Roll with the times. That’s the motto of the ehem Bowlingtreff in Leipzig. This isn’t your average bowling alley. It’s a hidden gem a monument to a bygone era.
This wasn’t just some run-of-the-mill bowling center. No no. The ehem Bowlingtreff was built in 1987 within a former electrical substation. Imagine that. A subterranean bowling haven carved into the earth beneath Leipzig’s Wilhelm-Leuschner-Platz. It was more than just pins and balls. It was a symbol of Leipzig’s resilience and creativity during the twilight of the DDR.
The story of the ehem Bowlingtreff starts even earlier though. Much earlier. In 1925 and 1926 an underground electrical substation was built. This wasn’t just any substation. It powered Leipzig’s city center and its trams. It housed giant batteries to regulate power surges. A fascinating bit of engineering. A secret world hidden beneath the city streets.
Years later in the 1970s there were plans to transform the abandoned substation. The initial plans failed. But in 1984 a new proposal emerged a plan for a bowling center. A competition was held. Winfried Sziegoleit’s design was selected. Construction began in June 1986. Leipzig citizens contributed 40000 hours of unpaid work. They helped bring this underground marvel to life. Thirteen months later it opened its doors. It was a unique project. Some even call it a “Schwarzbau” an unauthorized construction.
The ehem Bowlingtreff was an immediate success. With its 15-hour daily opening hours it attracted 2000 to 2500 guests every day. It was a vibrant hub. A place for leisure and social interaction. It offered not just bowling but also billiards a fitness center even a dedicated skat room. It boasted a cafe and other dining areas seating 310 people.
But the ehem Bowlingtreff’s success was short-lived. In 1997 it closed its doors. Various complex reasons led to its closure. This left the building slowly decaying. Then in 2007 the HTWK Leipzig held its annual architecture exhibition there for a week. A brief revival of a forgotten gem.
Fast forward to 2020. The city council decided that the ehem Bowlingtreff would become the new home for Leipzig’s Natural History Museum. The unique post-modern design will be preserved. The museum will house even more exhibits. The ehem Bowlingtreff will once again be a vital part of Leipzig’s cultural landscape. A new chapter will begin. It’s a stunning building. It’s more than just a building. It’s a testament to Leipzig’s history its ingenuity and its enduring spirit. A fitting new home for the city’s natural history. A place where history meets the future. A place where you can really roll with the times.