The year is 1930. The Hochhaus Glückauf stands tall. It’s a beacon against the grey skies of the Great Depression.
Welcome to the Hochhaus Glückauf in Hanover. This impressive building is more than just apartments. It’s a monument to resilience and a testament to the architectural ingenuity of its time. Built in the first year of the Great Depression it is a symbol of hope in difficult times.
The Hochhaus Glückauf wasn’t built overnight. Long before its construction a competition decided the future of the Südstadt district. This competition determined the Geibelplatz as the future focal point and eastern boundary of Geibelstrasse. A street grid was planned in the 1890s for the Südstadt. This plan included Geibelstrasse and Geibelplatz Tiestestrasse and what is now Bertha-von-Suttner-Platz. The Stresemannstrasse was also part of the plan.
However Hanover like other major cities suffered from a severe housing shortage after World War I. The area north of what was then Karl-Peters-Platz was sparsely populated with some garden allotments. Modern housing was lacking.
The much-needed housing construction initially remained limited. This was largely due to financial difficulties. During the German hyperinflation it was difficult to secure funds. From 1920 to 1925 only 500 to 1000 new homes were built annually. This changed when alternative financing options emerged in 1926. The construction of new housing increased dramatically. It was driven by private developers and housing cooperatives.
New construction rose to approximately 3500 units annually. The city of Hanover owned large tracts of land. This helped the city’s building department to rapidly develop suitable building plans.
The Südstadt saw significant development from the mid-1920s onward. The city’s building department Karl Elkart led this development. He worked on a building plan based on the existing 1890s street grid. This plan covered a larger area between Karl-Peters-Platz the railway line the Eilenriede forest and Hildesheimer Strasse.
The Hochhaus Glückauf was built on the Geibelplatz. This nearly square plaza was laid out in 1919. The building formed the eastern end of the straight Geibelstrasse. A private builder constructed it.
Architect A Wilhelm Ziegeler designed the nine-story brick building. Coal merchant C Lichtenberg and the Bergmannsverein Glückauf mining association commissioned it. Friedrich Mehmel AG was the construction company.
The Hochhaus Glückauf is a striking example of architecture. Its symmetrical facade has five axes. A central six-story bay window in a triangular shape is a key feature. A pointed arch arcade in front further highlights the building’s symmetry.
Originally the building had twelve-paned sash windows. These windows were replaced with new asymmetrically divided two-paned windows. This unfortunately disrupted the important detailing of the building.
A life-sized sculpture of a miner emphasizes the Hochhaus Glückauf’s central axis. A monumental keystone with pickaxe and hammer mining symbols further highlights the axis. The word Glückauf is laid out in mosaic paving. This is just below the arcade entrance. A terracotta plaque shows the words Glückauf framed by an oak leaf wreath.
The Hochhaus Glückauf stands as a powerful reminder of Hanover’s past. It is a symbol of hope resilience and architectural excellence. It’s a building steeped in history and a sight to behold. Enjoy the rest of your tour.