In addition to grand boulevards and whimsical Art Nouveau buildings, Munich is also home to quite a few abandoned places. Some structures have vanished entirely, such as the Schwabylon in Schwabing. Others, however, still stand and have been left to their own devices, such as the ghost station at the Olympic Park or the Siemens skyscraper in Sendling. The latter, despite repeated attempts to repurpose it, is one of the city’s most famous lost places. This is its story.
A towering structure
After the end of World War II, Siemens AG relocated its corporate headquarters to Munich. Bavaria thus became the company’s main location, which is why several corresponding buildings were constructed. Hans Maurer designed the Siemens Tower, which was built between 1961 and 1963 on Baierbrunner Straße in Sendling. It stands 75 meters tall and has 23 floors, making it the tallest office building in Munich at the time.
In the 2000s, the company planned a redesign of the area under the Isar Süd project. As part of this, two additional, larger skyscrapers were to be built next to the original Siemens skyscraper, effectively framing it. However, a citizens’ initiative prevented this, rendering the plans obsolete.
New plans for the Siemens Tower
Instead of further developing the area around the corporate building, Siemens eventually abandoned it. In 2006, the company sold the building, which subsequently changed hands several times and is now owned by the Swiss real estate firm Empira. Over the years, there have been various plans for what to do with the building: initially, there were plans to convert the office space into apartments, but it was ultimately decided to retain its original function as an office building. The building’s landmark status complicates renovation and potential conversions, further delaying the work.
Since 2025, there have been new plans for the Siemens Tower. It is slated to be converted into a hotel and a boarding house. However, the investor is currently facing political resistance to this plan as well. Thus, the Siemens Tower remains a “lost place” that stands empty. Unlike the Sendlinger Loch, where progress is finally underway, the future of this infamous building remains uncertain.
