Wonder how this building got its unusual name? This is the Blockhaus. Its story is intertwined with Dresden’s history. It stands proudly on the western side of the Augustusbrücke’s Neustadt bridgehead. The Blockhaus is a landmark near the Golden Rider.
Originally, the Blockhaus was the Neustädter Wache. Zacharias Longuelune designed it. Construction took place from 1732 to 1737. But a wooden building stood here before that. This earlier structure was called “Blockhaus.” The name stuck even after the new building was erected. The foundation stone was laid in 1732.
The initial plan involved two symmetrical buildings. These would flank the Neustadt bridgehead. An oversized equestrian statue of August the Strong was planned for the eastern building’s roof. The western building was to feature a pyramid-like obelisk. It would have a medallion of the Elector. Due to financial constraints, only one building, the Blockhaus, was built.
Construction started quickly. By October 1732, the building reached its main cornice. However, Elector Frederick August I died in 1733. All work stopped. Six years later, a temporary roof protected the unfinished building. A storm damaged this roof in 1747. General Graf Unruh urged Elector Frederick August II to complete the building. Johann Christoph Knöffel modified the plans. An additional floor was added. The Blockhaus was completed with a brick-covered gable roof. The surrounding arcade was integrated into the structure. The Neustädter Wache was housed in the Blockhaus from December 1749.
In 1759, Prussian troops signed their surrender here. This happened during the Seven Years’ War. Consequently, Austrian forces occupied Dresden.
In 1809, the Neustadt Command dissolved. The Blockhaus lost its original function. A guard post remained briefly. From 1823 to 1843, and again from 1849 to 1851, it became the residence of Dresden’s governors. Between 1844 and 1848, the Saxon Minister of War lived here. During the Dresden May Uprising, the Blockhaus served as headquarters for anti-revolutionary forces. Minister conferences and military discussions occurred within its walls. Negotiations between the military and the Provisional Government also took place here.
After the revolution’s suppression, it housed the Saxon War Ministry. Various military authorities were based here. In 1892 and 1893, the roof was renovated. A copper roof replaced the original tiled roof. Some façade decorations were added.
In 1919, a rally of former soldiers turned violent. They stormed the Blockhaus. Minister Gustav Neuring was overwhelmed. He was thrown into the Elbe and killed. Reichswehr troops were called in to suppress the revolt.
From 1922, the Blockhaus housed the Reichswehr’s Wehrkreis Command IV. In 1933, the Wehrkreis Library moved in. The building burned down during World War II. It remained a ruin for 35 years.
The Blockhaus was rebuilt between 1978 and 1982. It became the House of German-Soviet Friendship. It hosted political and cultural events. There was also a public restaurant.
After reunification, the Free State of Saxony acquired the Blockhaus in 1994. It was used for government events. The Saxon Academy of Arts and other institutions were based here. Flood damage in 2013 forced its closure.
In 2016, it was announced that the building would be renovated to house the Archive of the Avant-Garde. Art collector Egidio Marzona donated around 1.5 million items to the Dresden State Art Collections.
The renovation started in 2019. The architectural firm Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos won the redesign competition. A floating cube was built inside for the collection. The Archive of the Avant-Garde opened on May 4, 2024.
Today, the Blockhaus stands as a unique blend of historical architecture and modern design. It is a testament to Dresden’s resilience and cultural richness. It is a place where the past and the future converge.