Works by Johann Joseph Couven

The following list shows the best-known works (buildings, interiors, individual objects, etc.) by the Aachen master builder Johann Joseph Couven (1701–1763), as far as they can be assigned based on the sources. Unless more recent findings speak against it, the selection refers to the list by Joseph Buchkremer in his publication: The architects Johann Joseph Couven and Jakob Couven in the journal of the Aachener Geschichtsverein , in which individual buildings are exemplarily described in more detail. Much of the buildings Johann Joseph Couvens was destroyed in World War II by the bombing, partly rebuilt or in part translocated .

Preserved buildings (selection)

Town houses

designation	location	construction time	description	image
Wylre's house	Aachen , Jakobstraße 35 ( location )	from 1735	also called Haus Heusch or Palais Heusch after the Aachen family Heusch . Contemporary renovation of the house designed by Laurenz Mefferdatis , especially the facade, the baroque interior and the balcony grille. After the death of Johann Joseph Couven, the renovation work started was continued by his son Jakob Couven	more pictures
Mantels garden shed	Aachen, Lousberg ( location )	1737	also called Kerstenscher Pavilion, originally at Annuntiatenbach No. 20, moved from 1905 to 1907 together with the staircase, the fountain and the baroque fence to the Lousberg	more pictures
Nuellens garden shed	Aachen, now Kurpark Burtscheid ( location )	1740	also called the Nuellens Pavilion, originally built for the cloth maker Johann Heupgen in the garden of the property at Friedrich-Wilhelm-Platz 6, used from 1840 to 1927 as the garden pavilion of the Hotel Nuellens, moved in 1927 to the garden of the Fey house , Seilgraben 34. After its destruction on July 14, 1943, the garden pavilion was rebuilt in the Burtscheider Kurpark in 1961; the associated staircase is still in the garden of the Seilgraben 34 property.	more pictures
City palace (museum) d'Ansembourg	Liege (B) location	1738-1741	built for the banker Michel Willems, architecture and decorative art in the Liège Régence style	more pictures
House Grand Ry / Mennicken / Signon	Eupen (B), Werthplatz 1–3 location	1741-1744	former merchant house for the Jean Gilles Grand Ry family . The massive, strict three-story building with an elegant three-wing inner courtyard is Couven's largest town house in Eupen. Front with 39 arched windows, a curved flight of stairs and a semicircular gable with the relief of Fortuna	more pictures
Quirinus bath	Aachen, Hof 7 location	1745	built on the foundations of an old hospital, interior work by Couven, rebuilt by Adam Franz Friedrich Leydel in 1829
House Nispert	Eupen (B), Nispert 18 location	1747	Converted mansion with stables and farm buildings of the dye works owner Erich Adolf Goertz, embedded in a baroque park	more pictures
Vercken House	Eupen (B), Marktplatz 1 location	1752	three-storey main house with adjoining Schererwinkel for the cloth merchant Leonhard Vercken. Linking the French Régence style with the South German Baroque. Most beautiful preserved town house Couvens in Eupen, since 1857 Convent of the Franciscan Sisters of the Holy Family ), hence the convent called	more pictures
House to the horn	Aachen, Jakobstraße 24 ( location )	1757	Part of the then needle factory Chorus, a two-axis extension for the needle manufacturer Cornelius Chorus, is considered a noble example of Aachen rococo due to its vertically aligned proportions and the fine window profiles
House Grand Ry	Eupen (B), Klötzerbahn 32 location	1760-1763	Couven's late bourgeois work as a French court complex for the cloth manufacturer Nicolas Joseph Grand Ry, today the seat of government of the German-speaking Community of Belgium	more pictures
Residential building	Aachen, Großkölnstraße 78 location	Mid-18th century
Residential building	Aachen, Jakobstrasse 1 location	Mid-18th century	only parts have been preserved
Residential building	Aachen, Jakobstrasse 6 location	Mid-18th century
Residential building	Aachen, Jakobstrasse 16 location	Mid-18th century
Residential building	Aachen, Jakobstrasse 88 location	Mid-18th century
Residential building	Aachen, Kockerellstrasse 22 location	Mid-18th century	three-storey, four-axle residential building with a baroque facade. Brick building with walls made of bluestone.
Residential building	Aachen, Krämerstrasse 1 location	Mid-18th century	Modification; built-in niche in the rounded corner of the house to accommodate a graceful Madonna figure. Completed at the top by a shell and a canopy, at the bottom by a wrought-iron console and a rococo ornament
Residential building	Aachen, Mörgensstrasse 5 location	Mid-18th century	Former town house of the Moirke family (provided several mayors of the imperial city of Aachen ). Later part of the C. Nellessen cloth factory, JM Sohn
Residential building	Aachen, Münsterplatz 19 location	Mid-18th century
Residential building	Aachen, Münsterplatz 20 location	Mid-18th century
Residential building	Aachen, Neupforte 24 location	Mid-18th century
Residential building	Aachen, Neupforte 26 location	Mid-18th century
Residential building	Aachen, Rosstrasse 11 location	Mid-18th century
Residential building	Burtscheid , Altdorfstraße 35 location	Mid-18th century

Castle systems

designation	location	construction time	description	image
Thor Castle	Astenet , Nierstrasse 5 (B) location	1733	Couven built the gate entrance to the estate for the Heyendal family from Walhorn, which gave the entire property the name Haus Thor or Château Thor . The keystone of the arch shows the Heyendals coat of arms and the year 1733 on the street side
Neuburg Castle (Limburg)	Gulpen-Wittem (NL) location	1733-1735	Castle building built by Johann Conrad Schlaun. Couven was in charge of the construction supervision and designed the two tower-reinforced side wings and a rear wing	more pictures
Lemiers Castle	Lemiers (NL) location	before 1750	Gate, bridge and garden wall in Louis-Seize style	more pictures
Jägerhof Castle	Düsseldorf location	1748-1763	Planning and implementation of a more representative Jägerhof in the style of a rococo summer palace on behalf of Elector Karl Theodor of Palatinate and Bavaria . Couven's first draft from 1749 envisaged a three-story building with a central tower and wings around which the Düssel was to be directed. However, the chief construction director Nicolas de Pigage only implemented part of the originally planned construction measures. The building was completed in 1762 without a wing	more pictures
Good lime kiln	Aachen, Talbotstraße 33–37 ( location )	1750-1753	Conversion to a pleasure palace on behalf of Johann von Wespien. Couven retained the almost square floor plan of the lime kiln and incorporated older parts such as the towers and the surrounding wall into the new building. Couven only had the northern part of the north-eastern curtain wall laid down to reveal a new garden ground floor from the manor house	more pictures
Breill Castle	Geilenkirchen location	1754	Couven's only building in the Heinsberg district . Conversion of the two-storey baroque wing with a striking mansard roof and the garden for the governor of Elector Karl Theodor von der Pfalz , Count Johann Ludwig von Goltstein	more pictures
Genhoes Castle	Valkenburg aan de Geul (NL) location	Mid-18th century	Gatehouse with bridge and extensions

Sacred buildings

designation	location	construction time	description	image
St. Agatha Church	Eys (NL) location	1732-1734	Erected by order of Count Ferdinand von Plettenberg in the baroque style based on a design by the Westphalian architect Johann Conrad Schlaun . Couven contributed with his own partial drafts and supervised the building. Construction carried out by the construction company Franz and Paul Klausener	more pictures
Church of the Wittem monastery	Wittem (NL) location	1732-1734	Built by order of Count Ferdinand von Plettenberg as a castle chapel and regional church together with the associated monastery based on a design by Johann Conrad Schlaun. Couven contributed with his own partial drafts and supervised the building. Construction carried out by the construction company Franz and Paul Klausener	more pictures
St. Johann	Aachen-Burtscheid ( location )	1736–1741 (west tower), 1748–1754 (choir)	Construction of a new abbey church. After several drafts, Couven decided on a short nave with a central dome and a four-storey square west tower with beveled roof edges on the tower dome. Construction carried out by the construction company Franz and Paul Klausener	more pictures
St. Michael	Aachen-Burtscheid ( location )	1747-1763	Except for the tower, the old dilapidated building was rebuilt as a baroque three-aisled pillar basilica. Simplified execution of Couven's original plans by increasing costs. Construction carried out by the construction company Franz and Paul Klausener. Interior fittings, in particular high altar, tabernacle altar and communion bench, also built around 1751 according to Couven's designs	more pictures
Chapel of the beheading of John the Baptist	Eupen (B), Nispert 18 location	1747	New construction of the Johannes chapel attached to Haus Nispert and complete interior fittings according to Couven's plans	more pictures
Anna Church	Aachen, Annastraße ( location )	1748-1749	Conversion and extension of the Benedictine nuns' monastery chapel from 1532 to a monastery church	more pictures
Sinnich Monastery	Teuven (B) location	1750-1754	Gate construction, front gable and facade based on Couven's designs
John the Baptist Church	Oud Valkenburg location	1757	Choir and parts of the interior of Couven	more pictures
Munsterbilzen Monastery	Munsterbilzen (B) location	1757-1759	Conversion and extension in Louis-Seize style on behalf of Abbess Antoinette Countess von Eltz-Kempenich (1756–1771)	more pictures
St. Gerlach Abbey	Houthem near Valkenburg aan de Geul (NL) location	1759-1763	Baroque monastery complex built by Laurenz Mefferdatis, which was dedicated to the grave of Gerlach von Houthem (1100–1177), saint, knight and hermit in Houthem near Valkenburg. Extension building (ten) as a joint effort by father and son Couven: Johann Joseph Couven is assigned the economic building, his son the lease yard, although it can also be one and the same building (see photo gallery)	more pictures
Roskapellchen	Aachen, Rosstrasse no. Location	1758/1759	Buchkremer ascribes the Roskapellchen to Johann Joseph Couven, other sources to Laurenz Mefferdatis, who, however, had already died in the year of its creation.	more pictures

Disused buildings

designation	location	construction time	Exit	description	image
Wasp house	Aachen, Kleinmarschierstrasse location	1734-1737	1943	Interior work and extensions completed by the end of the 18th century. In this late phase of cultivation was of Couven son Jacob still Couvenwandbrunnen made. After the complete destruction, parts of the facade were attached to the side wall of the gymnasium of the Kaiser-Karls-Gymnasium in 1972/1973 . The Couvenwand fountain, which was also rescued, was relocated to Haus Fey in 1928 and then to Burtscheid Abbey in 1993. Location	more pictures wasp house facade today
Hungarian Chapel	Aachen, at the Aachen Cathedral location	1747	1755	On behalf of Emerich von Mórócz as a representative of Count Karl Josef Batthyány , Couven was supposed to replace the previously dilapidated Gothic chapel with a new baroque building. Due to construction defects, laid down in the shell construction phase; 1756 rebuilding by Joseph Moretti
Comedy house and courthouse "The Eight"	Aachen, Katschhof location	Remodeling 1748–1751	Retired at the end of the 19th century	Reconstruction on behalf of Count Wenzel Anton Kaunitz of the Gewandhaus built in the 12th century. According to Couven's plans, new window axes with wedge stones were attached in the form of an arched arch and the arches were loosened up by wider round arches on columns and the mansard roof on the outer front was changed to connect the court building to the north, the "eight", with the comedy house
Courthouse "The Eight"	Aachen, Katschhof location	Remodeling 1748–1751	Retired at the end of the 19th century	New construction of the old courthouse from 1215, in which the Vogtmajor and the lay judges resided. Five-axis two-storey building with a soft, hipped mansard roof; The three central and slightly protruding axes were crowned with a curved gable with the seated figure of Apollo
To the imperial crown	Aachen, Alexanderstraße 36 location	Remodeling in 1749	destroyed	Conversion of the Zum wilden Mann inn, already mentioned in 1651, from state funds and on behalf of the new owner Matthias Lognay, governor of Frederick the Great in Aachen; The quarters of numerous crowned heads	more pictures
To the blind donkey	Aachen, Franzstrasse 8 location	1754	destroyed	Renovation of the house on behalf of Theodor Thimus, who ran a dye works on the ground floor; the solid blocks and the decorative gable decoration are striking
Prince's court	Maaseik (B), Bosstraat 45 location	1758	1818	Hunting lodge for the Prince-Bishop of Liège Johann Theodor von Bayern ; The building was connected by a tunnel under the dykes and a gate with the outdoor facilities and the plantation outside the dykes.
House Schumacher	Burtscheid, Hauptstrasse 28 location	Mid-18th century	destroyed	including rich interior decoration and stucco work
House Die Kron	Burtscheid, Hauptstraße 52 location	Mid-18th century	destroyed

Further listed and unspecified abandoned buildings (selection)

designation	location	Remarks
Residential houses, courtyard houses, conversions and extensions	Aachen : Adalbertstraße 13, 18 (courtyard building), 30, 33 Alexanderstraße 2 (with a niche for a Madonna on the corner of the house), 5 (portal only), 6, 7, 8, 10, 18 (with neighboring gate), 21, 38 ( with window bars), 47, 74, 125 Augustinerbach 14 Bendelstraße 14 (garden pavilion) Büchel 17 ("Im Gülden Ritter"), 19, 27 Dahmengraben 24 Eilfschornsteinstraße 70 (portal) Franzstraße 12, 24 (Pastor's garden house), 53, 54 , 83 Großkölnstraße 3, 5, 19 (with balcony grilles), 46, 49 ("Zur Gülden Bar"), 51, 63 (Haus Oliva), 75 (with wrought-iron window bars), 92 Hühnermarkt 1, 2 Jakobstraße 10, 36, 117 , 120 Katschhof apartments for Stiftsvikare Kleinkölnstraße 8, 15 Kleinmarschierstraße 35, 43, 45, 48 ("Im Baum" / 1763) Kockerellstraße 21, 24 Komphausbadstraße 1 Marktplatz 7 (renovation), 17, 24, 31, 32, 43 Münsterplatz 4 , 21 Peterstraße 2, 8, 11, 26, 30, 44/46 Pontdriesch 42 Ponststraße 7, 20, 36, 86 Rochusstraße: Garden pavilions Rosstraße 22, 43, 48 Sandkaulbach 31, 33 Sandkaulstraße 3, 8, 23, 45, 48, 82, 84, 101 Seilgraben 11 (Zur Sonne) Wirichsbongardstraße 18 Burtscheid Hauptstraße 24, 33 (back building), 35 ("Under construction"), 45, 77 Krugenofen 21 Heinsberg District Court building and Rentmeistereihaus Herp near Dremmen Lüttich Residence for Maximilian Heinrich Graf von Horion, Minister of State	not always clear whether the father Johann Joseph or the son Jakob Couven or both were responsible or whether the buildings were built in the so-called "Couven style" of that time.

Sacred interiors

designation	location	construction time	description	image
Loreto altar, inner wing and organ gallery for St. Nicholas	Aachen, Großkölnstrasse location	1732 two inner side wings; 1735 organ loft; 1755 Loreto altar	Loreto altar was removed and temporarily stored in 1894 and rebuilt as a sacristy altar in 1920; The organ gallery was replaced by a neo-Gothic west gallery in 1885	more pictures
Lutheran Church De Kopermolen	Vaals location	1736/37	Altar (attributed) and pulpit (secured) by Couven, The pulpit was designed in the Regency style and executed in wood carving
Interior of the Theresienkirche	Aachen, Pontstrasse location	1739	Couven designed a closed, uniform interior for the church in pure Rococo ornamentation, donated by Johann von Wespien	more pictures
High altar, pulpit, organ case and gallery parapet of St. Katharina	Langerwehe - Wenau location	1740-1746	Couven designed the splendid gallery balustrade and the tabernacle altar from 1740 and the organ case from 1746	more pictures
High altar of St. Nicholas	Eupen location	1744	The Liège sculptor Hubert Hyard was responsible for the execution of the high altar. Jacob Hainaux from Liège was entrusted with the colored version, marbling and gilding. The baroque altar combines Aachen and Liège motifs	more pictures
High altar of St. Catherine	Eupen- Kettenis location	1744/1745	The baroque high altar made of wood is considered the little brother of St. Nikolaus in Eupen; on both sides three columns, at their bases there are relief images of the evangelists; The antependium , not a work by Couven itself, comes from a Couven altar in St. Jakob in Aachen, where it was attached in 1729 and broken off in 1888. The altarpiece is by Francesco Bernardini
Communion bench, confessional and the canteens for the side altars and the Marien Altar of St. Peter	Aachen, Peterskirchhof location	1748/1749	The communion bench is now in the Hungarian Chapel of Aachen Cathedral . Location
Choir stalls, paneling, doors and pulpit for the Holy Cross Church	Aachen, Pontstrasse location	around 1755	Choir stalls, paneling and doors are now located in the Aachen town hall location and the pulpit in the Theresienkirche location
Communion bench, tabernacle and organ case of the Reichsabbey Kornelimünster	Aachen- Kornelimünster location	1760 communion bench and tabernacle; 1763 organ case	In the western building, which dates from the Romanesque period, is the organ, framed in the Rococo case by Johann Joseph Couven from 1763. Tabernacle and communion bench also in Rococo style	more pictures

Other preserved individual works

designation	location	construction time	description	image
Stone setting of the Charles Fountain	Aachen, Marktplatz location	1735	During the renovation of the market fountain, the enclosure of the water basin by Couven was redesigned. Large brackets placed in between interrupt the curved outline of the pool.	more pictures
Fish figures at the Karlsbrunnen	Aachen, Marktplatz location	1738	Bronze sculptures subsequently added to the renovation work on the Karlsbrunnen as a visual loosening in the basin
Street pavilions at Haus Fey	Aachen, Seilgraben 34 ( location )	1740	As part of the renovation work when Michel François Grand Ry took over the house, Couven designed two neat pavilions on either side of the street gate, of which the right one is partially preserved.
Portal of a residential commercial building	Eupen, Marktplatz 8 location	1747
Portal of a residential building	Aachen, Rosstrasse 33 location	Mid-18th century

Other dismissed individual works

designation	location	construction time	Exit	description	image
Reconstruction of the facade and staircase of the Aachen town hall	Aachen, Marktplatz location	1727	canceled	Transition from Louis-Seize style to Régence style, bluestone facade with weakened cornices and free-swinging natural forms of ornamentation, extension of the upper platform in the form of a double curved line harmonizing with the lower course of the stairs; Cast iron parapet
two small running fountains next to the Karlsbrunnen	Aachen, Marktplatz location	1736	1890 wg. Remodeling removed	On the outside, three curved steps led up to the square fountain housing facing the Karlsbrunnen, which was originally decorated with a large vase and later with the Prussian eagle
Interior of the London Court	Aachen, Kleinkölnstraße 18, location	1740	destroyed in World War II; only the ground floor section of the two street axes of the wing buildings has been preserved; Reconstruction on old foundations, dispensing with the three-axis central projection	originally built in two sections in 1713 and 1740 according to plans by Laurenz Mefferdatis ; Johann Joseph Couven took over the interior work in 1740: middle wing on the upper floor with anteroom and hall, ground floor vestibule and garden room, in the wings an anteroom and stairwell as well as the guest rooms	(current state)

Parts of the interior of St. Foillan on Münsterplatz were also largely destroyed by the effects of the war ; Pulpit, confessionals and altars by St. Jakob in Jakobstrasse; Side altars and confessional of St. Peter at Peterkirchshof as well as portal and wall of the town hall garden at Katschhof, all from the years 1740–1745.

See also

• Works by Jakob Couven , Johann Joseph's son

literature

• Carl Rhoen : The city architect Johann Joseph Couven - father and son , Kaatzer , Aachen, 1885
• Joseph Buchkremer : The architects Johann Joseph Couven and Jakob Couven. in: Zeitschrift Aachener Geschichtsverein (ZAGV) 17/1895, pp. 89–268. (Buchkremer). as a download from the Aachen History Association or from the Internet Archive
• Richard Klapheck : The art of architecture on the Lower Rhine. Art Association for the Rhineland and Westphalia (ed.), Bagel, Düsseldorf. Volume 2, 1916, pp. 77–150 ( Internet Archive )
• Paul Schoenen: Johann Joseph Couven, architect of the imperial city of Aachen (1701–1763). In: Rheinische Lebensbilder, Volume I. Edmund Strutz. Rheinland Verlag, Düsseldorf 1961, pp. 121–135.
• Marcel Bauer: Johann Joseph Couven - Myth and legacy of a great master . Grenz-Echo-Verlag, Eupen 2001, ISBN 90-5433-134-8 .
• Frank Pohle, Dagmar Preising (ed.): Proceedings on the occasion of the 200th birthday of Johann Joseph Couvens with contributions by various authors , in: Aachener Kunstblätter 63 (2003–2005), pp. 14–209
• Marcel Bauer, Frank Hovens, Anke Kappler, Belinda Petri, Christine Vogt & Anke Volkmer: On the way on Couvens traces , Grenzecho-Verlag, Eupen 2005, ISBN 90-5433-187-9
• David Adshead et al. Anke Kappler: International castle projects of the Aachen architect Johann Joseph Couven , In: Zeitschrift des Aachener Geschichtsverein (ZAGV), 107/108, 2005/06, pp. 167–218.
• Anke Kappler: Johann Joseph Couven (1701–1763): Architectural drafts for the city, the nobility and the church , Wernersche Verlagsgesellschaft, Worms 2009, ISBN 978-3-88462-278-0

Web links

Commons : Johann Joseph Couven  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Literature by and about works by Johann Joseph Couven in the catalog of the German National Library
• Brief descriptions of various Couven buildings on Couven sound worlds
• detailed vita and catalog raisonné in the portal Rheinische Geschichte
• You want to bring Couven to the fore again , In: Aachener Nachrichten of March 6, 2013 , accessed on March 6, 2013
• Route to buildings by Johann Joseph Couven at baukunst-nrw
• On the way in Couve's footsteps in Eupen

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Entry Kasteel Lemiers on rijksmonumenten.nl (ndl.)
2. ^ History of the Anna Church in Aachen
3. ↑ Portrait Castle Sinnich
4. ↑ Portrait Johanneskirche Alt-Valkenburg (ndl.)
5. ↑ Portrait Munsterbilzen (ndl.) ( Memento of the original from March 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
6. ↑ De Pachthof van Houthem Sint Gerlach (ndl.)
7. ↑ detailed description of St. Gerlach on dbnl (ndl.)
8. ↑ Ludwina Forst: King's Way. In the footsteps of the first city curator, Hans Königs (1903–1988). Pp. 69-72, Thouet, Aachen 2008, ISBN 3-930594-33-1
9. ↑ Portrait of the Prinzenhof (ndl.)

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