Neptunbad (Cologne)
The Neptunbad in Cologne-Ehrenfeld was the first modern bathing establishment in the Cologne suburbs. It was opened in 1912 and has been operated as a fitness and wellness facility since 2002 .
history
The Neptunbad was opened in 1912 in Cologne-Ehrenfeld on Neptunplatz and was the first modern bathing establishment to go into operation in a suburb of Cologne.
The Prussian building officer Johannes Baptist Kleefisch (born November 8, 1862 in Cologne; † January 3, 1932, ibid) was responsible for the construction of the public bathhouse . He kept the entire interior in Art Nouveau style and created a place with glass domes and hand-signed wall tiles from Villeroy & Boch that all citizens could use to have a sauna, swim and relax. A statue of the eponymous young Neptune adorned the approximately 5,000 m² swimming pool.
In April 1986 the Neptunbad was declared "Monument of the Month" by the Rhenish Association for Monument Protection and Landscape Management (RVDL) . In 1994 the bathing establishment had to be closed because the necessary renovation work could not be financed. In the following years there were sporadic events in the disused bathhouse.
facade
The front facade of the Neptune Bath, which is symmetrical towards the center, follows a strict geometric design language: The vertical is emphasized by high, rectangular window openings. Sinuous lines are only used in the large arch of the central portal, with two ox eyes on the left and right outside, two discreetly protruding bay windows, four arched windows in the slated hipped roof and the tower sitting in the middle of the roof. Deviating from this largely clear, for 1912 almost progressive lines, the portal is covered with a figurative decoration depicting marine animals - behind it, however, the straight, geometrical, vertical arrangement of the entrance glazing can be seen again.
Todays use
The house was finally acquired by Theune Spa Management GmbH , which also operates a large thermal bath, the Claudiustherme, in Cologne's Rheinpark . She had it completely restored and the interior design was based on the old traditions. In 2002 the bath was reopened. The historic 13 meter high bathing hall decorated with gold leaf has been converted into a fitness area, in the sauna area there is the historic sauna, which is under monument protection, and a traditional Japanese sauna and bathing area.
literature
- A new municipal bathing establishment in Cologne-Ehrenfeld . In: Zentralblatt der Bauverwaltung , vol. XXXIII, No. 7 (January 25, 1913), urn : nbn: de: kobv: 109-opus-46624 , pp. 46–49.
Web links
Coordinates: 50 ° 56 '48.9 " N , 6 ° 55' 7.4" E