“Wash and bathhouse” was its first name. The Parkbad in Weimar stands before us. It stands at Über dem Kegeltor 1. This brick building is unusual. It sits where the Rote Haus once stood. The Rote Haus burned down in 1785.
The Parkbad served Weimar’s poorer people in the 19th century. They could wash themselves and their laundry here. It helped stop diseases like cholera. Cholera was very common back then.
The Parkbad’s design is not typical for Weimar or Thuringia. It might have come from Berlin. E. F. Eisenach oversaw the construction in 1858. He studied similar buildings in Berlin. He likely managed the building and was the architect. The Parkbad was built in 1859 and 1860.
Notice the materials. There are glazed and colored bricks. They form rosettes. See the two risalites. They face us. The facade has Italian Renaissance elements.
In the 1920s, the building was rebuilt and expanded. The Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse Weimar bought the Parkbad in 1922. It was rebuilt. This gave it its current form. Apartments were built inside. The Ortskrankenkasse received loans for this.
The mansard roof was added in 1922. Today, the Parkbad is no longer used for its original purpose. Since January 13, 1996, it has been an outpatient rehabilitation center. This center belongs to the Sophien- und Hufeland-Klinikum Weimar.
The Parkbad building is a listed cultural monument in Weimar. It is a unique piece of history. It reminds us of a time when public baths were vital for public health. The Parkbad has transformed over the years. It now serves a new purpose. Yet, it remains a significant landmark in Weimar’s architectural landscape.