Plans conceived in 1922 led to what we see now as the Altes Stadthaus. Here at Bottlerplatz stands the Altes Stadthaus. It is more than just an old building. It tells a story of Bonn’s past and present.
The Altes Stadthaus was designed by the Munich architect German Bestelmeyer. It was built for the French occupation forces after World War I. The construction was completed in 1924 and 1925. The Altes Stadthaus was intended as a municipal administration building.
Bestelmeyer designed the Altes Stadthaus to create an impressive entry point to Bonn from the north. It was erected on a bastion. This bastion was part of the former city walls. The Altes Stadthaus faces the University of Bonn. The university occupies the former residential palace of the prince-elector of Cologne.
Notice the curved section that adjoins Windeckstraße. It defines the remaining bastion as a garden space. Along with the Old Toll-House, this bastion is accessible to the public. A new access route was created in the 1980s. It leads from Florentiusgraben. The courtyard was landscaped and trees were planted. Part of this small park became a playground in the late 1990s.
The Altes Stadthaus is arranged around two rectangular internal courtyards. The main section faces Mülheimer Platz. It features a mansard roof. Four-story turrets frame the building. The main entrance is at the southwest corner of Bottlerplatz. The Altes Stadthaus bridges Windeckstraße with two low arched openings.
Bestelmeyer envisioned the Altes Stadthaus as the nucleus of future development in Bonn’s center. However, only the tax office on the corner of Mülheimer Platz and Münsterstraße was built in 1937. Additional construction occurred on Bottlerplatz later. After the Neues Stadthaus was built, the main floor of the Altes Stadthaus facing Mülheimer Platz was rebuilt to house the library. The two courtyards were roofed over during this restructuring. Several interior walls were replaced with columns. The east wing of the building was demolished to make way for a C and A department store.
After World War II, the Bundesministerium für gesamtdeutsche Fragen was housed here. It occupied the now-demolished section of the Altes Stadthaus from 1949 to 1957.
In 2006, there were plans to sell the Altes Stadthaus. The library, community college, and city museum would be relocated. A new building in Quantiusstraße near the station was planned. The Altes Stadthaus would be used as retail space.
However, a public debate erupted. A citizens’ group formed to promote the creation of a Haus der Bildung at Bottlerplatz. They wanted to keep the existing building and library.
In 2007, the city council voted to house the Haus der Bildung in the Altes Stadthaus. The building would be extended to accommodate it. An architectural contest was held. The Alexander Koblitz architecture firm of Berlin won. The adjacent Siemenshaus was demolished. An extension to the Stadthaus was erected on its site. This extension incorporates a new main entrance.
Today, the Altes Stadthaus stands as a testament to Bonn’s resilience and adaptability. It has transformed from a municipal administration building to a public library and a Haus der Bildung. The Altes Stadthaus remains a vital part of Bonn’s cultural landscape. Its story continues to evolve. It will adapt to the changing needs of the community for generations to come.