Ever wondered what it feels like to learn within the walls of socialist classicism? The Gerhart-Potthoff-Bau stands before us. It is a testament to Dresden’s layered history.
This building at Hettnerstraße 1/3 is more than just lecture halls and study spaces. The Gerhart-Potthoff-Bau is home to the Faculty of Transportation Sciences at the Technical University Dresden. But let’s step back in time to understand its beginnings.
Imagine Dresden in April 1951. The city was still scarred from the war. Amidst the ruins, construction began on this educational institution. Otto Buchwitz and Transport Minister Hans Reingruber attended the foundation stone ceremony. They laid the first stone for what would become a vital part of Dresden’s academic landscape.
The Gerhart-Potthoff-Bau was completed in 1956. It was designed by architects Walter Henn, Horst Grabner and Hellmuth Francke. The building has sandstone plaster facades in the architectural style of socialist classicism.
Inside, the Gerhart-Potthoff-Bau holds artistic treasures. A fresco by Alfred Hesse and Erich Gerlach depicts President Wilhelm Pieck’s visit to Dresden.
Did you know that the building once housed the largest university hall? From 1992 to 1998, POT 81 served as the main auditorium. It wasn’t until the new auditorium center opened that it relinquished its title.
The Gerhart-Potthoff-Bau also has a culinary secret. The Bio-Mensa U-Boot cafeteria is located in the basement. Until 1960, the building housed a food counter. The cafeteria “U-Boot” was converted in 1991 from a HO sales point. In 2003, the Studentenwerk Dresden took over this cafeteria. From 2012 the Bio-Mensa U-Boot was Germany’s first fully bio-certified refectory. In 2023, the menu changed to vietnamese dishes.
The Gerhart-Potthoff-Bau gained its name in 1993. It was named after Gerhart Potthoff. He was a professor of transport technology. Before its reintegration into the TU Dresden in 1992, the building was part of the Hochschule für Verkehrswesen.
Even in recent years, the Gerhart-Potthoff-Bau has seen changes. In 2011 and 2012, the lecture hall was renovated for 4.3 million euros. During this renovation, the former library rooms were converted into work areas. In February 2023, part of the ceiling collapsed in a hallway. Luckily, no one was injured.
Today, the Gerhart-Potthoff-Bau stands as a blend of history and modernity. It’s a place where students learn. It is a place where art and architecture tell stories of Dresden’s past. As we leave this building, remember that every stone has a tale. Every hall has echoed with knowledge and every corner holds a piece of Dresden’s vibrant story.