Otto Moericke Tower
| Otto Moericke Tower | |
|---|---|
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| Data | |
| Year of construction / construction time: | 1929 |
| Tower height: | 40 m |
| Usable height: | 34.5 m |
| Container type: | Cylindrical container (flat bottom) |
| Scheme: |
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| Container volume: | 300 m³ |
| Operating condition: | Shut down since 1990 |
| Original use: | Water supply for Constance and youth hostel |
| Conversion: | Youth hostel only |
The Otto Moericke Tower in the Allmannsdorf district of Constance is a former water tower . It stands at the highest point in the village on the Allmannshöhe (458 m), around 200 meters from the shores of Lake Constance . The white, cylindrical structure also served as a youth hostel from the start . It forms a striking landmark that can be seen from large parts of Lake Constance. The tower is named after the former mayor of Konstanz, Otto Moericke .
Building
Built in 1929, 40-meter high water tower was as reinforced concrete - frame construction built on the site of a wooden observation tower. There are seven similar residential floors above the ground floor, in which the youth hostel rooms are housed. Each of the floors has a series of simple windows surrounding it. Above is the 300 m³ water tank. This area can be recognized from the outside by the fact that it has only a few very small windows. An oriel staircase attached to the side of the container leads past the container. Its generous glazing offers a wide view of the surroundings as you climb. At the top - a little indented - is a polygonal roof structure. It is provided with windows all around and serves as a viewing platform. The tower was essentially designed by the Constance builder Paul Jordan (1876–1966). A single-storey low-rise building was used as a day room and kitchen.
History of the water supply of Constance
Although the city is located directly on Lake Constance, it has not received its drinking water from the lake since the Middle Ages , but via water pipes from distant sources. One line came from Rickenbach in Switzerland and had been in operation for several centuries since 1436. In 1873 a water pipeline was built to Wollmatingen . Groundwater sources were also drilled on the Stadtacker. The supplies were soon exhausted, so that a lake waterworks was considered. The lake water was initially considered to be hygienically questionable, it was only when the Swiss Lake Constance cities had set up hygienically acceptable lake water works that people changed their minds.
In March 1905 the first lake water works for Constance went into operation. It was located in the then still independent community of Allmannsdorf. As early as 1925, the factory was fundamentally renewed. It received electric pumps and an elevated tank with a capacity of 1200 m³.
However, the water pressure was soon no longer sufficient for newly incorporated districts located higher up. After controversial discussions, it was decided to build a water tower on the Allmannshöhe, which would also house a youth hostel. The water tower went into operation in 1929, and the youth hostel was opened three years later. During the Second World War , the structure served as an air raid shelter and telecommunications tower , but remained undamaged.
After the war, the city continued to invest in the water supply by building more elevated tanks. The water tower lost its technical function in 1990 and has only served as a youth hostel since then. A total of 184 beds are available in 44 rooms, twelve more rooms are provided for carers.
See also
literature
- Jens U. Schmidt, Günther Bosch, Albert Baur: Water towers in Baden-Württemberg. Land of the water towers. Regia-Verlag, Cottbus 2009, ISBN 978-3-86929-002-7 .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Ilse Friedrich: A forgotten master builder. The architect and senior building officer Paul Jordan (1876–1966). In: Konstanzer Almanach 2016, pp. 70–74.
Coordinates: 47 ° 41 ′ 14.1 ″ N , 9 ° 12 ′ 12 ″ E