Leipzig's architectural uniqueness lies in the fact that a rich collection of Wilhelminian-style architecture, that is to say buildings dating from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, has survived here. These houses consist of both, prestigious buildings and extensive residential areas. In these houses, the bulk of which has been renovated in the interim, we particularly value today the generous floor space, the richly-furnished stairwells and not least the many hand-crafted details inside the buildings and on the façades.
The rapidly expanding industrialisation in the 19th century resulted in a boom in house building. New residential districts were laid out, such as the Waldstrasse quarter in the northwest of the city centre. Most buildings rose in the second half of the 19th century. Predominantly, upper class late-Classicist, Historicism and Art Nouveau buildings, today, represent once more an unparalleled harmonious structural unity.
However, for a long time, things looked bad for the Waldstrassenviertel. Balconies in danger of collapsing, dilapidated façades and poor buttressing. The former charm of the district was a thing of the past.
This immediately changed after the reunification when investors quickly recognised the value of this unique “Wilhelminia-style” quarter. Tax relief and high subsidies provided the area with additional renovation support.
In the meantime, 80% of the buildings are classified as historic monuments, and the Waldstrassenviertel is regarded as a high-class urban development and architectural cultural monument.
Rich citizens in particular have always appreciated its unique location in the immediate vicinity of the Rosental recreational area and the city centre.
Originally several generations of predominantly prosperous large families lived in these splendid villas. Around the turn of the century, the so-called town house on one floor became fashionable as a style of living. Interior décor with rich embellishment, valuable woods and spacious living rooms were in vogue.
This later type of house combines urban and country house living. In the house Tschaikowskistrasse 31, designed by Paul Moebius, were actually more than 300 m² of the most elegant living accommodation with wall panelling and leaded windows. The domestic staff lived in the attic; sometimes there are spiral staircases, which lead down from beneath the roof to the apartments on the various floors. Life in a villa was compressed into one level.
Paul Moebius
Villa in der Paul-Michael-Str. 6 04179 Leipzig
1904
A.: Paul Möbius
Paul Moebius was one of the outstanding architects around the turn of the century, he was a graduate of the Leipzig Academy of Arts, but as an architect, however, he was self-taught. Many of his Leipzig buildings are characterised by a highly individualistic interpretation of Art Nouveau.
In this villa (see obove) built in 1904, Moebius chose organic shapes and gentle curves, which he consistently applied right down to the floral decorations on the windowpanes.
Not only the Waldstrassenviertel but also the Musikviertel (Music Quarter) was and is still a sought after residential area. Being close to both Johanna- and Clara-Zetkin-Park it combines a quiet place with recreational amenities close by and the vicinity to the city centre.
Especially people interested in culture find a number of cultural and musical institutions in the Musikviertel.
Villa Meyer
Kaethe-Kollwitz-Str. 115 04109 Leipzig 1885 A.: Max Pommer
It was not just the factory owners who could afford to commission respectable villas, but Leipzig publishers also played an active part in the game. The book publisher, Herrmann Julius Meyer, even owned three villas. The most splendid of these lies directly on the Elster flood plain and was designed by Max Pommer in 1885. In terms of style, the building reflects the Italian high Renaissance.
The artistically painted two-storey stairwell has been restored in a costly refurbishment process.
› These page numbers
reflect to the book „LEIPZIG Architektur von der Romanik bis zur Gegenwart“
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