5. And The Heritage ... ?


The discussion on the Hundertwasser building cannot remain on the level of art and architecture, as the building does not exist in a vacuum, but impacts on the environment in which it is set. However, we need to consider aspects other than aesthetics, taste and local idiosyncrasies in this matter. Part of the plan for development of the Hundertwasser pueblo was the incorporation of a historic structure, listed by the heritage department of the state of Hessia (Landesamt für Denkmalpflege Hessen).

Right:
Figure 5.1. The corner of the heritage listed building 'Haus Bockenheimer' showing the replacement of a corner with two columns.

Bad Soden is a spa town, reknown for its salty springs which were used in medieval times for the production of table and pickling salt and gave Soden, as it was then known, a sound economic base. The mineral content of these springs and their use for therapeutic drinking and bathing was identified in 1701 and the town became known as health spa (Kromer 1990).

The building at the corner of 'Dachberg Strasse' and 'Zum Quellenpark', the "Frankfurter Hof", erected in 1722, was heritage-listed by the Landesamt für Denkmalpflege Hessen, because it was the first spa building in the town, capable of accommodating guests. As such the 'Haus Bockenheimer', as it was now called, has a very high local significance, especially as the town remains predominantly a spa town which, furthermore, claims to be proud of its heritage.

Yet much of the historic town centre has been 'saniert', a German term to describe a process where 'healthy' architectural fabric is maintained and dilapidated structures are, usually, removed. In such an approach façading is rampant ( and much of the historic fabric has been replaced by new structures with a design picking up some of the historic themes. Furthermore, the building under discussion forms part of the old town district.

In a 1968 planning decision it was decided that all new structures in the area should conform visually with the character of that part of the town, a provision certainly not kept by the Hundertwasser pueblo. Many citizens took objection and accused the town of a duplicity of standards, which would force ordinary citizens to obey the rule to the letter, but which permitted such a flagrant departure (cf. Förstner 1990).

Left:
Figure 5.2. The heritage listed 'Haus Bockenheimer' showing the additions of the two balcony towers and the new roof. Also note the accented horizontal paintwork.

It is of interest to note that the state department of heritage acceeded to the request to have the building modified by

• taking out the southwestern corner of the structure and substituting it with two of the beaded glazed columns;
• adding two sets of balconies (balcony towers);
• altering four windows into balcony doorways; and
• adding three large dormer windows with rounded roofs.

In the immediate pre-Hundertwasser era the building had a roof with small angular dormer windows set in a fashion that followed the horizontal lines of the roof (cf. photo in Müller 1990). This state of affairs had persisted at least since the 1870s. The provision of oversized dormer windows, as well as the development of additional openings in the groundfloor to permit its conversion to professional and commercial premises, as well as the addition of the large balcony towers has doubtlessly changed the overall appearance of the structure. These alterations were commented on by some residents who remarked that similar modifications at their heritage-listed properties would certainly not be allowed by the relevant authorities (Huber 1993).

Right:
Figure 5.3. One of the new balcony additions.

It is of significance to note that the present Mayor of Bad Soden, Kurt Bender, at the time a member of the city council, is supportive of changes to the heritage structures, arguing that as long as some heritage elements are preserved in toto or in part, a building should be liberally modernised and adapted to suit the new surroundings (Bender pers. comm.). Little consideration is given to setting, ensemble and historic integrity of the structure.

The other issue to be considered is the setting in which a culturally significant resource exists. In the pre-Hundertwasser era the building was the largest in the area and the background of the building was provided by the greened hillside of the Dachberg. Now, with the Hundertwasser building both in the background as well as forming its neighbour, the historic character of the structure is very much altered.

Likewise, as a result of the changed curtilage and the encroachment on the public pedestrian pavement the traffic situtation had changed. The town council approved the conversion of the street into the traffic reduced residential zone with coloured pavers rather than bitumen/cobble stone road surfaces. The new public space was landscaped very different from the original and thus created a new visual and conceptual setting.

But if the building was dilapidated as claimed by the developer, what options existed? Initially it had been intended by the town council to purchase 'Haus Bockenheimer', to restore it and to utilise it as the town museum. Both the costs of acquisition and restoration proved to be prohibitive and the town was forced to abstain from the plans (Bender, pers. comm.). Would it have been possible to properly restore the building?

The original roofing of the building, as well as its overall appearance as of 1828 are depicted in historic drawings and sketches (cf. Kromer 1990, p.55; Krauskopf 1993, p. 63) of sufficient clarity to allow a reconstruction of the original appearance of the building. In this etching the building possesses a mansard roof which forms today's second storey. Likewise enough evidence exists to the 1860s and 1880s appearance of the structure (cf. Kromer 1990, p.64) when the second storey had been added.

The preservation of heritage sites in place and unchanged, while desireable, is not always possible. This holds especially true for items of industrial architecture, such as breweries, gasworks, inner-city warehouses and the like, where the original function has become obsolete and where there is a need to espouse adaptive reuse otions to safeguard some of the heritage elements.

In the case of 'Haus Bockenheimer', however, the site was of residential character and no change of use was required. It would have been possible to develop the building into a fully functional 1990s residential unit with at the same time maintaining the historic character of the place.

The ethics of this whole action are posed to provide much food for thought and discussion in the years to come.

This document forms part of :
Spennemann, Dirk H.R. (1996) Hundertwasser Wohnen in den Wiesen". Art, Architecture and Heritage in Bad Soden, Germany. A hypermedia resource. Johnstone Centre of Parks, Recreation and Heritage, Charles Sturt University, Albury NSW, Australia. URL: http://life.csu.edu.au/~dspennem/Varia/Hundertwasser/100W_Start.html