Ponder this. What if a building could tell tales of paint, pioneering elevators and near destruction? We are standing before the Fl\u00fcggerhaus. This office building at R\u00f6dingsmarkt 19 in Hamburg is more than just bricks and mortar. It is a testament to Hamburg’s commercial history.
The Fl\u00fcggerhaus was built in 1907 and 1908. It was designed by Frejtag and Wurzbach with Elingius. This building became the headquarters for the Fl\u00fcgger company. Fl\u00fcgger made paints, lacquers and brushes. The company needed more space. They bought properties at R\u00f6dingsmarkt 19 and 20 in 1901. The Fl\u00fcggerhaus replaced older buildings. Eduard Friedrich Fl\u00fcgger commissioned the new building.
Look closely at the facade. Rochlitzer Porphyr stone adorns it. Maritime elements decorate the building. The gable on the first floor displays wine leaves and grapes. It also shows the Fl\u00fcgger emblem which is a dragonfly. The initials of Joachim Daniel Fl\u00fcgger are present too. The name Fl\u00fcggerhaus and the construction year are also displayed.
Originally, Fl\u00fcgger only used the ground, first and second floors. The remaining space was rented out to other businesses. By 1912, 16 companies were listed at this address. Gustav Oelkers, the maker of the Michel m\u00fctze, had his headquarters here. He stayed from the 1930s to the 1960s. The rear building served as storage and a production site. A caretaker’s apartment was on the sixth floor.
The Fl\u00fcggerhaus featured rich interior details. These details were in communal areas. The staircase and restrooms boasted special designs. Fl\u00fcgger’s own offices had wood partitions and paneling. Other spaces were left for tenants to customize. The marble staircase and wall tiles remain today.
This building had some unique features. It included a Paternoster lift. This lift was for transporting people. There was also an external freight elevator in the inner courtyard. A small goods elevator and a winch connected to the former Deichstra\u00dfenfleet. An elevator connected the basement to the ground floor. It was located directly on the street.
The Paternoster lift is a highlight. Built in 1908 by Gustav Adolf Koch, it might be the world’s oldest. Its design resembles the one in the Gertig-Haus. Robin Augenstein, an art historian, rediscovered the Paternoster. It had been hidden for decades. The Paternoster was covered by wood paneling in the 1970s. Restoration began in 2022. Safety skirts had to be added to the open cabins.
During World War II, disaster struck. The rear building burned due to explosions. The roof truss was mostly destroyed. The large office windows facing the Fleet were reduced in size.
In the 1990s, the inner courtyard was redesigned. Bassewitz, Patschan, Hupertz and Limbrock were the architects. The building was listed as a protected monument in 1998.
In 2019, Signa Holding acquired the Fl\u00fcggerhaus. They also acquired neighboring buildings. The plan was to renovate them as the Fl\u00fcggerh\u00f6fe. But Signa’s insolvency in 2023 halted construction. In July 2024, Harm M\u00fcller-Spreer bought the Fl\u00fcggerh\u00f6fe. He intends to continue the renovations.
Today, the Fl\u00fcggerhaus stands as a reminder of Hamburg’s past. It shows resilience. It embodies innovation. The Fl\u00fcggerhaus continues to evolve. It blends history with modern use.