The House am Wehrsteg, a beacon of contemporary art, stares across the waters of the Neckar River, its red brick facade catching the sunlight like a warm ember. You stand at the gateway, a bridge connecting two parts of Heidelberg, and you’re about to witness a story that blends history, art, and a touch of magic.
The building, originally designed by the renowned architect Paul Bonatz, was built in the 1920s as a transformer station, a vital component of the city’s infrastructure. However, it was not always dedicated to the transformative power of electricity. Over time, this humble building was transformed into an artist’s haven, hosting diverse artists and projects.
The most enchanting chapter, however, began in 1972, when the artist Eva Vargas, renowned for her experimental art that melded music, text, and visual art, breathed life into the former transformer station. The city considered this a temporary solution, a space only meant for the artist until it was time for demolition. However, the building’s destiny was altered, and fate intervened.
The city granted Vargas a lease, a contract that included a peculiar clause, “until demolition.” She took it in stride, adding a sardonic note, “Let’s hope the excavator doesn’t come tomorrow.” A spirit of creative defiance, a sense that anything was possible, permeated the structure, becoming a metaphor for the defiance of the artistic spirit itself.
Eva Vargas transformed this former transformer station into a vibrant art hub, a space where the energy of expression flowed freely. The building, initially meant to transform electricity, became a space where the artists transformed ideas.
For 38 years, she lived, worked, and created within these walls, leaving a trail of her remarkable artistic endeavors, a testament to her unique vision woven into the very fabric of the building. Her spirit lingers, a palpable, creative energy, that persists even after her passing in 2010.
After her departure, the building stood vacant, its future again uncertain. Then, in 2013, the city launched a search for a new custodian for the unique legacy of Eva Vargas. The search for a new occupant was not simply about finding a new artist, but a soul that embraced the spirit of a place that embodied the soul of a visionary.
Enter Matthis Bacht, a Heidelberg native who returned after honing his skills as a sculptor and art educator in Dusseldorf and Aachen. He fell in love with this structure, one he knew from his youth, and its history.
Bacht’s vision extended beyond simply preserving the memory of Eva Vargas. He believed in continuing the legacy of art, of transforming the space into a vibrant center for creativity, where young and established artists alike could find inspiration.
The House am Wehrsteg is now a vibrant artistic hub, a testament to the enduring power of human ingenuity, a place where history and art merge in a symphony of creativity.