Like the German language, Germany’s economic ascent in recent years has been literal. In Frankfurt, its financial capital, Hochhaüser (high risers) or Wolkenkratzer (skyscrapers) are still being built in neatly planned clusters that create its distinctive city skyline. To the south, across the river Main, the sky is dusted with the trails of aircraft taking off from Frankfurt’s international airport for China and other export destinations.

“Geographically, Frankfurt is a small place. You can’t stack production units one on top of another in a skyscraper – but you can bankers,” explains Edwin Schwarz, deputy mayor responsible for city planning. After a wave of enthusiasm in the late 1990s, which saw the construction of the 259-metre high Commerzbank tower – the city’s tallest and then the highest in Europe – appetites for high-rise offices waned. But demand has returned in recent years, “reflecting the new strength of Germany”, says Mr Schwarz.