Stadtbad Lichtenberg
| Stadtbad Lichtenberg "Horn" |
||
|---|---|---|
 View of the Stadtbad Lichtenberg from the north-west |
||
| Data | ||
| place | Berlin-Lichtenberg | |
| architect | Rudolf Gleye , Otto Weis | |
| Construction year | 1919; 1925-1928 | |
| Coordinates | 52 ° 30 '47.6 " N , 13 ° 29' 36.8" E | |
|
||
| particularities | ||
| Temporarily closed in 1991 | ||
The Stadtbad Lichtenberg (also called Hubertusbad ) is a bathing and swimming facility opened in 1928 in Hubertusstrasse in the Berlin district of Lichtenberg , which has been closed since 1991 due to construction defects and lack of money.
history
When Lichtenberg was raised to the rank of city in 1907 and had its first town hall , the city administration also planned the corresponding municipal facilities such as a district court, a hospital, a maternity hospital, schools and a public bath .
A 3,800 m² site on Frankfurter Allee was acquired. The structural drafts for the public baths were made during the First World War . The groundbreaking ceremony took place in 1919 and the foundations were laid. Because Lichtenberg was incorporated into Berlin as a district in 1920 and lost its city status (and certainly also because of tight budgets), construction work was stopped.
Construction was not continued until 1925, after the existing plans were updated by the engineer-architects Rudolf Gleye and Otto Weis . A multi-part, cubic structure was created in the style of Expressionism with - according to the ideas of the time - very modern equipment:
- medicinal baths
- a Russian-Roman section as a sauna area with warm and hot air rooms, massage cabins and a shower room with cold water basin
- a large water exchange container each in the basement (which made it possible to quickly clean the pool water)
- One freely stored swimming pool (construction under construction) for women (20 meters long: "small pool") and one for men (25 meters long: "large pool")
- Bathtub department and shower department as well as galleries to the swimming pools
- a gym and areas for physiotherapy treatments
- a sun terrace as well
- an elevator.
The inauguration of the Hubertusbad took place on February 2, 1928 by the Berlin mayor Gustav Boess .
Lichtenberg families and the first swimming clubs used the two halls under the slogan “Public health and fitness”; the gender segregation was soon no longer relevant.
During the Second World War the building was damaged by an explosive bomb on the north-west side, but it was still functional. Most of the panes were also broken by the pressure waves. The bathroom was poorly repaired. Since organized popular sport was not immediately approved by the victorious Allied powers after 1945, the bathroom was initially empty for a while. But in 1945 the SMAD made it possible to use the bath and shower department in a makeshift manner. Regular swimming operation, however, was not possible because the supply of hot water could not be secured. In the meantime, the small hall was to serve as a potato store for the Red Army . This could be prevented by the personal commitment of the bathroom staff at the time.
It was not until 1948 that the Soviet authorities allowed the establishment of company sports associations again, and so the BSG Medizin Lichtenberg was created with its swimming section, which used the Lichtenberg public swimming pool as a training and competition facility. Swimming lessons, which were obligatory in the GDR, then took place in both halls for years. The students came from the districts of Lichtenberg, Friedrichshain , and even from Köpenick . Other clubs such as the Dynamo sports club trained here, lifeguards were trained, and competitions were held in the halls. Other sports departments such as water polo or diving were founded, and the young people successfully trained in the halls. (The boys of the BSG Medicine Lichtenberg, water polo section, became Berlin champions of the company sports associations in 1957.) During this time, there were only indoor swimming pools in the East Berlin districts in Lichtenberg, Prenzlauer Berg ( Stadtbad Oderberger Straße ), Friedrichshain ( Friesenstadion ) and Mitte ( Gartenstrasse ).
When new light-flooded swimming pools were built in the course of the construction of complete new districts in the eastern districts, the Hubertusbad lost its importance. In addition, construction defects, which had already existed since the completion, became more and more serious, so in 1988 the large hall had to be closed first. The reason was a defect in the water treatment and heating system that could no longer be remedied. When the main water supply broke in 1991, the small hall and all other bathroom facilities had to be closed. The small hall was then used as a warehouse for other purposes.
From a citizens' initiative, a "Förderverein Hupe e. V. ”to support a renovation and recommissioning. The "Hupe" association dissolved in 2003. On June 30, 2001, the municipal swimming pool became the property of the Liegenschaftsfonds, which, however, was unsuccessful in reviving or attracting investors.
Building description
Layout
The three-part structure stands in an east-west direction between Atzpodienstraße and Hubertusstraße directly next to the Oskar Ziethen Hospital. It is formed by a central wing around three atriums (for the tub, shower, medical and air baths) and the two wings with the swimming pools. The western wing accommodates the large hall with a 25-meter pool and the eastern wing accommodates the small hall with a 20-meter pool. The "civil servants' house", in which the bathroom staff lived, is attached to the eastern wing. To the rear, on the southern part of the property, is the farmyard. The separation from the neighboring property is done by a fire wall.
Exterior architecture
The facades of the atria are clad with ocher-colored bricks. The external facades are made of gray plaster (not an original). However, nothing is known about the original plaster.
A flight of stairs leads up to the three-door main entrance. The three-dimensional Fraktur lettering “Stadtbad Lichtenberg” can be seen above the entrance ; in the middle between the windows on the upper floor are four abstract figures of jumpers created by the sculptor Ludwig Isenbeck .
The two wings with the swimming pools are closed off with hip roofs .
Ground floor area
The Stadtbad was entered through the main entrance on the ground floor. The foyer was designed invitingly with a checkout area and curved stairs. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows in the middle atrium you could see the sculpture Resting Girl with a Bathing Cap, made by Karl Trumpf and erected in 1920 . The stairs with cast iron railings connect all floors of the house. There was an elevator for old and sick visitors.
The halls, arranged on both sides, could be reached through an anteroom, in which the street clothing had to be removed.
Large or men's swimming pool
The large swimming pool, lane length 25 meters, was structured and decorated with turquoise tiles, the pool was lined with diamond-shaped tiles that matched the hue of the hall. The sloping floor of the water basin ranged from about 50 centimeters to about 3.50 meters of water depth. On the narrow side (south side), where the shower rooms were also located, stairs led to the flat area, one led up to the gallery floor. At a length of 5 meters, a leather-covered chain separated the non-swimmer area from the swimmer area. For the swimmers there were sideways exit ladders in the deep water area, from which the jumping opportunities could also be reached. In normal use, these were fixed small starting blocks. One-meter diving boards could be lowered for jumping exercises or competitions, which were attached vertically to the gallery railing when not in use. A three-meter tower resting on metal pipes stood in the middle on the deep water side.
Small or women's swimming pool
The small swimming pool with a length of 20 meters, originally only intended for use by girls and women, was lined with brown and earth-colored tiles. Water basins, showers, changing facilities, diving boards and tower were arranged in a mirror image of the large hall.
Changing rooms and cabins
The numerous changing facilities were spread over the ground floor area and the gallery area. The more comfortable cabins could be entered from the rear through the " boot walkway ". At the front of the cabin was a slate on which the employees noted the time of entry, as the normal stay was limited to one hour. To the front, to the bathing area, you left the cabins and, as is usual today, you had to clean your body before entering the swimming pool without swimwear; the bath women checked this on a random basis.
On the south side of the two halls on the gallery there was an open changing area with small lockers that could be used by clubs or students. A gym was located above the changing rooms of the great hall.
First floor: showers, bathtubs, gym
In the tub section on the first floor there were 68 bathing cabins, each with an enamel bathtub. Here people who did not have a shower or bathtub in their apartment could clean their bodies for little money. Small bars of soap were purchased with the entrance ticket.
The gallery above the swimming pool was reached on the same floor. In addition to the changing facilities already mentioned, there was also a small grandstand for spectators at competitions.
Second floor: saunas and medical baths
On the second floor there were also saunas with the appropriate showers and plunge pools. The department for medical water applications was housed in the front wing of the building.
Top floor: sun deck
The middle area of the top floor was used as a sun terrace and was surrounded by wooden changing rooms. They could be reached via the galleries in the halls and via the central staircase. There was also a possibility to borrow beach chairs.
Basement: service rooms
On the street side (north side) of the basement of the central wing, rooms for the hairdresser (from 1931), the laundry store and a repair room were accommodated.
The technology for the water flow and the cleaning system was housed in the basement. The lifeguard's duties also included maintenance.
Development since 2006
Condition analysis, search for ideas, sales attempts
In 2006, a group of students from the University of Applied Sciences for Technology and Economics (FHTW) (now the Berlin University of Technology and Economics ) studied the Lichtenberg public swimming pool in detail. In addition to a status analysis, the presentation of the overall situation in the Lichtenberg district and other social and economic factors, the students developed a concept according to which an "innovative health center" should be built at a cost of around 6 million euros. This could offer medical practices, sports therapy facilities, rehabilitation facilities, water treatments and alternative therapies in the building, in close cooperation with the neighboring hospital. Affected population groups as well as schools, children's and senior facilities were intended as users.
The addiction aid organization Blaues Kreuz Deutschland appeared as a prospective buyer in 2006, who wanted to purchase the building complex for one euro and operate it as a youth center. However, no banks were willing to provide the money for a minimal renovation, the sum of which was estimated at 3 million euros. Use as a Turkish bath was also considered conceivable. The building was occasionally used as a location for filming. Most recently, scenes for the vampire film Wir sind die Nacht by director Dennis Gansel were filmed here. Various initiatives as well as the temporarily formed Förderverein Hupe e. V. fought unsuccessfully for a renovation.
Activities for a revitalization by 2013
After a tour of the building in the summer of 2010, a group of committed citizens decided to make another attempt to save the pool. It evaluated the results of the public survey on the redevelopment area Frankfurter Allee Nord, held numerous discussions and on March 19 it constituted itself as an initiative group “Lights on in the Hubertusbad! Initiative for the redevelopment and revitalization of the Lichtenberg city bath ". MEP Birgit Monteiro was one of the first signatories . Due to the decision of the Senate in March 2011 to declare the Frankfurter Allee Nord area to be a redevelopment area, the chances of a revitalization of the Hubertusbad have increased significantly. The initiative collected signatures in 1904 and invites all interested parties, investors and decision-makers to take part in the development of a re-use concept. The actors have now developed many ideas that range from small-scale use, intergenerational living, galleries, restaurants to new bathing options. On June 8, 2011, a Hubertusbad conference took place in the old parish church with around 60 participants under the leadership of the initiative . Here it was found that there is a great deal of interest in a renovation of the municipal swimming pool, namely on the part of the residents, also on the part of the neighboring Sana Clinic and the district authorities. In August 2011 the collection of signatures was handed over to the district office.
Following these activities, the local architect and project developer Sebastian Wagner took care of an initial summary of the ideas and their possible implementation in concrete measures. After extensive building renovation (estimated cost of around 20 million euros), he suggests converting the large swimming pool into a bathing and wellness area for public use. A hotel could move into the component of the small hall. Details and results of the negotiations with the property fund on the concept and a possible sale to investors should be presented at another Hubertusbad conference . In January 2013 the disillusionment followed - the last interested party jumped out.
Protest against inaction
Because none of the above-mentioned approaches and initiatives for the monument complex led to any result, it was even considered to be no longer stable, it was closed. The Lichtenberg Mayor Andreas Geisel and the MP Birgit Monteiro , the initiator of the Hubertusbad from light on! , therefore organized a media-effective campaign in August 2012 - equipped with swimwear, bowls and other swimming utensils - against the inaction of the owner in front of the main building entrance on Hubertusstrasse. 68 people took part. Further protests cannot be ruled out.
On October 16, 2012, those interested in re-using a new Förderverein Stadtbad Lichtenberg e. V. founded . One of his first activities was an inspection of the municipal swimming pool together with those responsible for the property fund. During this action, measures were agreed to make the building winter-proof and to dismantle the scaffolding in Atzpodienstraße, which had been in place for over a year. Furthermore, it was determined by mutual agreement that the building is not in danger of collapsing. Investors are now being sought again or at least interim cultural use is to be made possible.
Another attempt
In 2016, the Berlin Senate made a decision that is one big step closer to revitalizing the bathroom: the complex will remain the property of the State of Berlin . On behalf of the city, the company Berliner Immobilienmanagement (BIM) is now looking after options for re-use on the basis of a feasibility study. Parts of the bathroom could be rented out for events, and smaller exhibitions could take place in some rooms. After necessary security measures in the outdoor area, one of the swimming pools and the foyer are to be made usable and sanitary areas are to be renewed. On the other hand, this means that inaccessible areas are cordoned off, barrier-free access prepared and a fire protection concept drawn up and implemented. Birgit Möhring, the managing director of BIM, spreads cautious optimism:
“In the past, the preservation of the monument and the interests of potential investors could not be reconciled. Now we see the prospect of making the bathroom accessible to the public soon and developing a long-term usage concept that does justice to the city and the building. "
The activities are also very popular with the district administration. The year 2019 was named as the goal of a first partial reopening. A “higher six-figure” amount can be expected for the most urgent construction work. As visible activities, all external facades have to be scaffolded, the roof drainage provisionally restored and loose plastered surfaces and facade elements removed.
literature
- Preindl: The municipal public bath in Berlin-Lichtenberg . In: Deutsche Bauzeitung , 1929, pp. 19–26.
- Development work in the Lichtenberg district . District Office Lichtenberg, Berlin 1929, pp. 65–69.
- The architectural and art monuments of the GDR in Berlin , Volume II. Ed. Institute for Monument Preservation at Henschelverlag, Berlin 1984, p. 187.
- Hans-Jürgen Neßnau: Put away your swimming trunks . In: Neues Deutschland , February 19, 2007.
- Helmut Maier: Stadtbad Lichtenberg - monument preservation report . Berlin 1992,
Web links
- Entry in the Berlin State Monument List
- Text and panorama of the Stadtbad Lichtenberg on Modern Ruins.
- Brief description of the Stadtbad Lichtenberg in the Vimudeap database with 21 images
- Hubertusbad in Berlin - pictures from the forgotten bathing cathedral . someday
- Förderverein Stadtbad Lichtenberg eV
- private website for Stadtbad Lichtenberg
Individual evidence
- ↑ Before we became SSV Ostring ( Memento from July 23, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
- ^ BVV decision of March 21, 2001, Drs.No. IV-L / 308
- ↑ Picture gallery of the Stadtbad Lichtenberg with floor plans on Modern Ruins.de
- ↑ Free-standing sculptures in Berlin . In: Berliner Adreßbuch , 1936, Part 3, p. 167. “Volksbad Hubertusstrasse” (District 17, Lichtenberg).
- ↑ The slow-moving . In: Der Tagesspiegel , February 6, 2007
- ↑ Lights on in the Hubertusbad! hubertusbad.org
- ↑ Many ideas for expensive renovations. Initiative wants to revive the old Hubertusbad. In: Berliner Woche , Lichtenberg edition, June 8, 2011, p. 4
- ↑ Text and images from the Hubertusbad Conference website by Birgit Monteiro, accessed on July 24, 2011
- ↑ Chances increase for the Hubertusbad. Architect develops new concept. In: Berliner Woche , Lichtenberg Nordost issue, March 21, 2012.
- ↑ Mayor Geisel goes swimming. Protest against the decay of the Hubertusbad . In: Berliner Zeitung , August 17, 2012, p. 16.
- ↑ Activities of the Friends' Association Stadtbad Lichtenberg on facebook.com; Retrieved February 9, 2013
- ↑ New hopes for the Hubertusbad on www.abendblatt.de; accessed on November 28, 2018.
Stadtbad Charlottenburg | Baerwaldbad (Kreuzberg) | Stadtbad Lankwitz | Stadtbad Lichtenberg | Stadtbad Märkisches Viertel (Reinickendorf) | Stadtbad Mitte (Gartenstrasse) | Stadtbad Neukölln | Stadtbad Oderberger Strasse (Prenzlauer Berg) | Stadtbad Schöneberg | Stadtbad Spandau | Stadtbad Steglitz | Stadtbad Tiergarten | Stadtbad Wedding (Gesundbrunnen) | Stadtbad Wilmersdorf