Hermann Hahn (architect)

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Hermann Hahn (full name Christian Friedrich Hermann Hahn; 21 March 1841 – 9 February 1929) was a German architect. Hahn lived and worked in Eisenach, where he reached importance, particularly through his plans (designs) of numerous completed villas in Eisenach's south quarter. These mansion districts were established on the hillsides of Mariental valley in the construction boom between 1850 and 1914.[1]

Life and work[edit]

Hermann was born on 21 March 1841 in Eisenach.[2] He was the eldest son of Wilhelm Hahn and his wife Maria Dorothea Bonewitz.[3] He began a three-year apprenticeship in masonry, whitewash and stone cutting after completing secondary school in Eisenach. The Hahn family was established in the building industry in Eisenach as master masons, while the Bonewitz family had established themselves as leading fishmongers in Eisenach.

In 1859 Hermann began the traditional journeyman "Wanderschaft" period which took him firstly northwards to Bremen, via Kassel and Hannover; then to Munich where he was employed on the construction of St. Johann Baptist church (Haidhausen)). Later to Austria (Salzburg, and Vienna), Traveling to the Saxon Switzerland (German: Sächsische Schweiz) through Bohemia (Prague, Aussig). Thereafter by ship to Dresden before returning home.[4]

Hahn is listed as an architect on his registration of citizenship in June 1866.[5] His civic works in Eisenach include the designs of the New Synagogue built in 1885,[6] and the church tower of the St. George's Church built between 1899 and 1901.[7][8]

Hermann also designed or built schools in Eisenach Charlottenschule (now called Goetheschule),[9] the Katherinenschule, and Elisabethenschule (now both Geschwister-Scholl-Schule),[10][11] as well as schools in nearby villages of Stregda, Mihla, Stedtfeld, Ifta, Dankmarshausen, Kittelsthal.[4]

The castle-like Villa Pflugensberg in Eisenach's cityscape and built for the industrial family von Eichel-Streiber is probably the most famous projects that Hermann Hahn was involved in. As construction manager, he built the mansion in 1890 from the designs of renowned Frankfurt architects Ludwig Neher and Aage von Kauffmann.[12][1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Reiß, Herlind (2006). Stadt Eisenach: Villen und Landhäuser am Fuße der Wartburg [Eisenach: Villas and mansions at the foot of the Wartburg castle] (in German). Altenburg, Germany: Reinhold, E. ISBN 3937940243.
  2. ^ LKAE, Kirchenbuchfilm, Eisenach, Taufen 1838-1845, K 1/1-26, Kf 1/6 Ref. 97 S. 120 [LKAE, Churchbookfilm, Eisenach, Baptisms 1838-1845, K 1/1-26, Kf 1/6 Ref. 97] (in German). Microfilm: Landeskirchenarchiv Eisenach. p. 120.
  3. ^ Eisenach Church Register of baptisms item 97 page 120 1841
  4. ^ a b "Baumeister & Architekt Hermann Hahn - Kurzfassung des Lebenslaufes" [Hermann Hahn - Career Abstract] (in German). Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  5. ^ Eisenach Citizenship Register 1830–1900, page 276, 1866
  6. ^ "Old synagogue in Eisenach". Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Der Creuzburger Amtsphysikus Dr. Urban und der sog. Bäckerstein an der Eisenacher Georgenkirche. Einblicke 1815 - 1915 - 2015". Werratal Bote (in German). Creuzburg: Creuzburg;Mihla. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  8. ^ Voss, Georg (1915). Großherzogthum Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach: Verwaltungsbezirk Eisenach: Amtsgerichtsbezirke Gerstungen und Eisenach (ohne Wartburg): Amtsgerichtsbezirk Eisenach - die Stadt Eisenach (in German). Vol. [1], Bd. 3, Abt. 1, [2] = H. 39. Fischer – via Digitale Sammlungen der Bauhaus-Universität Weimar.
  9. ^ "School History (in German)". Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Historisches zur Katharinenschule" [History of the Katharinenschule] (in German). Eisenach. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  11. ^ "Archivportal Thüringen - Anbau an die Katharinenschule und Bau der Elisabethschule (in German)". Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  12. ^ Seidel, Thomas A. (2003). Im Übergang der Diktaturen eine Untersuchung zur kirchlichen Neuordnung in Thüringen 1945-1951 [In transition of dictators: an investigation into the reorganization of the church in Thuringia 1945-1951] (in German). Kohlhammer. ISBN 3170179004.