Consulting in Healthcare

Tackling Climate Change

Flora, Cologne on the Rhine, Germany

Cologne in 1864: since the old Cologne Botanical Garden at the cathedral had to make way for the construction of the main station, planning began in 1862 for a new Botanical Garden in Riehl. On September 5, 1862, Cologne citizens founded a "Committee for the Construction of a Botanical Ornamental and Pleasure Garden" in banker Eduard von Oppenheim's Cologne apartment. Members were Cologne business leaders, including banker Jakob von Kaufmann-Asser, publisher August Neven DuMont and cathedral master builder Richard Voigtel. The notarization of the articles of association took place on September 8, 1862, and King Wilhelm I approved them on April 13, 1863. Flora AG, with a share capital of 100,000 thalers, was founded on March 6, 1863, and the king's wife, Queen Augusta, took over its patronage.

On the outskirts of the city, Flora AG acquired 5.6 hectares of farmer Pilgram's property, which belonged to the mayoralty of Longerich, for 22,130 thalers. The area was adjacent to the Cologne Zoo, which opened in 1860, and Riehl established itself as a local recreation area for Cologne's urban population.

Until the Flora AG took over in 1864, it used to be the property of the old cologne patrician family Pilgram. On Aug 11, 1919, Lieutenant Dr. phil. Franz Cramer (5.1.1884 - 13.6.1961) married Maria Pilgram (6.10.1895 - 28.12.1968), the daughter of the building contractor and heir Fritz Pilgram (23.06.1860 - 03.03.1927).

Nowadays, the Flora hosts state receptions of the North Rhine-Westphalian state government.

Mülheim Steamship Company (1852-1925), Mülheim on the Rhine, District of Cologne, Germany

The independent City of Mülheim on the Rhine, today District of Cologne, Germany, is known for its legendary Mülheim Steamship Company (1852-1925), called "Mülheimer Dampfschiffahrt AG" or "Müllemer Böötche". In 1925 the company was sold to Köln-Düsseldorfer Deutsche Rheinschiffahrt AG (KD), Cologne, Germany.

Grandmother Maria Cramer (6.10.1895 - 28.12.1968) nee Pilgram, was the great-granddaughter of the company founder Christoph Musmacher (1808-1884), who made it with 37 steamships from a humble ferryman to a shipowner.

Landscape Conservation Area in Buchheim, District of Cologne on the Rhine, Germany

Christoph Cramer recently took over almost one hectare of land from his ancestors in Buchheim, a District of Cologne. This ground is recognised as landscape conservation area. It absorbs 10 tonnes of CO2 and produces 15 tonnes of oxygen per hectare annually for the metropolis and is also very popular as a local recreation area.