UIA Rhein-Main 2002

Architecture in Hesse: Darmstadt

There are two subjects which make the "city of the arts", Darmstadt, a destination for (architecture) tourists from all over the world: The Jugendstil ensemble of Mathildenhöhe, which especially shows the work of Joseph Maria Olbrich and Peter Behrens, and the "master buildings" of the 1950s designed by Ernst Neufert, Otto Bartning and others.

In Mathildenhöhe, the former capital and residence city of the grand-dukes of Hesse has buildings and settings which made Darmstadt internationally known as a fine city and a demonstration of the early modern age, even among non-specialists. But the "master buildings" are more for the connoisseur, as they were the result of the "Darmstadt discussions" which included not only architects, but also philosophers such as Martin Heidegger and José Ortega y Gasset.

In the period of the German economic miracle, time was at a premium in Darmstadt -- much was built, and built quickly, but it was generally not the best architectural quality. In the Architecture faculty of the Technical University, the city now has one of the most illustrious training institutions for architects in Germany, which has seen lecturers such as Max Guther and Günter Behnisch. Darmstadt is also the city with the highest concentration of architects in Europe, if not the world. But as so often, the philosopher is barely appreciated in his own country: this enormous potential unfortunately has little effect on current building in the city.

Further information on Darmstadt can be obtained under:
www.architektur.uni-darmstadt.de

Bund Deutscher Architekten BDA im Lande Hessen e.V.
Braubachstrasse 10/12
D-60311 Frankfurt am Main
eMail: uia@bda-hessen.de

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