Reparatur neugotischer Wohnhäuser in Hannover

Abstract

In Hanover, once the capital and residency of the electorate of Brunswick-Luneburg, Kingdom of Hanover and currently capital of the federal state Lower Saxony in Northern Germany, were developed urban quarters with high building density in historicistic style around the medieval city core till the end of the 19th century, in which a third of the Hanoverian inhabitants live today. While more than 50% of the flats were destroyed in World War II, still quarters exist which contain up to 70% pre-World War II houses. In these areas 650 objects have been built with brick facades in the medieval, neo-Gothic style (Gothic-Revival). About 30% of these have been positioned memorable as a house at the corner, opposite of a road junction or in front of large open areas. Yet, many have suffered severe damage from the 88 bombings of air-raids, which has lessened their architectonical and urbanistic value. Even though the majority of these 650 houses have been constructed not by architects but by master masons, the facades have high handcraft value. The main advantages are their long liveliness, the easy maintenance and the (almost) carefreeness. The neo-Gothic style in Hanover, also called "Hannoversche Architekturschule", has influenced architectonical elements design and characteristics of many northern German cities. It was introduced by the architect and professor Conrad Wilhelm Hase (1818-1902) and has already been object to intense research. The less sophisticated objects however have not yet been systematically analysed. Therefore, this paper will make an attempt at recreating these objects to their historic context. In a first step, photographs of the current state have been made. An intense study and comparison of all neo-Gothic objects within Hanover was performed as well as the choosing of reference houses. Special attention has been paid to repeating ornaments and other sophisticated elements of the facades. The lesson learned has been applied to all the chosen reference objects, leading to a sketch of the possible, original building. These sketches were value dated using historic photographs. The regular scheme of brick facades has helped to recreate proportions without taking detailed measurements. The recreated object can finally be brought back in the right historical context, which proves a high value to the city's overall architecture and townscape.