirko Krizanovic
F
> Mr. Schirrmacher, the “Frankfurter Allgemeine
Frankfurt is, after all, home to the book fair, home to
Zeitung”, as one of Germany and Frankfurt’s pre-
important publishing houses and one of the major fi-
mier newspapers, brings the city’s name to homes
nancial centers.
and offices the world over. Are these regional ties
30 31
FRM 01 I 09
still relevant today?
> Does the name evoke a sense of loyalty to this
Obviously, the paper’s name is no longer associated
region?
with the city of Frankfurt itself, however, the link or
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung has the biggest na-
association is still important in the sense that the city
tionwide circulation not to mention the largest foreign
is Germany’s logistics and financial center. I think that
circulation, which is what distinguishes it from other
given its name the paper ably continues the great tradi-
national newspapers. We feel strongly committed to
tion of the “Frankfurter Zeitung” – its predecessor and
this region, the airport, the banking world – in the
a famed liberal, cosmopolitan voice in the world. This is
sense that they are important elements of our country.
still conveyed in the title today. And we have no prob-
And symbolism comes into play, too: Frankfurt is home
lem whatsoever with being associated with the city –
to the Paulskirche, where the first German Parliament
//
Interview
Mirko Krizanovic
The pioneer
convened, and, as a former Free Imperial City, it has al-
lauer Berg, Charlottenburg. Berlin illustrates to us the
a given: Berlin is home to creativity and a certain wacki-
getting people to stay around in the evenings and at
ways emphasized the notion of independence. However,
dramatic effects of a city that does not have strong busi-
ness, Frankfurt to financial markets and the airport,
weekends. This is no easy task. Which is why we should
we need to display our loyalty to all important regions,
ness roots. All those artists who came to Berlin-Mitte in
Hamburg to media, Cologne to a multicultural society,
concentrate on the region and foster better cooperation.
which is what we do by having an extensive network of
the 1990s are now ten years older. And it strikes me as
and Munich to classic middle-class culture. At the mo-
correspondents, for example.
odd that people well into their forties still need to act as
ment, Munich is taking advantage of this division of du-
> What is the region’s image abroad?
if they were part of the young avant-garde. I can well
ties to establish itself. I would be delighted if we could
Frankfurt is perceived by many to be a powerhouse,
> You were born and raised in Wiesbaden yourself.
understand the fascination that some people have with
learn a thing or two from this, as we have a strong and
along the lines of other large, industrious and produc-
Do you feel a close connection to the FrankfurtRhine-
Berlin, but it is definitely no role model for other Ger-
stable middle-class population.
tive cities of the world, such as Chicago, for example.
Main region?
man cities. Having said that, for some jobs, the question
For me, Wiesbaden is one of the most beautiful cities in
of location is crucial. If you want to know what is hap-
> Where must the region improve? What is lacking?
ing, for example, that not many people outside Germany
Germany. I am also very fond of the Rhine District. And
pening in the cultural scene, then Berlin is definitely the
One of the major problems is that the region has no clear
know Goethe was born here in this city. The second ma-
Frankfurt, well Frankfurt is a great and very efficient
place to be.
identity of its own. A Frankfurt local does not consider
jor subject: Frankfurt and the book fair. Of paramount
Wiesbaden a part of the region although it is closer than
importance for the city and the region’s appeal. The book
place to work. However, it is a pity that the city is only
However, that was before the crisis. I have been notic-
bustling during the day, when all different kinds of peo-
> Does this mean that, sooner or later, all creative
Berlin-Kreuzberg is to Reinickendorf. There is no feeling
fair creates additional symbolic value, something that
ple come flooding into the center, but is as good as dead
minds will move to the capital?
of belonging together. To name an example: There is a
could never be achieved through image campaigns. It
in the evenings or at weekends. In Berlin, nobody would
No, I am predicting a completely different scenario. I
state theater in Wiesbaden and another one in Darm-
suffices if, once every year, all those renowned publish-
ever consider leaving the city for Brandenburg in the
think that, in the future, a region like ours is actually
stadt, and then there is the Schauspielhaus in Frankfurt.
ers and writers in the world will say to someone: “Sorry,
evenings.
likely to gain in significance. Even the creative minds
Three locations with incredible resources. Yet we never
I’m afraid I can’t make it then – I’m in Frankfurt.”
among us need well-functioning markets. This is more
succeeded in pooling them and making the most of
> What is the special attraction of the capital? Can
than clear today, in times of financial crisis. You see gal-
them. It is certainly a very creative region, there are so
> In what way will the financial crisis affect Frankfurt
other cities still hold their own by comparison?
leries closing in Berlin and moving back to Düsseldorf.
many options to work on. However, the focus should not
and the region? Will it change the traditional symbi-
Definitely. I am a great fan of Berlin in the sense that it is
Demographic trends in Germany will trigger a general
be on history – Berlin will always have the edge here –
osis of mind and money?
a big experiment, a place where history is being written
return to the cities, almost as in Medieval days when
but on modernity, on the avant-garde, on experiment-
In my opinion, the crisis will have such a massive impact
before our eyes. Having said that, Berlin is also a good
people sought a safe haven inside the city walls. Meaning
ing. What is more, the region is incredibly rich in inter-
that it will bring about a change in our society, not just
place to live, particularly in the districts of Mitte, Prenz-
the future lies in the cities. Not just in Berlin. I believe
national resources. What I miss in Frankfurt, however,
in our economy. At the moment it is very hard to judge if
that a handful of regions will emerge –
is a real heart. Disregarding the destruction caused by
these changes will be externally or internally driven.
Munich, the RhineMain region, Cologne,
the War, this is a question of urban design and the man-
However, I am convinced that Frankfurt will also have
Hamburg. For me it is highly improbable
ner in which cities are used. I am not sure if the “Zeil”
the opportunity to become a place where the financial
that the main focus will remain on Berlin,
pedestrian zone can be regarded as a city center. I am
system recovers as well as become the main engine mov-
a bloated bubble that is not able to sustain
pleased to see the Technical Town Hall go; perhaps it is
ing such a process of rethinking things forward. It is also
itself without outside financing. However,
the place where such a central area could emerge some-
possible, however, that the city will need to consider es-
certain key roles are currently being as-
time in the near future. Frankfurt needs to liberate itself
tablishing other pillars in addition to the airport and the
signed to individual cities, which is some-
from its peculiar time warp, from that spaceship or time
banks. After all, that would do no harm.
thing that we should not simply accept as
capsule life. But the city’s main objective is to succeed in
INTERVIEW BY JANET SCHAYAN.
At present there’s a division of labor between the
various cities that we should not readily accept. Demographic
trends in Germany will trigger a general return to the cities,
almost as in Medieval days when people sought a safe haven
inside the city walls. Meaning the future lies in the cities. Not
just in Berlin. I believe that a handful of regions will emerge –
Munich, the RhineMain region, Cologne, Hamburg.
32 33
Dr. Frank Schirrmacher, born in 1959 in Wiesbaden, is one of Germany’s most influential
publicists. In the course of only a decade,
he rose from an intern at Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung to become its co-publisher,
and is responsible for the arts section. He has
a fine feel for the key issues of the day, from
biotechnology to demographic trends – and
regularly sets incisive debates in motion.
He was recently awarded the Börne prize.
FRM 01 I 09
\\
//
FRM
Ranking
NEWS
Taunus is top
Bildagentur Huber
Ranking: two districts in the lead group
01 Munich
rural district
02 Starnberg
rural district
03 High Taunus district
rural district
04Ebersberg
rural district
05 Main Taunus district
rural district
06 Munich
urban district
07Erlangen
urban district
08Erlangen-Höchstadt
rural district
09 Dachau
rural district
10 Freising rural dstrict
In terms of prosperity and business, the High Taunus and Main
Taunus districts rate among the top 5 of a league table consisting
of 409 German districts and cities. This is the finding reported
by Regional Ranking 2009, a comprehensive regional comparison presented in April by Initiative Neue Soziale Marktwirtschaft (INSM, Initiative for New Social Market Economy). As the
runner-up to the leading rural districts of Munich and Starnberg, the High Taunus district came a proud third in the ranking.
Highest purchasing power and tax generation in all of Germany
were the criteria in which the High Taunus district scored highly,
while weaknesses were pointed out in the area of public finance.
Placing fifth, the Main Taunus district is also among the prestigious leaders. The survey attributes high prosperity and finds almost no shortcomings – other than public debt. The latest INSM
ranking evaluated 39 economic and structural indicators such
as purchasing power, gross domestic product and the number of
Ruether/Deepol
available apprenticeship positions.
www.insm-regionalranking.de
High standard and sound economy
The castle in Bad Homburg (above),
Down-to-earth gastronomy in Hochheim
Frankfurt is a world class city
Langrock/Zenit/laif
Survey: high quality of life
01 Toronto
02 Paris
03 London
04 Frankfurt
05Berlin
06 Munich
07 Tokyo
08New York
09 Los Angeles
10 Zurich
Business and quality of life
The skyline reflected in the River Main
Not only is Frankfurt one of the leading financial centers, but
the city on the River Main also ranks highly among international
cities as regards the quality of life. This is shown by the “Wealth
Report 2009”, a survey compiled by Knight Frank estate agent
and Citi Private Bank. In the report, Frankfurt places fourth in
terms of the highest standard of living. Close on the heels of cosmopolitan centers Paris and London and front runner Toronto,
it is ahead of such renowned megacities as New York and Tokyo.
The international ranking of the 40 most important cities places
Frankfurt in front of Berlin and Munich, which came in 5th and
6th on the list. If further criteria such as economic activity, political power, and knowledge and influence are factored into the
equation, then Frankfurt achieves a remarkably high 15th place,
making it the second-best German city to live in just after Berlin
(13th).
34 35
FRM 01 I 09
www.knightfrank.co.uk
For the After Work Logistics!
With useful information and
recommendations
//
DIGITAL HUBS
Networks
FRM NETWORKS THE WORLD
Web, weather, space: In the international data
traffic of the digital world, FrankfurtRhineMain
is the hub
by oliver sefrin
>
Internet connections, air traffic
1
2
3
control, satellite control, coordi-
nation of rail traffic, stock market trading and
weather forecasts: The FrankfurtRhineMain
region is a central data hub. Here, all kinds of
different data flows from Germany and all over
the world, important information is bundled
and distributed around the globe again. The
amount of data which flows through fiber optic
INTERNET
DE-cix
BROADCASTING
Weather
GROUND COMMUNICATION
STATION usingen
SX-9
cables and is calculated by high-performance
HEAD OFFICE : FRANKFURT
HEAD OFFICE : Usingen
HEAD OFFICE : Offenbach
computers or transmitted by satellites is enor-
SECTOR : INTERNET
SECTOR : communication
SECTOR : Meteorology
mous. The Internet hub DE-CIX (German Com-
INTerNET : www.de-cix.net
INTerNET : www.media-broadcast.COM
INTerNET : www.dwd.de
mercial Internet Exchange) is an impressive
FOUNDED : 1995
FOUNDED : Usingen
FOUNDED : 1952 (2009)
example, a platform for the data exchange of
OPERATOR : DE-CIX Management GmbH
OPERATOR : Media Broadcast
OPERATOR : Deutscher WetteRDIENST
providers from different countries. The region’s
central location in Western Europe is a big advantage and makes Frankfurt the leading global
manager of digital data in different economic
sectors. The data volume passing through the
DE-CIX every day corresponds to the amount of
830,000
40,000
DVDS
Daily data volume of
the DE-CIX Internet hub
data that could be saved on more than 830,000
KILOMETERS IS THE APPROXIMATE
DISTANCE BETWEEN THE COMMUNICATION STATION AND THE SATELLITES
109
TRILLION
calculations per second
Performance of the SX-9 computer
DVDs. Thus, regarding data traffic, Frankfurt is
>>> most important Internet hub in Europe, second biggest in
the world >>> most important hub in the direction of Eastern Europe and Asia >>> dynamic platform for the data traffic exchange
of different providers >>> Interface for more than 300 networks
in 40 countries >>> network that connects more then 50 million
end clients >>> up to 100 gigabytes per second pass through the
yellow fiber optic cable >>> current data traffic amounts to 3,900
terabytes, which corresponds to roughly 830,000 DVDs >>> highprofile client list with international industry giants such as Google
and Yahoo, BBC Internet Services, Qatar-Telecom, China Telecom
and Telecom Malaysia >>> persistent high growth potential; up to
1,000 clients are possible in the long term.
>>> Usingen is Europe’s biggest ground communication station
>>> it is Germany’s junction between the national fiber optic network and satellite networks >>> it establishes connections with
locations all over the world via satellite >>> it is a hub for the continental exchange of TV and radio signals, it broadcasts TV programs
to satellites for distribution to private households, e.g. in Europe
and the Middle East >>> signals for cell-phone TV, Internet TV and
digital films for movie theaters but also weather data is transmitted
from Usingen >>> the facility consists of almost 100 satellite antennas, the biggest of which have a diameter of 20 meters and can
even reach Australia >>> with this facility, Media Broadcast serves
805 national and 110 international clients and employs 100 staff in
Usingen.
picture-alliance/dpa
for the title of Internet capital of the world. \\
36 37
FRM 01 I 09
>>> at present, the DWD’s SX-9 is the quickest vector processor
in the world >>> the computer, which went into operation in March
2009, is 45 times quicker than the old system >>> its database
server manages meteorological data that would fill 35,000 DVDs
>>> the two vector processors have more than 7,000 gigabytes
of main memory >>> in order to achieve the same performance,
a conventional PC would need around 10,000 processors >>> the
SX-9 calculates many parallel weather forecasts instead of only one
>>> with the SX-9, the DWD can more accurately forecast thunderstorms, heavy rain, hail, or strong winds >>> the DWD makes 90,000
forecasts a year, publishes 20,000 severe weather warnings and releases approximately 200 million items of climate data for research
and teaching purposes.
picture-alliance/dpa
running shoulder to shoulder with Amsterdam
//
Networks
Stock exchange, space travel,
air traffic control:
The FrankfurtRhineMain region
makes use of a wide range of
sectors as a data hub
5
AIR TRAFFIC
GERMAN AIR TRAFFIC
CONTROL
HEAD OFFICE : Langen
SECTOR : AVIATION
INTerNET : www.dfs.de
GEO DATa
FOUNDED : 1993
1
5 0 ° 0 6 ' 4 4 . 9 0 " N
0 8 ° 4 3 ' 0 8 .1 6 " E
4
5 0 °0 6' 5 3 . 6 4 " N
0 8°4 0'4 0 . 8 7 " E
2
5 0 ° 0 6 ' 0 3 . 7 0 " N
0 8 ° 2 7 ' 5 6 . 4 8 " E
5
4 9 °5 5' 5 3 . 4 6 " N
0 8°4 1 ' 1 0 . 1 1" E
3
5 0 ° 0 2' 5 4 . 3 0 " N
0 8 ° 2 1 ' 0 5 . 8 4 " E
6
4 9 ° 5 2 ' 1 5 . 0 0 " N
0 8° 3 7 ' 1 9 . 0 0 " E
OPERATOR : Deutsche Flugsicherung
3,149,591
IS THE NUMBER OF FLIGHTS
IN GERMAN AIRSPACE DFS
CONTROLLED IN 2008
2 F1 5
43
6
>>> DFS coordinates up to 10,000 flights within German airspace
per day >>> in 2008, it controlled more flights than ever before
>>> its approximately 1,700 flight traffic controllers ensure the
safe departure and landing of the planes, the use of the established
routes and adherence to the prescribed safety clearance distances
>>> it operates at 16 international airports in Germany.
STOCK EXCHANGE
4
6
SPACE TRAVEL
ESOC
xetra
TRADING SYSTEM
SECTOR : STOCK EXCHANGE HEAD OFFICE : FRANKFURT
SECTOR : Aerospace
INTerNET : deutsche-boerse.de
INTerNET : WWW.ESA.INT
FOUNDED : 1997
FOUNDED : 1997
OPERATOR : Deutsche Börse
OPERATOR : ESA (europäische weltraumorganisation)
2.1
MILLION
IS THE NUMBER OF TRANSACTIONS XETRA
PROCESSES ON HEAVY-TRADING DAYS
>>> the Xetra trading system, developed by Deutsche Börse, is the
leading global platform for exchange trading >>> sales total approximately €10 billion per day >>> using Xetra, the execution and
confirmation of a security order on average takes a mere 35 milliseconds.
38 39
FRM 01 I 09
6,500
HEAD OFFICE : DARMSTADT
MILLION KILOMETER ROUTE THAT THE
SPACE PROBE “ROSETTA”, WHICH IS
CONTROLLED BY ESOC, COVERS IN SPACE
>>> the ESOC is Europe’s gateway to space >>> the ESOC controls
the position of satellites >>> the control center of the global network
of ground stations with antennas in numerous countries is based in
the ESOC >>> hitherto, the ESOC has supervised the operation of
more than 50 satellites of the ESA.
//
Community
seoul on the Main
How the largest Korean business community in FrankfurtRhineMain
lives and what it values in the region
>
BY Martin Orth And michael Hudler (PHOTOGRAPHS)
J. P. Choi, aged 49, is one of the younger
members of a Korean Business Community
in FrankfurtRhineMain but already feels at home here.
“Whenever somebody new arrives, they are introduced
to the community in a week”, the manager says. There are
6,000 Koreans living in the region, among them managers,
physicians, lawyers, hairdressers and chefs. They have their
own network, meet at Saturday school, in religious communities, clubs, and of course on the golf course.
In Eschborn, just outside Frankfurt, Choi is building the
European headquarters of Nexen Tire, a Korean tyre manufacturer that is expanding rapidly. “Over the past ten years
we have grown five-fold. In the long term we are aiming
to want to be among the top seven in the world”, the CEO
says. For him, FrankfurtRhineMain is the perfect location
Gute Aussichten:
Für die Studentinnen
und Studenten auf
der Sonnenterrasse
sind die zukünftigen
Arbeitgeber nicht
mehr weit
to tap new markets between London and Vladivostok. The
infrastructure is perfect, with the airport its hub. There are
three direct flights alone every day from Frankfurt to Seoul.
And for an automotive parts supplier Germany is an absolute
must.
Almost all major Korean corporations have their German
or European headquarters in the region – from Hyundai,
Samsung and KIA to LG. Add to this a large number of representative offices of banks, the Korean Chamber of Commerce in Europe, and the National Board of Tourism. The
GEO DATa
1
50°07 '30.66"N
0 8 °4 0 ' 0 3 . 5 7 " E
F
Jin-Hyun Kwon
loves German literature
and is studying
German in Frankfurt
40 41
FRM 01 I 09
J.P. Choi,
CEO of Nexen Tire, is
planning to penetrate
new markets from
FrankfurtRhineMain
Dong-Hyun Hong,
President of
FC Korea, is studying
sports management
//
Community
“Life in FrankfurtRhineMain
is very pleasant. My family likes
the proximity to the river and the vineyards.”
J.P. Choi, CEO of Nexen Tire European Headquarters
Anna Cho, restaurant
owner, places faith in
top regional cuisine –
but she also loves
green sauce
offices are concentrated in Eschborn and in the Frankfurt
district of Niederrad. One third of Koreans live in Frankfurt itself, while the business people among them prefer the
towns situated in the Taunus hills such as Kronberg, Königstein and Bad Homburg.
Her parents – like so many other Koreans – came to Germany 30 years ago to work as a miner and a nurse. She now
runs a flourishing real estate company for Koreans who have
just arrived in the region. Her daughter Ji-Hyun Kwon, 29,
was born in Korea but grew up in Offenbach. A keen student of German from an early age, she is now studying for a
degree in German language and literature at Frankfurt University.
The second generation has long since been integrated in
FrankfurtRhineMain. For Dong-Hyun Hong, 31, nicknamed
“Dee”, it is already his second time. He first came here with
The Frankfurt Kimchi
or the secret of Frankfurt green sauce
Koreans have brought Kimchi, their national vegetable dish, with
them to FrankfurtRhineMain. Green sauce was already available
there. But that was not always the case. The region’s specialty has
its roots elsewhere: It could well be that it was the Romans who introduced the recipe, themselves having discovered it in the Orient.
Or did it come from France, the “sauce verte”? It doesn’t really matter. Locals and newcomers alike just love green sauce and there are
just as many recipes as there are green sauce chefs.
One thing is for sure, there are seven herbs in it: borage, chervil,
cress, parsley, burnet, sorrel and chives. What happens next is the
subject of heated debates: Do you put the herbs in a mixer or chop
then with a mezzalune? Do you add sour cream and egg yolk or will
mayonnaise do? Hard-boiled eggs are certainly a must, but do you
put them in the sauce or eat them with it? There is no dispute that
pepper, salt, and vinegar, in most cases oil as well are blended in,
and that potatoes go very well with it. Word has it that the extremely
adventurous have experimented with basil and dill. That may well
produce a sauce that is green, but unfortunately not green sauce.
The herbs that go into green sauce are traditionally grown in the
Frankfurt district of Oberrad, where since 2007 there has been a
green sauce monument.
42 43
FRM 01 I 09
his family when he was only four years old. In 1987 the family went back to Korea, but he came back on his own to do a
degree in sports management at Frankfurt University. Two
years ago, together with some friends, he founded FC Korea,
a soccer club that now plays in Frankfurt’s B league. Even
as a child he was mad about Eintracht Frankfurt, the team
Bum-Kun Cha played for.
Anna Cho, 27, was even born in Germany. Having studied
business in Bad Homburg she now works for a bank. She says
that whenever she is in Korea she misses German food, most
of all bread, rolls, and cheese. Together with her parents she
runs “Kang Nam”, a top Korean restaurant. It is named after a district in Seoul and translates as “south of the river”.
A suitable name in Frankfurt as well – the restaurant is situated south of the River Main in Niederrad, where about a
dozen Korean companies have set up office. Needless to say,
the Koreans are regulars, from consuls and business men to
students.
\\
//
Global stars
and local fans
Sport
Soccer as the trailblazer
of modern society
Richard KreSS, Horas
Eckehard Feigenspan, Nieder-wÖllstadt
Dieter Lindner, Frankfurt
Hans Eigenbrodt, Frankfurt
Hermann Höfer, Frankfurt
Alexander Meier
Buchholz
TEAM
1959
Egon Loy
Schwabach
Istvan SztaNI
Hungary
Alexander
Krük
Remscheid
Zlatan
Bajramovic
Hamburg
Benjamin KöhleR
Berlin
Christoph PreuSS
GieSSen
Markus Pröll
Rheinbach
Patrick Ochs
Frankfurt/M.
Jan Zimmermann
OffenbacH
Habib Bellaid
France
Kreso Ljubicic
Hanau
Marco Russ
Hanau
Markus Steinhöfer
WeiSSenburg
Chris
Brazil
Christoph Spycher
Switzerland
Caio
Brazil
Leonard Kweuke
Cameroon
FRM 01 I 09
their sides to players from other countries. But their fears proved
unfounded. When, in April 2009, 1. FC Cologne fielded a side con-
Eintracht Frankfurt example shows the profound change that
sisting entirely of foreigners, coach Christoph Daum quipped:
has taken place in a mere five decades. The championship win-
“There are no Germans or foreigners in my team, we are all from
ning team of 1959 was made up almost exclusively of players from
Cologne.” Meaning what counts is who you play for, not where you
Hessen, with a solitary foreigner, Hungarian Istvan Sztani. In the
come from. The face of hardly a professional team today is shaped
2009 team, there are only six lads from Hessen – as opposed to 17
only by local heroes. Yet fans from the local city or region pour into
players from foreign countries.
the stadiums, setting new attendance records – to witness the glo-
So how does a club remain credible for its local supporters? Many
the pro was born and bred in Frankfurt or not – as long as he scores
felt this would not be possible in the wake of the European Court’s
goals or defends well on behalf of “his” Frankfurt team.
2009
Globalization – the example of Eintracht Frankfurt
Martin Fenin
Czech Republic
Nikola Petkovic
Serbien
Ümit Korkmaz
Austria
Oka Nikolov
Erbach
Michael Fink
Waiblingen
44 45
the mobile international player, who blends into
any team, irrespective of city, country, origin, or language. The
TEAM
Dieter Stinka, Gelnhausen
Hans Weilbächer
Hattersheim
decision in the “Bosman” case, which forced EU leagues to open
balized teams playing in their local colors. They do not care whether
By Frank Wiese
Alfred Lutz, Bad Vilbel
Alfred Pfaff
Frankfurt Rödelheim
>
Soccer leads in the globalization league. It created
Faton Toski
Kosovo
Aleksandar Vasoski
Macedonia
The championship team of
1959 included a single foreign
player, Istvan Sztani. All the
others were local lads. By
contrast, the team of 2009
is as good as global
Nikos Liberopoulos
Greece
Ioannis Amanatidis
Greece
Mehdi Mahdavikia
Iran
Junichi Inamoto
Japan
m
50
0k
Sport
0k
m
551
20
//
mobile and society has become multinational, so too, a mobile,
speaking starry-eyed of “loyalty”: Be it Fritz Walter who played
multinational all-pro team reflects the reality of its fans more
for what was an entire era in Kaiserslautern or Paolo Maldini,
credibly than some side composed only of local players. The key
who in 2009 hung up his boots at AC Milan after playing for the
message: Growing into a team and doing well is more impor-
club for 21 years. Or the two Hessen boys, Jürgen Grabowski and
tant than where you come from. The present beats the past, and
Bernd Hölzenbein, who both played for Eintracht Frankfurt for
nowhere is the present lived minute by minute more than on
15 long and successful years. Yet there are any number of exam-
the field.
ples of the opposite phenomenon: Real Madrid’s heyday with
Argentinian di Stefano and Hungarian Puskas – or Maradona,
Out in the stands, there are any number of instances of people’s
the demi-god of Naples. When the whistle blows and the game
marvelous ability to spontaneously take others of different ori-
starts, what counts is not passports but accurate passes.
gin into their hearts. Be it Anthony Yeboah or JayJay Okocha,
their African love of the game made them veritable Eintracht
15 k
m
20
km
40
km
60
km
75
km
90
km
10 0
km
EINTRACHT FRANKFURT
FAN CLUBS
A player’s link to his home side is often exaggerated, with people
A club such as Eintracht Frankfurt reflects the changes in socio-
icons who were collectively felt to be real Frankfurt boys. Just
economic conditions over the last 50 years: Germany is now an
like Eintracht’s goalkeeper Oka Nikolov, who has been at the
open society with modern naturalization laws and liberal im-
club for 15 years now. Born in Erbach, by passport a Macedo-
migration policies – and Frankfurt is truly one of Germany’s
nian, he is the multicultural local between the posts, harmoni-
most international cities. Just as the world of work has become
ously uniting both sides of modern global regional soccer.
EFCSPORT
Sucuk Silver Lake
California (USA)
EFC Hakata Washi Nippon
Fukuoka-shi (Japan)
EFC Adler Hong Kong
Hong Kong (China)
The passion for soccer –
a “scintigraph“, with Frankfurt
at the center, and the greatest
concentration of clubs in a
radius of 15 km from the city
04
EFC Eintracht Frankfurt Supporters Club 1309
Devonport/Auckland (NeW ZEAland)
FAN CLUBS OUTSIDE
GERMANY
Regional identification – the example of soccer club Eintracht
Frankfurt: The fan clubs are concentrated in and around Frankfurt. And they’re to be found even in cities with their own teams,
such as Offenbach, Mainz and Wiesbaden
46 47
FRM 01 I 09
Some especially loyal fans have even formed local supporter clubs
as far afield as the United States, Japan, Hong Kong and New Zealand,
although this by no means reflects the incredible international composition of the team itself
//
Pleasure
RHEINGAU
FRM’S SPARKLING REGION
An invitation to the land of Riesling wine
BY Oliver Bock (Text) AND Markus Hintzen (PHOTOGRAPHS)
geo data
1
5 0 ° 0 0 ' 0 1 . 4
4"N
0 8 ° 0 0 ' 5 3 . 5
1" E
F
1
Johannisberg
At the castle, Spätlese
(late harvest wine) was
discovered in 1775
48 49
FRM 01 I 09
//
Pleasure
>
The Rheingau, the most beautiful garden in the FrankfurtRhineMain region, is the result
of a whim of nature: Stretching 1,324 kilometers from its origin in Graubünden to its mouth
in the North Sea, the Rhine – the busiest waterway in the world – runs north and northwest for most
of its journey from Switzerland to the Netherlands. About half way, however, on the 50th degree of
latitude, in close vicinity to the famous episcopal city of Mainz and its mighty cathedral, the river,
pushing for the sea, is forcefully interrupted: Composed of solid rock masses, the Taunus hills force
the wide river to radically change direction. For about 35 kilometers it now meanders southwest, circumventing the geological barriers placed in its way, before it finally resumes its preferred direction.
After passing through the town of Rüdesheim, it flows towards Koblenz through the Upper Middle
Rhine Valley, also known as the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002. Precisely this
35-kilometer stretch makes for one of the world’s finest white wine growing region – the Rheingau.
Over the course of thousands of years the Rhine has carved a valley through the hills, leaving
slopes facing a southerly and south-westerly direction and providing perfect conditions for the
cultivation of wine. This is what makes this region so special, even though the Rheingau, measuring 3,100 hectares and stretching from Lorch and Lorchhausen in the west to Hochheim and
Wicker in the east, barely accounts for three percent of the vineyards in Germany. The Rheingau’s
significance cannot be expressed in facts and figures. Rather, the landscape derives its special magic from combining a charming, natural riverbed with crafts and traditions that have been passed
on over the centuries – unique and unprecedented in the world. A valley with a long and exciting
history – and a multitude of adventure stories well worth telling. Why, for example, was Spätlese
(late harvest wine) discovered at Johannisberg Castle (Schloss Johannisberg) in the year 1775? Why
did millennium man Johannes Gutenberg receive the only award in his lifetime at Eltville Electoral
Castle? Why has a monument been erected in honor of Queen Victoria in the Hochheim vineyards
and why does Johannisberg Castle still pay tithes to the House of Habsburg? Why is Emperor
Karl the Great thought to have invented the “Rheingauer Straussenwirtschaften” (seasonal wine
taverns), and in which of these taverns did Goethe discover his favorite drop?
Exploring the Rheingau today you will find that every nook and cranny is brimming with history
– and wine. Hardly surprising, it was the Romans – wine experts by nature – who brought their
vines to the Rhine, having soon recognized that the Rhine Valley constituted an ideal location for
viticulture. Following on, the monks and nuns from a dozen or so monasteries in the area made a
living out of growing and selling wine from as early as the 12th century. Founded in 1136, the Cistercian Eberbach Monastery, which after decades of now nearly completed renovation work ranks
among the top cultural monuments in Europe, became a prosperous economic enterprise thanks to
viticulture and the wine trade. Surrounded by an almost 3,000-meter long outer wall, the “Steinberg”, a 34-hectare vineyard and favorite of many wine lovers, gives the Abbey its outstanding
reputation in the Rheingau, and even in Europe, where it can be compared only perhaps to “Clos
de Vougeot” from CÔte d’Or in Burgundy in France. The Johannisberg again is the oldest Riesling
vineyard in the world – a monument to European viticulture.
In this region that for 900 years belonged to the Archbishopric of Mainz, the monks finally gave
way to the aristocracy. Illustrious names such as Schönborn, Kanitz, Langwerth von Simmern,
10 Rheingau highlights
Things you have to have seen
01Schloss Johannisberg in Johannisberg
Rheingaus landmark with view; also home to one of the finest vineyards
www.schloss-johannisberg.de
02Kloster Eberbach near Eltville
Impressive cultural heritage site of
European importance
www.klostereberbach.net
03Schloss Vollrads in Winkel
Medieval castle of the Matuschka
Greiffenclau family
www.schloss-vollrads.com
04Drosselgasse in Rüdesheim
144-meter long amusement strip;
one of the most-visited German
tourist attractions, with all the romance
of the Rhine and live music
www.ruedesheim.de
05Niederwald near Rüdesheim
Cable car to the vantage point; Niederwald
monument and romantic 18th century
landscape park
www.ruedesheim.de
50 51
FRM 01 I 09
Wilhelm Weil
The vintner runs one
of the most famous
Riesling vineyards
06The Rhine promenade in Eltville
A beautiful spot with electoral castle;
strolling along the banks of the Rhine
beneath plane trees
www.eltville.de
07Church of St. Valentine in Kiedrich
Cultural gem with famous church organ
www.kiedrich.de
08
The old town in Altstadt in Hochheim
Idyllic wine-producing town in the
Main-Taunus district with a monument
to Queen Victoria among the vineyards
www.hochheim.de
09
Rheingau Musik Festival
Internationally recognized music festival from June to September; more than 120
superb cultural and musical events
www.rheingau-musik-festival.de
10
Rheingau wine festivals
In many places in the region –
between May and August – popular
festivals with culinary highlights
www.rheingau-taunus-info.de
//
Pleasure
“To have roots is important for us.
To have them in Rheingau is a gift.”
10 Wine restaurantS
for Gourmets
01 Burg Schwarzenstein in Johannisberg
Exquisite award-winning cuisine by Sven
Messerschmidt, plus the most magnificent
view of the Rhine valley
www.burg-schwarzenstein.de
Wilhelm Weil,
Rheingauer star vintner
02Kronenschlösschen in Hattenheim
“Jeune restaurateur” Patrick Kimpel has
been beguiling guests for years now with
creative, delicate cuisine
www.kronenschloesschen.de
03 Schloss Groenesteyn in Kiedrich
An insider tip for lovers of high-end
regional cuisine and the best Rieslings in
the region Telefon 06123 / 15 33
04Weinhaus Zum Krug in Hattenheim
Regional cuisine with a twist and
perhaps the region’s best wine list
www.hotel-zum-krug.de
Josef Laufer
The chef has Riesling
cream of herb soup on
his menu
52 53
FRM 01 I 09
Sven Messerschmidt
The award-winning chef
whips up delicious
treats at Schwarzenstein castle
05Krone Assmannshausen
in Rüdesheim-Assmannshausen
Small Rheingau grand hotel right on the
banks of the Rhine in Assmannshausen
www.hotel-krone.com
06Adlerwirtschaft in Hattenheim
Exquisite sophisticated regional cuisine
with in a cozy surroundings
www.franzkeller.de
07Rüdesheimer Schloss in Rüdesheim
The best spot in the famous
Drosselgasse with Rieslings by
top German producer Georg Breuer
www.ruedesheimer-schloss.de
08 Gasthaus „Zur Schlupp“ in Walluf
Cramped, homely, cozy
and friendly
www.gasthauszurschlupp.de
09Orangerie Schloss Vollrads in Winkel
Aristocratic dining, plus wines
by a top German producer
www.schloss-vollrads.com
10Gutsschänke Hof Bechtermünz
in Eltville
Typical wine tavern with class
and atmosphere, fine Riesling and
Pinot Noir
www.weingut-koegler.de
//
Pleasure
Gunter Künstler
The young vintner is
leaving his mark on
the new generation
Matuschka-Greiffenclau (Vollrads) or Metternich (Johannisberg) still place among the top producers
in the Rheingau today. The advantageous geographic location – a large number of recognized top vineyards positioned closely together – is what has granted them their long-standing success and fine reputation. Amongst these wines is the Erbacher Macrobrunn which, in 1788, enticed Thomas Jefferson,
who was later to become President of the United States, to pause for a moment of devout silence. Or the
Johannisberg, praised by Wilhelm Grimm who is supposed to have said that “any other wine can only
be deemed harmless vinegar” by comparison. Or the Assmannshäuser, which Bismarck always preferred to any vintage Vin du Pape. Not forgetting the Gräfenberg. In 1900 the Court of Austria ordered 800
bottles of 1893 Auslese for the astonishing price of 13,000 Goldmarks. And in 1863, “Auerbachs Keller”
in Leipzig would charge no less than four Talers for a bottle of Johannisberger. To put this into perspective: At the time, a bottle of Chateau Margaux would change hands for a quarter of that price.
Vintners from the Rheingau Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates (VDP), together with their
presiding officer Wilhelm Weil, have committed themselves to continuing in the tradition of this glorious past. Weil, who manages one of the most famous Riesling estates in Germany, has been a significant champion of what is today being celebrated as the Riesling renaissance around the world. Weil
himself regards Riesling from the Rhine and its tributaries as one of the four major wines of the world
– alongside the reds from Bordeaux and the reds and whites from the Burgundy region. In Germany, the
Rheingau was also the pioneer for the first vine intended to pick up on the Premier Cru and Grand Cru
Eberbach
The monastery
ranks among the top
cultural monuments
in Europe
traditions in France. A project that has long since been very successful throughout Germany and that
10 TOP PRODUCERS
has opened the doors of some of the world’s top-class restaurants to the dry superb-quality Rieslings.
Highly acclaimed vintners such as Gunter Künstler from Hochheim belong to this avant-garde; their
IN THE RHEINGAU
01
Weingut Robert Weil in Kiedrich
The Rheingau’s most renowned
estate, wines of international
standing
www.weingut-robert-weil.com
02
Weingut Franz Künstler in
Hochheim/Main
The quality fanatic among the top
Rheingau vintners
www.weingut-kuenstler.de
03
Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn
in Oestrich-Winkel
Committed organic producer with vision
and the courage to experiment
www.weingutpjkuehn.de
04
Weingut August Kesseler
in Assmannshausen
The red wine expert among the Rheingau
producers, Pinot Noir of the highest quality
www.august-kesseler.de
05 Georg Breuer in Rüdesheim
Top Riesling from the best slopes
in Rüdesheim
www.georg-breuer.com
wines place among the best in Germany. Like no other wine, Riesling has left its mark on the Rheingau
06Weingut Josef Leitz in Rüdesheim
Not without reason hugely successful
in the United States
www.leitz-wein-de
as a viticultural area and the versatility of its grape is unprecedented in the world: The young wine cap-
07 Weingut Flick, Flörsheim-Wicker
Fine, fruity Rieslings from the
top winery in Wicker, the eastern gateway
to the Rheingau
www.flick-wein.de
the whole spectrum from light-bodied and lively to full-bodied and deep. Very pleasant to drink on its
08 Weingüter Geheimrat J. Wegeler Erben
in Oestrich-Winkel
Every new vintage is among
the elite of Rheingau wines
www.wegeler.de
hand in hand, the harvest festival culminates in an amazing grand finale – an extravagant Riesling gala
09 Schloss Johannisberg
in Geisenheim-Johannisberg
The birthplace of the late vintage –
a monument to German wine production
www.schloss-johannisberg.de
vintage along with traditional down-to-earth cuisine. And in March, wine connoisseurs and gour-
10 Weingut Schloss Vollrads
in Oestrich-Winkel
One of the oldest and always one
the best wineries in the region
www.schlossvollrads.com
have been awarded a Michelin star, while in Hattenheim chefs Franz Keller (Adlerwirtschaft), Patrick
tivates the taste buds with its fruitiness and acidity, while the fruity-sweet variety of the grape can be
stored almost infinitely. Riesling comes in dry, semi-dry, sweet and fruity-sweet varieties, embracing
own, Riesling also makes for an excellent accompaniment to food. Over the last 30 years, the Rheingau
vintners have been especially devoted to perfecting the latter aspect. In their efforts they have initiated the Glorious Rheingau Days: Held in November of each year and organized by chefs and vintners
for 500 guests. Furthermore, the family-run businesses so typical of the Rheingau have established
the tradition of the “Rheingauer Schlemmerwoche” (Wining and Dining Week), which takes place in
spring. Each year, they open their cellars, courtyards and living rooms to the public to present the new
mets can look forward to the internationally acclaimed Rheingau Gourmet Festival. However, as the
Rheingau has become a true epicurean region, gourmets in fact come into their own all year round. At
Scharzenstein Castle, situated in a wonderful location, Sven Messerschmidt creates fine delicacies that
Kimpel (Kronenschlösschen) and Josef Laufer Jr. (Zum Krug) have committed themselves to a sophisticated and manifold cuisine which combines international influences with regional roots – a very
elegant interpretation that draws its origins from Riesling as the superior wine of the Rheingau. All
thanks to a whim of nature.
54 55
FRM 01 I 09
\\
//
Scene
Rubrik
Rubrik
04_
01_
Rubrik
02_
Darmstadt
Centralstation
Club evenings, live
concerts and poetry
slams are part of the
line-up at the old
train station
OFFENBACH
FRANKFURT
VELVET
The popular after work
location is situated between the opera and the
European Central Bank
Rubrik
Rubrik
Rubrik
Rubrik
HAFEN 2
Club evenings, concerts
and art exhibitions spice
up the location
05_
FRANKFURT
U360
Right underneath the
financial district,
the club scene here
raves to electronic beats
all night long
06_
FRANKFURT
KINg KAMEHAMEHA
At the former brewery
house, music and design
run the show
MAINZ
50 GRAD
On weekends, House
and Electro heat up the
dance floor
Fotos: artur, Cocoon Club
03_
Clubbing
DANCING, DRINKING & DINING IN FRM
FrankfurtRhineMain’s clubs can easily
hold their own on a global comparison.
Leading the pack: Sven Väth’s Cocoon Club.
And there are others, too
By Alexander Handcock
56 57
FRM 01 I 09
>
When the day ends, Sven Väth goes to
Shortly after midnight the countdown begins for the
work. The Cocoon Club resembles a UFO
launch into another world. Party time until the early
that has decided to land just off Hanauer Landstrasse,
hours of the morning.
quite literally just down the road from Frankfurt’s vibrant East End. A spaceship ready for take-off. The in-
Electronic music is definitely buzzing in the region.
ternational party scene (from classic to shrill) is all set to
After all, Frankfurt is considered the cradle of Tech-
board. Destined to take off with the “Godfather of Tech-
no. In 1982, a man by the name of Andreas Tomalla was
no” – whenever he happens to be in Frankfurt. Väth
working in a record shop below the tracks of Frankfurt’s
came to fame with truly spectacular shows at Frankfurt’s
central train station. He was the first to classify records
airport disco Dorian Gray and Berlin’s Love-Parade and
featuring electronically produced music under a new
is now one of the best-booked DJs in the world. He is at
label and the concept of “Techno” was born. However,
home in the hottest clubs of New York, Rio and Tokyo.
it is not only the historical link to the pulsating beat of
Sometimes moving location from one day to the next.
Techno that puts Frankfurt in the same league as other
//
Szene
Rubrik
Rubrik
16 15
Rubrik
Nikolic, Robertino/artur
08 06
13 12
07
04
14 11 09
05
10
17
03
20
01
09_
Rubrik
FRANKFURT
APARTMENT
With its contrasting
styles, this club really
does convey the atmosphere of an apartment
02
10_
18
07_
FRANKFURT
19
MONZA
The massive sound
system delivers the beat
for guests in the party
mood
World tour 2009
Born in FrankfurtRhineMain, at home in the world.
Venues for his World
Tour 2009:
08_
OFFENBACH
ROBERT JOHNSON
Even when the sun
comes up, the lights
remain on at the
“Robert”
electronic heartlands such as London or Detroit. Whene-
– and other giants such as Paul van Dyk, Richie Haw-
that takes center stage in the old boat house, with
ver it’s about backbeat and bass, the FrankfurtRhine-
tin, DJ Hell, Tiefschwarz and Ricardo Villalobos have
its minimalist design. Often featuring top acts, the
Main clubs are at the cutting edge of trends. A fact that
likewise been at the decks. What is more, the club also
program is usually not announced in advance, but
was also honored by renowned British “DJMag”. Surve-
boasts the “Micro” lounge and “Silk” star-rated restau-
merely alluded to through a particular mix of mu-
yed by the magazine for the “world’s best clubs”, DJs re-
rant, putting it well up in the gourmet rankings, too.
sic. The parties that ensue are truly legendary and
cently ranked both the Cocoon Club (11) and the Robert
Starred Austrian chef Mario Lohninger serves purist
have long ceased being just an insider’s tip. Hardly
Johnson (24) in Offenbach in the global Top 25.
creations to his illustrious guests – who can enjoy the
anyone goes home before they have enjoyed sitting
dishes while reclining like the Ancient Romans. That
or standing on the club’s balcony and watching the
The Cocoon Club is without a doubt the flagship
special things like these come with a price tag is simply
sun rise up over the River Main. Quite often, peo-
among the FrankfurtRhineMain clubs. With a floor
accepted by the scene.
ple will even party well into the afternoon.
space of 2,600 square meters, it is the very epicenter of
P.S.: In fall, the next “Night of the Clubs” will
Frankfurt’s club scene – and proudly features top DJs
The Robert Johnson Club in Offenbach is different.
take place again at 20 venues with a single ent-
from the Techno, Electro and House scene on a regular
While the Cocoon attracts many club tourists and scene-
rance fee and shuttle buses throughout Frank-
basis. Techno pioneers Carl Cox and Laurent Garnier
members, the crowd at the “Robert” consists almost ex-
furt. More information available from August at
have worked the 120,000 watt high-end sound system
clusively of Electro fans. Needless to say, it is this sound
FRM 01 I 09
FRANKFURT
SVEN VÄTH
01_Tokyo, Japan
02_Singapore, Singapore
03_Athens, Greece
04_Belgrade, Serbia
05_Bucharest, Romania
06_Siofok, Hungary
07_Prague, Czech Republic
08_Berlin, Germany
09_Frankfurt, Germany
10_Rome, Italy
11_Bern, Switzerland
12_Amsterdam, Netherlands
13_Brussels, Belgium
14_Paris, France
15_London, United Kingdom
16_Dublin, Ireland
17_Ibiza, Spain
18_Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
19_Buenos Aires, Argentina
20_Mexico City, Mexico
58 59
Rubrik
COCOON
At Sven Väth’s place, the
crème de la crème of the
electronic music scene
is at the turntables
Rubrik
Rubrik
www.nacht-der-clubs.de
GEO DATA
01
02
49°52'18.36"N 08°44‘36.51“E
50°06'45.44"N 08°39'9.91"E
03
50°06'44.68"N 08°42'14.28"E
04
50°06'33.88"N 08°40'33.01"E
05
50°06'44.65"N 08°40'39.39"E
06
50°00'14.99"N 08°16'01.71"E
07
50°07'16.38"N 8°45'03.01"E
08
50°06'40.93"N 8°44'19.23"E
09
10
50°06'43.42"N 8°42'14.35"E
50°06'39.07"N 8°40'40.81"E
//
Art
Ironic
Munich-based band
“Chicks on Speed” settle
their scores with
the art market musically
Jörg Immendorff, Courtesy Galerie Michael Werner Berlin, Köln und New York
Courtesy of Greenberg Van Doren Gallery, NY; Chicks On Speed
Committed
In 1973 Jörg Immendorff
called on artists to make
political statements
THE MAKING
of art
How is art made? Like this, for example: The artist instructs a gallery to find a collector for
a particular commissioned work. For quite a lot of money she has sex with him – recording the artistic act on video. One copy is for the collector, the remaining ones are for the
artist. Admittedly, this case, blunt and literal as it is, is set to push “The Making of Art” to
extremes. However, this is precisely how it was staged by American artist Andrea Fraser
in 2004. Art and passion, art and consumerism, the “relationship” between the collector
and the artist – the video is brimming with a panoramic range of issues revolving round
the question of what precisely sums up the creation of art. With the exhibition “The Making of Art” in Schirn-Kunsthalle in Frankfurt to August 30, we are invited to explore
the topic and take a backstage – albeit less voyeuristic – look at the world of art. Another
exhibition highlight, aimed at establishing new contexts in art and thus allowing fresh
insights, is held under the aegis of Schirn director Max Hollein. Featuring the works of 50
artists, curator Martina Weinhart from Frankfurt intends conveying the mechanisms and
strategies of contemporary art and the way in which it is perceived – artists on the brink
between art fair hype and the loneliness of their studios.
www.schirn-kunsthalle.de
60 61
FRM 01 I 09
Max Hollein
The director of the
Schirn, the Städel and
the Liebieghaus likes to
stage exhibitions with
sweeping effects
which convey new perspectives on art
//
Discovery
PHENOMENOLOGY
OF THE “WAsserhäuschen”
Trinkhallen are a typical Frankfurt institution,
were originally kiosks offering beverages, but have
far more to offer than just liquid sustenance
by MICHAEL HERL
geo data
1
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F
62 63
FRM 01 I 09
1 | Listed building
The Trinkhalle on Holbeinstrasse in Sachsenhausen
is idyllically situated
among Wilhelmenianstyle villas
Frankfurt citizen by choice
Michael Herl wrote for
“Stern” magazine, talked in
the “Late Lounge” on TV,
and now runs Frankfurt’s
Stalburg Theater
>
They were having the time of their
this last point alone meant there was an institu-
lives in a Frankfurt that is now
tion that was essential to Frankfurt’s survival:
slowly beginning to fade from sight. A Frankfurt
the Trinkhalle, or “Wasserhäuschen”. These
where traditional cider was still termed “Apple
were kiosks that originally simply had a license
Wine” and not yet known by a fashionable label
to sell beverages, “watering holes” for anyone
such as “Äppler”. Where department stores had
who felt thirsty and was passing by. Located on
names like “Ammerschläger” or “M. Schneider” –
practically every corner in the days of yore, they
not “My Zeil”. Where Joschka Fischer would
had so much more to offer than plain mineral
play soccer in Ostpark and where the Suhr-
water – crammed high with all kinds of drinks,
kamp publishing house still epitomized the
cigarettes, sweets, sliced bread and gherkins,
kind of intellectual, critical and original politi-
with cans of ravioli, tins of coffee, and washing
cal thinking that no Berliner would ever dare to
powder packs. I know a lot of people who, up
imitate. It was a city where the shops still closed
to a few years ago, right on the dot of 6.30 p.m.
at 6.30 p.m. sharp, as they should. In our neatly
when the shops closed, would suddenly de-
arranged world on the banks of the River Main,
velop a craving for tinned sardines, water melons,
//
Discovery
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chorizos or caramel pudding. Driven insane by
at the little hut. However, once new customers
the wish to quench their thirst or fill an empty
had overcome their shyness and broken the spell,
belly, they would wander from one Trinkhalle
most would come flocking back. For a packet of
1
to the next until they finally found the object of
cigarettes, a bottle of beer – or a good joke.
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their desire. Which might not come cheap, but
was at least available. And on sale until late at What was once such an institution has long since
night at that. The vendors tended not to be of
and Hound”, no media publication seems to es- Strange, actually, come to think of it. A flash-
GEO DATA
3
cape their knowledge. They are familiar with
5 0 ° 0 7 ' 0 1 . 5 1" N
0 8 °4 3 ' 3 8 . 8 9 " E
changed. Most of the bottle-holding gents have
the chatty type, while the people outside (usu- disappeared. And the people behind the counF
ally gents with a beer bottle in hand) were busy
ter have become more talkative. Sometimes
contemplating the meaning of life, tersely and
you can be drawn into a full-fledged discus-
forever to the point. Sometimes their presence
ket around the corner – now open until ten p.m.
and definitely cheaper. How reassuring. True
Trinkhallen have expanded their product range:
to that old chestnut that “only he who changes
Some now boast more newspapers and specialist
remains true to himself,” the Frankfurt “wate-
magazines than are to be found even at the train
ring holes” are well on their way to replicating
station newsagent’s. Others offer fresh rolls and
their heyday. Despite the fact that Frankfurt as
croissants. And yet others again make their li- we used to know it is slowly fading away. Or per-
sion – often held fluently in several languages.
ving mainly from the lottery business. What
haps even because of it. After all, life would not
has remained is the staple range of goods. From
be the same if at least one thing from the good
pes or women, and prevent them from shopping
canned ravioli to Binding beer. It is all still there. old days did not survive.
amazing. From the “New Yorker” to “Hunting
they sprung up to provide workers with clean drinking
water, but over the course of time they developed into
news agents in their quarters
FRM 01 I 09
just as they have committed the local subway
departure times to memory. What is more, the
would frighten off the non-locals, sensitive ty- Many a vendor’s expertise and range is truly
There are 350 “Wasserhäuschen” in Frankfurt –
64 65
F
back to the past? No. The basics are still being
the nutritional value of their five-grain rolls, bought, despite the fact that there is a supermar-
2 | Handy
The kiosk outside the
Municipal hospital in Offenbach has a wide range of
small gift items for visitors
and patients
3 | Modern
The Trinkhalle on Hanauer
Landstrasse has morphed
into an open-air diner
\\
//
Preview
ISSUE
02
OCTOBER 2009
picture-alliance/dpa
The Green
Lung
When completed, the regional park route
will stretch 190 kilometers through the
region. 115 kilometers are finished.
A discovery tour
picture-alliance/dpa
HOUSE OF LOGISTICS
AND MOBILITY
FrankfurtRhineMain is the hub for goods
and services in Germany. The House of Logistics
and Mobility serves to strengthen the region.
A blueprint
Frankfurter Buchmesse/Hirth
Literature
CLUSTER
With the book fair, Frankfurt comands one of
the branch hot spots. Authors and publishers
form a strong cluster in the region.
A network
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