“Seventy square meters” echoes in your mind. That is the modest exhibition space within the Kurfürstliches Gärtnerhaus. Right here stands a gem of Bonn’s history. It is a place where art meets the echoes of bygone eras.
The Kurfürstliches Gärtnerhaus sits gracefully at the corner of Wittelsbacherring and Beethovenplatz. It is nestled in the small park known as Baumschulwäldchen. This Baroque building dates back to the second half of the 18th century. It stands as a testament to Bonn’s rich heritage.
Around 1720, Kurfürst Joseph Clemens of Bavaria created the Baumschulwäldchen. It was a park-like tree nursery. The area covered about seven acres then. Kurfürst Maximilian Franz von Österreich often visited the park. He enjoyed using it for target shooting and social events. He had a small “Lusthäuschen” built for these occasions.
Soon, the gardeners began using this building as a place to sell products. They sold dairy goods, garden items, and coffee to visitors. In 1818, the University of Bonn was founded. The park and the little house then went to the university. The university leased the building to various operators. These included business people and student fraternities. Until the mid-20th century, locals called the building “Milchhäuschen”. This translates to “milk house”.
In 1908, the city took over the park’s horticultural care. The house became a storage space for garden tools. During the Second World War, the building suffered heavy damage. The ruined structure remained unused until 1952. It was then rebuilt using state funds.
In 1956 and 1957, the city gave the building to the cultural administration. Since then, it has served as an art pavilion. Renovations and extensions were carried out in 1971. Since 1960, Bonn artists have used the building, now known as Kurfürstliches Gärtnerhaus. They host various exhibitions here. The Trägerverein für das Künstlerforum Bonn operates the exhibition space. Up to 17 three-week exhibitions take place each year.
The elegant single-story building has a Baroque design. It has a floor space of about 50 square meters. The building stands on a rectangular plan. A slate-covered hipped roof tops the structure. The front faces Wittelsbacher Ring. It features a gable with a semi-circular window. Two pilasters divide this side. Three windows are located at the back. A relief depicting the anointing of Christ’s feet by Mary Magdalene is set into the former windowless entrance side to the north.
In 1971, a flat, square extension was added to the west side. It faces the park and covers 36 square meters. A glass entrance area connects the two buildings. A former window of the Gärtnerhaus was converted into a door. Several window niches inside were filled with wood. This created smooth walls for hanging pictures. Around 70 square meters of space is available for art exhibitions.
Multi-story houses from the late 19th century surround the Gärtnerhaus to the south. One of these buildings is home to the Corps Saxonia Bonn.
Many artists have exhibited their work in the Kurfürstliches Gärtnerhaus. These include Gerhard Neumann, Hilde Stock-Sylvester, and Clemens Pasch. Also, Kurt-Wolf von Borries, Ernst Wille, and Willy Maria Stucke.
Today, the Kurfürstliches Gärtnerhaus continues its legacy. It provides a unique space for artistic expression. As you stand here, you are not just seeing a building. You are experiencing a living piece of Bonn’s cultural history. A history that blends nature, art, and community.