Ready to be amazed by Frankfurt’s architectural grandeur? We’re standing before the Kaiser-Friedrich-Bau. This building is a testament to a bygone era.
The Kaiser-Friedrich-Bau stands as a proud landmark. It is located on Kaiserstraße. The structure embodies Frankfurt’s rich history. It showcases the architectural styles of the late 19th century.
Let’s take a closer look at the history of this building. The Drei-Kaiser-Bau, also known as Drei-Kaiser-Haus, was built in 1893. Eugen Greiß designed it as a representative office and commercial building. Today it stands under monument protection.
Imagine Kaiserstraße as a newly planned boulevard from 1870 to 1873. The city acquired properties and demolished existing houses. This created space for the grand street. However, some property owners refused to sell. One was the Cronstett- und Hynspergische evangelische Stiftung. The city expropriated part of their land. The royal Prussian city court confirmed this in 1873.
In 1893, the foundation sold the remaining land. The proceeds financed a new building on Lindenstraße 27. The remaining building became a commercial building. Jakob Carl Junior, a Frankfurt builder, bought the undeveloped land. He built the Drei-Kaiser-Bau on Kaiserstraße 3/5/5a.
The location had become Frankfurt’s prime business area. The new building needed to fully utilize this valuable space. The building depth was set at exactly 35 meters. Any deeper and the building authorities would have required a driveway. The new building consisted of three sections. They were separated by firewalls but presented a unified facade.
Originally the middle building had a lantern-topped dome. The roof floors were designed as studios. The left and right sides were intended for professional photographers. The central dome housed a painter’s studio. It was 8.5 to 10 meters long and 6.50 meters high.
The original facade used light yellow Bavarian sandstone. It featured rich neo-baroque decorations. The name Drei-Kaiser-Bau was inscribed on it. Greiß collaborated with Gustav Klemm on the design. Balcony railings were used for advertising. Roofs also had advertising mounted on wind-permeable wire mesh.
Four 6.50-meter-high three-quarter columns made of Swedish syenite divided the street facade. These columns were supported by black syenite pillars. Bronze caryatids connected the pillars and columns. Above the main cornice were 2.40-meter-high bronze statues. These figures represented trade, shipping, art, and industry. The dome was made of an iron frame covered with copper sheet. The pitched roofs were covered with slate from Kaub. Franz Jakob Born, a Frankfurt sculptor, created the sculptures. The door frames were galvanized bronze. The storefront windows had planed steel frames.
During World War II, the roof and dome burned down in 1944 after bombing. The building was repaired in 1952. The facade was simplified. The destroyed roof floor was replaced with a flat-roofed story.
Today, the facade shows simplified decorative elements. The four sculpture-laden front columns remain. Stone cladding replaced the pillars and metal facade parts of the storefront. The building is still used commercially. It houses medical practices and offices.
The Kaiser-Friedrich-Bau is a reminder of Frankfurt’s architectural past. Its resilience through war and adaptation reflects the city’s spirit. Take a moment to appreciate its details. This building is a symbol of Frankfurt’s enduring character.