Architectural tour Wiesbaden – City of Historicism

Sparkling wine and sulfur

The city of historicism - to become UNESCO World Heritage Site under this title is the primary ambition of the Wiesbaden city society. And indeed, the city offers a very impressive image of this era of architecture. With modern architecture, the city is rather not associated. And yet there are three remarkable buildings in the literature: the Ryder house, an early work by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (in collaboration with Gerhard Severain), the Haus Harnischmacher by Marcel Breuer and the Opelbad, still in 1934, during the Nazi era emerged as an icon of the Bauhaus architecture.

In 1900 Wiesbaden was one of the most sought-after spa towns in Germany. Millionaires from all over the country spent their twilight years here. Regardless of the land prices, which sometimes exceeded those of Berlin's inner city, a busy building activity unfolded, leaving behind a closed cityscape in the style of historicism. In some places there are also traces of the classical epoch, in which the international spa started here.

Important buildings of historicism are the Kurhaus, the State Theater and famous hotels from the turn of the century. Elegant buildings of the 1950s were built on the few gaps left by war damage.

1948 Hessian state capital, could be used some historical buildings with government facilities, so the large former hotel rose, in which now the state chancellery resides. The state parliament moved into the classical castle of the Nassau dukes. In 2008, a new plenary hall was completed and contributes to the great increase in quality of its surroundings.

Other contemporary buildings in the city center include the Kureck, with a residential tower block and various office, residential and commercial buildings, the RheinMainCongress Center, a remarkable pedestrian underpass at the station, office buildings and shopping malls.

In Wiesbaden's districts in particular, there are a number of architecturally high-quality schools and day-care centers, some of which have been built to the passive house standard.

A pleasurable side of the visit to Wiesbaden can be tastings of medicinal water (primarily sulfuric) and Rheingau sparkling wine in a historicist ambience.
The tour can be completed with a funicular ride to the so-called Neroberg, where in front of the Russian chapel offers a magnificent view of the city.

project selection

  • Hessian state parliament (Waechter + Waechter Architekten)
  • Kureck (Max Dudler Architects)
  • RheinMainCongress Center (Ferdinand Heide Architects)
  • Underpass at the station (Planungsring Ressel GmbH, with Mario Haunhorst and Silberstreif planning group)
  • Lilienquartier Ortner & Ortner, ACREST Architecture
  • Dernsche Höfe (Zaeske & Partner)