Colorful umbrellas over apostles street: a splash of color for Cologne!

Colorful umbrellas over apostles street: a splash of color for Cologne!

A colorful spectacle is currently attracting attention: 300 lively umbrellas are waiting above Apostles Street in Cologne to delight passers-by and offer protection from the sun. The campaign, which was launched by the Papstnstrasse interest group, is another piece of an advertising initiative that was already successful last year. This year the umbrellas are not only intended to bring color, but also to send a message against the difficult situation in the city center, especially with regard to the drug hotspot on Neumarkt.

The colorful umbrellas can be seen until the end of September and are attached to a special construction that keeps them stable even in windy weather. Customers from nearby shops, such as Filz Gnos, “Törtchen Törtchen” or the Balkhausen bakery, often stand in queues to get their hands on the popular baked goods. This shows that, despite challenges, Apostles Street is a lively place full of opportunities.

Financing and urban development

The financing of this colorful advertising campaign amounts to 80% from the support of Köln-Business, the city's economic development agency, and 20% from the interest group itself. This is part of a broader budget of 100,000 euros, which will be invested in six different projects this year. In addition to the umbrellas, other initiatives, such as a design exhibition in the former Moeller fabric pavilion and a mural at the Filmpalast, also benefit from these funds. The annual cleaning campaign in pedestrian zones also plays a role in improving the city center.

Worth a visit

The umbrellas are not only an aesthetic highlight, but also a strategic step to increase the attractiveness of the city center. Current developments in retail show that the combination of retail, gastronomy and cultural offerings is crucial in attracting visitors to the city in the long term. Digitalization is forcing brick-and-mortar retail to develop new concepts in order to compete with online retail. This means that urban retail concepts, such as those in Cologne, are needed more than ever. They not only have to fulfill the supply function, but also promote social interactions and experiences.

In times when inner cities are under pressure, creative solutions such as the completely colorful umbrellas over the Papstnstrasse are a real ray of hope. This form of urban design shows how important it is to find a balance between different needs in planning and at the same time to create a welcoming atmosphere for everyone. The initiative is a step in the right direction to influence shopping behavior and increase the quality of life in urban areas.

So you trot along under the colorful sky, looking at the umbrellas and thinking about happy colors and what a small effort can do for the city. The next time you stroll through Papstnstrasse, maybe stop for a moment and enjoy the atmosphere - it's worth it!

For detailed information about the campaign you can visit the reports WZ or Cologne City Gazette read up. Also delivers City and economy Exciting insights into the future development of retail concepts and how important such initiatives are for the city center.