In the 20th century this area used to be Munich's central banking district. As the various banks merged into one it was suddenly found that the entire area belonged to one entity. So in 1998 the HypoVereinsbank decided to move their offices elsewhere and transform the remaining buildings into a modern center for shopping, restaurants & cafes, art galleries (among which the Kunsthalle der Hypo-Kulturstiftung), office space, and residential apartments and public art. This network of passages and inner courtyards is an absolute pleasure to stroll through. The Fünf Höfe is literally an area of five connected courtyards. Every section has its own character. In one area there are giant ivies - over 10 meters long - hanging from the ceiling. Another courtyard is actually a hortus conclusus. Many other designers contributed to the gesamtkunstwerk.
