“Fancy a trip back in time to Essen’s roaring twenties?” Here we stand before the Deutschlandhaus. This building is more than just bricks and mortar. It is a symbol of Essen’s transformation.
The Deutschlandhaus began its life in 1928. Essen was rapidly evolving into a modern city. The area around us transformed from a residential area to a bustling banking district. The city decided it needed a central hub for its technical administration.
Enter Jacob Koerfer. This Cologne architect secured the land. He did it through a leasehold agreement with the city. Koerfer then erected the Deutschlandhaus.
Imagine the construction site in June 1928. Excavation was underway. By September, the first three floors were standing. By October, the structure had reached five stories. The Deutschlandhaus quickly rose.
By June 1929, the Deutschlandhaus was ready. Numerous municipal offices moved in. These included the property office. Also included were the city committee office and the vocational school office. The statistical office found its new home here, too. So did the building inspection office. The garden office moved in. Also the surveying office, and the traffic and press office. The school board joined. Plus, the civil engineering department I. The police inspection I. and III were included. Not to forget the city office for physical exercises. And the city settlement office and the housing construction office. Before, these offices were spread all over Essen. The Deutschlandhaus united them under one roof.
The upper floors were leased out. Gagfah, a housing association moved in. So did the Essen concert directors. The first floor housed various companies. The ground floor was reserved for shops.
The Deutschlandhaus was Essen’s first high-rise building. It stood at an impressive 37.4 meters. That is about 10 stories high. The building occupies a 4,214 square meter plot. It has a volume of approximately 96,700 cubic meters. That provides around 22,000 square meters of usable space.
Look at the facade facing Hans-Toussaint-Platz. It stretches about 30 meters. The building wings on Lindenallee and III. Hagen extend 90 meters each. They reach all the way to Trentelgasse. Between these wings lies a courtyard. It measures 16 meters long and 15 meters wide.
In 1990, the Lindengalerie shopping arcade was added. An adjacent parking garage was built. The parking garage has 1,931 square meters. It provides 16,183 cubic meters of space.
The Deutschlandhaus has a special feature. It houses a working paternoster elevator. This elevator runs continuously in a loop. It goes up to the fifth floor. Only the former Krupp headquarters shares this feature in Essen.
Since 1988, the Deutschlandhaus has been a protected monument. The city of Essen is still a tenant today. The building houses the Department of Urban Planning and Construction. The Lindengalerie is open to the public. Its opening hours are from 6 am to 10 pm.
The Deutschlandhaus has witnessed Essen’s history. From a technical town hall to a modern office and business center. The Deutschlandhaus remains a vital part of Essen. It is a testament to the city’s continuous development.