Overview

"Text in English & German. The German Chancellors former residential and reception building in Bonn is one of the German post-war periods most significant high-profile buildings. The ""Kanzlerbungalow"" was built 1963/64. The idea was Ludwig Erhards, and it was planned by Munich architect Sep Ruf. Along with the buildings by Hans Schwippert, Egon Eiermann and Gunter Behnisch, it is among the most outstanding architectural reminders of Bonns time as the Federal Republics capital. Situated in the park of Palais Schaumberg close to the Rhines banks, the building could not be seen by the general public and therefore remained comparatively unknown. The Kanzlerbungalow combines its function of representing the state with that of a home. It shows classical modern influences -- primarily that of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe -- extending to the contemporary Californian ""Case Study Houses"". The building speaks volumes about the early Federal Republics sense of its own identity.The question of how the still young democracy should represent itself in its architecture after the years of National Socialism found its answer with a design that combined the need for an appropriate setting for a high public function with an explicit desire to make use of the tools created by the International Style, rather than resort to outmoded formal gestures which had additionally been politically discredited by recent history. The reaction to Sep Rufs building reflects the often undecided attitude to questions of appropriate state representation of the time. Much praised by architectural experts, the Kanzlerbungalow did not appeal to a number of Erhards successors. It did however have a not insignificant influence on West German architects in particular, in spite of its very specialised function. It is presently undergoing extensive renovations, and is to be used for exhibitions and other purposes from 2009 onwards."

Full Product Details

9783932565724

Table of Contents

Reviews

Author Information

Andreas Schätzke is an architectural historian based in Berlin. His research fields include architecture and urban planning in post-war Europe and the connections between architecture and politics in the 20th century. Joaquín Medina Warmburg teaches history of construction at the Technische Universität Kaiserslautern. His previous work has focused on analysing phenomena of international cultural exchange in architecture and urban planning.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available