Golden Winged Car Removed from Cologne Museum Roof

A crane lifted HA Schult's golden winged car from the roof of the former Cologne City Museum on the evening of the removal. The sculpture, weighing four tons, had been perched on a 17th-century Zeughaus stair tower for over 35 years. The city announced that investigations revealed the sculpture's weight and wind-induced movements had already caused damage to the masonry. The removal, conducted at approximately 24 meters height, aims to prevent further damage and ensure the safety of the building and its surroundings. The 'Goldene Vogel' (Golden Bird) will now be restored at the Cologne Ford Works and is slated to find a new location on the roof of a hotel on the Rhine in the first quarter of next year. The 87-year-old artist had initially filed a lawsuit against the removal, but his emergency application was rejected. The gilded Fiesta with wings was first publicly shown in 1989 and has been at its current spot near the cathedral since 1991, becoming a popular photo motif. Schult is best known for his 'Trash People' – life-sized sculptures made entirely of trash.