Before you stands the Neue Kanzlei a testament to Stuttgart’s rich history. This imposing building on Königstraße wasn’t always so grand. Its story begins much earlier in 1551. Ambrosius Volland the then Württemberg chancellor started construction. Tragedy struck however. After Volland’s death work stopped at the first floor. The incomplete structure earned the nickname Stockgebäude meaning literally “story building”. Herzog Christoph later took over. He used it as a storeroom. Later it even became a silk-making facility.
The building we see today is much younger. It was built between 1833 and 1838. Architect Gottlob Georg Barth and Adam Friedrich Groß were responsible. The design was a classicist masterpiece. It replaced the older structure. It sits atop the old cellars. This is the oldest surviving building on Königstraße. At least in parts. Johann Daniel Georg von Memminger praised it in 1841. He called it the most attractive building on Königstraße.
The Neue Kanzlei wasn’t spared the ravages of World War II. It was damaged but rebuilt between 1947 and 1950. Today the ground floor houses shops. Parts of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry for Culture Youth and Sport occupy the upper floors. This impressive structure stands as a powerful symbol of Stuttgart’s resilience and architectural heritage. It even contains remnants of its 16th-century predecessor. You can find these within the Maute-Benger laundry shop basement. The old Stiftskeller is accessible to the public there. Look closely. You might find clues to the building’s fascinating past. A past spanning centuries. A story etched into every brick.