Parcel and newspaper post office (Leipzig)

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Front view of the main building from Pragerstrasse, then Hospitalstrasse, when it opened on October 16, 1880

The ensemble built as an imperial parcel and newspaper post office in Leipzig is an example of historicist architecture in the neo-renaissance style in Leipzig . It is located near Johannisplatz at the level of the Grassi Museum at Prager Strasse 4–10. Today it is used as a commercial building (main building), residential building (pavilion), Leipzig University Archives (former post office) and dance academy (second pavilion).

history

Main building and pavilions from Pragerstrasse, then Hospitalstrasse around 1892
Ground floor plan of the parcel and newspaper post office ensemble in 1892
Interior view of the parcel sorting room ("reading room") on the ground floor of the main building
Interior view of the newspaper sorting room ("newspaper packaging room") on the ground floor of the main building

Due to the increased mail volumes after the founding of the German Empire in 1871 which was 1836 to 1838 in Leipzig center at Augustus Place built Royal Oberpostamtszeitung be that heretofore could still include other Saxon authorities soon became too small and it had a new post office specifically for packet handling built .

The new “imperial parcel and newspaper post office ” was built between 1879 and 1881 in the middle of the graphic quarter according to plans by the post office building councilor Carl Zopff (1835–1922). Although the construction work lasted until mid-1881, the post office was opened on October 16, 1880, and the first head of office was post director Kreßner. It was used for the transshipment of parcels to and from Leipzig (dispatched in three batches daily, morning, noon and late afternoon) and was also the central transshipment point for the delivery as well as the Germany-wide distribution of the approx. 250 which appear in Leipzig as the center of the book trade and printing Newspapers and magazines. The convenient location between Eilenburg and Bavarian train stations and in the immediate vicinity of the major Leipzig publishers was very conducive to the rapid distribution of books and newspapers.

The main building was built using reinforced concrete. Originally, a two-storey central building was enclosed by two three-storey closing structures that extended to side wings. The parcel post office ("Verlesesaal"), including a pick-up post office, was located on the ground floor for various Leipzig traders who had their mail picked up themselves. The newspaper post office was on the upper floor. The parcel and newspaper post office had an elevator powered by natural gas and an air heating system. The central building was designed as a large hall on the upper and lower floors, which was closed at the top by a barrel vaulted ceiling resting on cast-iron columns.

In the upper floors of the side wings there were officials' apartments for the post office officials.

To the right and left of the main building there were passageways for the transport and delivery carriages of the Reichspost , as well as two side pavilions and side buildings that contained a carriage hall with a cartwright, a forge and a multi-storey horse stable with grain storage.

In the north, Prager Strasse forms the natural border at the Grassimuseum . In the east, the ensemble borders Stephanstrasse with its eastern side wing.

In the south (towards Goldschmidtstrasse) the ensemble is bounded by the former post office yard (or “post office”). There were parking spaces for up to 160 horses on the ground floor. There were apartments for the postilions on the upper floor.

After the reunification, a branch of the Postbank opened on the premises. At the same time, the building was the headquarters of Deutsche Telekom AG for four years.

Development in the 20th century

The rear former post office yard was only used for the stables of the post office and as accommodation for postillions until the summer of 1894. After that, the building was used as a telegraph equipment office until 1912, when the Leipzig Post Station was built.

In 1909 the postal check office in Leipzig was opened in the parcel and newspaper office. After the telegraph office moved out, billing offices of the postal check office and, from 1922, offices of the telephone office moved in.

During the air raid on Leipzig on December 4, 1943 , the rear building from the top floor to the 2nd floor burned out completely. With only a makeshift roof, the building was used by the post office for various purposes. Among other things, a bowling alley was installed and a data center was operated.

After the reunification, a branch of the Postbank opened on the premises . At the same time, the building was the headquarters of Deutsche Telekom AG for four years .

Redevelopment

The renovation and modernization of the ensemble in accordance with the listed buildings in view of the future use agreed with long-term tenants took place in the years 2009–2011 by Leipziger Stadtbau AG.

Todays use

After the refurbishment and renovation, the parts of the ensemble will be used as follows:

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Engraving by Hermann Heubner in Die Gartenlaube , 1881, p. 411
  2. ^ Engraving from Leipzig and its buildings , p. 145
  3. ^ Engraving from Leipzig and its buildings , p. 146
  4. ^ Engraving by Hermann Heubner in Die Gartenlaube , 1881, p. 412
  5. ^ Engraving by Hermann Heubner in Die Gartenlaube , 1881, p. 413
  6. ^ C. Stötzner: The new imperial parcel and newspaper post office in Leipzig . In: The Gazebo . Issue 25, 1881, pp. 411 ( full text [ Wikisource ]).
  7. ↑ The historical development of the building in today's Prager Straße 6 (on the homepage of the Leipzig University Archives)
  8. ^ A b C. Stötzner: The new imperial parcel and newspaper post office in Leipzig . In: The Gazebo . Issue 25, 1881, pp. 413 ( full text [ Wikisource ]).
  9. ^ Stadtbau AG Alte Post, Prager Strasse 4–10
  10. ^ A b C. Stötzner: The new imperial parcel and newspaper post office in Leipzig . In: The Gazebo . Issue 25, 1881, pp. 412 ( full text [ Wikisource ]).
  11. ^ Stadtbau AG Alte Post, Prager Strasse 4–10
  12. ↑ When the Postbahnhof was built in 1912, the telegraph office was relocated there. See the historical development of the building at today's Prager Straße 6 (on the homepage of the Leipzig University Archives)
  13. ^ Stadtbau AG Alte Post, Prager Strasse 4–10
  14. ↑ a b The historical development of the building in today's Prager Strasse 6. Leipzig University Archives
  15. ^ Stadtbau AG Alte Post, Prager Strasse 4–10

Coordinates: 51 ° 20 ′ 10 "  N , 12 ° 23 ′ 18.7"  E