Roof work is underway on Das Kaufhaus in EPCOT’s Germany Pavilion. Crews are stripping and refurbishing the building’s steep, dormer-lined roofline on both sides. Shingles remain intact on parts of the west side of the roof. The opposite side of the roof sits bare down to its underlayment.
Das Kaufhaus Roof Refurbishment Underway at EPCOT
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- Das Kaufhaus’s roof is being refurbished on both the east and west sides of the building
- The west side is partially stripped while the east side is fully stripped down to its underlayment
- Das Kaufhaus remains open to guests throughout the project
Das Kaufhaus sits near the entrance of the Germany Pavilion. Its steeply pitched, dormer-covered roofline is one of the pavilion’s most recognizable silhouettes from the World Showcase promenade. The shop takes its design from the historic Kaufhaus department store in Freiburg, Germany. Its roof, with rows of small dormer windows and tall central chimneys, ranks among the most visually complex in the pavilion.
West Side Refurbishment Progress
That roof is now in the middle of a refurbishment. We visited the pavilion and found progress on both the east and west sides of the Das Kaufhaus roof. As you can see in the photos, the two sides are at different stages. The west side faces the neighboring Italy Pavilion and is only partially stripped. Sections of the original red and burgundy shingle pattern remain intact on the lower slopes and dormers closest to the plaza. Other sections have been pulled back to the dark brown felt underlayment beneath.
The east side of the roof, by contrast, is fully stripped. Crews have removed what appears to be the original shingle covering entirely, leaving a uniform brown surface across the slope and its dormers. Exposed nail heads and taped seams mark the underlayment up close. A section of newly installed dark shingle sits along one dormer’s leading edge, suggesting the rebuild has already begun in at least one spot.
East Side Refurbishment Progress
The scale of the project stands out against the rest of the pavilion. Das Kaufhaus’s roofline includes multiple dormers, a row of tall chimney-like spires along its ridge, and several distinct roof planes. Das Kaufhaus remains open and operating normally for guests browsing inside.
Here’s a look around at some of the other roofs of the Germany Pavilion for an idea of what the theming should resemble when complete.
The Germany Pavilion has had a busy stretch of refurbishment activity in recent months. As we reported when Der Teddybär reopened, the pavilion was already juggling closures at its restrooms, Volkskunst, and Stein Haus. The Das Kaufhaus roof work adds another project to that list, even as the shop itself continues to operate.
Roof refurbishments aren’t new to World Showcase. We tracked a similar shingle and underlayment replacement at the Stave Church in the Norway Pavilion back in 2024.
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