Can you spot the U-shape? This is the Hofmeierhaus Lesmona. It is part of Knoops Park. This building has quite a story.
The Hofmeierhaus Lesmona is in Bremen, in the Burglesum district. Specifically, it is at Am Kapellenberg 7, inside Knoops Park. The house was built around 1905. Friedrich Wellermann and Paul Frölich designed it. Since 2010, it has been a protected monument. It is part of the Knoops Park group of monuments.
Let’s delve into its history. The Hofmeierhaus along with Haus Lesmona belonged to the Gut Lesmona estate. The estate’s land was in the southwest corner of today’s Knoops Park. The two-story plastered house includes a garage. It also has living spaces on the side. It features a hipped roof and decorative timber framing. This is in the slightly projecting upper floor.
Around 1905, during the Historicism era, it was built in a U-shape. It likely served as a gatekeeper’s house. It was also a large coach house for the Lesmona estate. Notice the gable-side roof. It extends far over the upper floor’s balcony. Also note the octagonal tent roof. This is above the one-story fire station.
Until 2011, the volunteer fire department used part of the house. It was the St. Magnus fire station. Today, after renovations and extensions, the building contains large apartments.
Now, let’s talk about another notable structure nearby: the Wasserturm. This water tower is on Werderstraße. Locals call it the “Umgedrehte Kommode” or “Upside-Down Dresser”. It’s Bremen’s oldest water tower. The 47-meter-high building on Stadtwerder was part of Bremen’s water system. The swb AG operated it.
Before this tower, Bremen’s first central water supply was built in 1394. A scoop wheel was installed at the Weser bridge. A pipe system carried water to 200 houses. The wheel was powered by flowing water. Later, horses powered it. It became a city attraction but needed frequent repairs. A large model is in the Focke Museum. Operations stopped in 1822. In 1847, a steam-powered pump temporarily replaced it.
As Bremen’s population grew in the 19th century, a better water supply was needed. Rudolph Berg was entrusted with technical planning and construction. Johann Georg Poppe got the job for architectural planning. In its early years, the plant took water from the Weser River. It was then cleaned in sand filter systems.
When the plant opened, it served only 2,000 connections. Bremen’s population had just passed 100,000. Ten years later, almost half of Bremen’s households had water connections. Only from 1908 did all Bremen houses get direct water connections.
The Wasserturm was built from 1871 to 1873. Its size is similar to the Malakow towers in the Ruhr region. The design was inspired by the Hochmeisterpalast of the Marienburg Order Castle in East Prussia. Its proportions and four corner turrets inspired the nickname “Umgedrehte Kommode”. Due to structural damage, the corner towers were shortened decades ago. Steam-powered pumps lifted cleaned Weser water into tanks in the tower’s upper section. Two of the four towers served as chimneys for the steam engines. The third tower is an entrance. The fourth contains pipelines.
The tower no longer serves its original purpose. The waterworks closed in 1983. It only served as a water reservoir for the Beck & Co brewery. They used water from the Harzwasserwerke’s long-distance networks.
On October 27, 2008, the remaining 800,000 liters were drained. They were drained from the water tank into the drinking water network. Before that, 100 bottles were filled. They were labeled “swb AG Exclusivabfüllung – swb Wasser aus dem altehrwürdigen Wasserturm Auf dem Werder.”
The building was sold for a new use. It was to be a “lighthouse project” for a residential and office area. The handover happened in October 2008. A total of 220 residential units are planned. They are planned on the former waterworks site.
In 2011, the structure was used for art projects. The Schwankhalle cultural project and the Shakespeare Company used the Wasserturm. They presented the “Zur Nachahmung empfohlen!” traveling exhibition. The exhibition focused on sustainability and its aesthetics. It included artist talks, panel discussions, and a film program.
Today, both the Hofmeierhaus Lesmona and the Wasserturm stand as reminders of Bremen’s rich history. They showcase the city’s architectural evolution and innovative spirit. From a gatekeeper’s house to a vital water supply system, these structures have adapted. They continue to enrich Bremen’s cultural landscape.