Stadthaus Ulm

The townhouse Ulm is the central building on the Ulmer Münster place - apart from the Minster itself was designed by New York architect Richard Meier.

The Cathedral Square is located in the center of the southern German city of Ulm in front of the eponymous cathedral. The square is surrounded by many business houses that have arisen mainly after the Second World War. The square is dominated by the town house, which is a stark contrast to the cathedral with its white façade and modern architecture.

• 2.1 use

History

The Franciscan mendicant

On the face of today's town house was for many centuries a monastery. The construction was started before 1250 ( foundation stone of Ulm Minster was in 1377 ) and later extended again and again. This west to the adjacent Franciscan mendicant Münster hosted after the Reformation to the Latin School (later High School or High School Academicum ) the highest educational institution in the city.

1878, shortly before the completion of the church tower, the Franciscan mendicant was demolished and " exposed " the Cathedral Square. The goal was to achieve a clear view of the Gothic cathedral as the highest spire in the world. The now exposed place should be built as soon as possible with a sophisticated architecture.

Empty on the Cathedral Square

It seemed ever since it clear that the cathedral square was too large, despite the high church tower. To the redesign of the cathedral square was wrestled long anyway. There are a total of 17 competitions documented, the first in 1924 with 467 designs submitted. Ultimately rejected in 1986 the majority in a referendum a new construction as from; However, this did not reach the quorum and was therefore not binding for the city. Accordingly, the decision was made by the city council, to till the Cathedral Square.

Instead of a pavilion, which had been home to the tourist information center, known as the City Hall of the New York architect Richard Meier was to be built. It should be " walk-through sculpture ," his space for exhibitions, concerts, conferences, lectures, etc., also contain tourist information again and also gastronomy.

The townhouse

The town hall was opened in 1993. It long remained controversial in the population because it does not fit many architecturally in the eyes of the Gothic cathedral.

Today, the town house fits into the architectural redesign of the entire area between Ulm Town Hall and Cathedral Square, where a four-lane road has been replaced by many new buildings. The construction of the townhouse marked the start of the design of the so-called New Ulm center.

Use

The town house temporary exhibitions of contemporary art, as well as on topics in the field of architecture and history.

In the hall, which seats up to 320 people, almost daily events, mostly public to the presence themes from the fields of politics, media, sciences, medicine, social, economic, culture, etc. instead. In addition, the townhouse every spring since 1996 directed from a themed festival of new music. " Listen look " With the series promotes the townhouse young artists.

The tourist information office is an important focal point for visitors from all over the world. Currently Ulm recorded around 7 million day visitors per year.

The gastronomy in the city house and various commercial vendors complete the offer.

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