Paulskirche – A monument under pressure

Speaker:
JAN SCHNEIDER, Deputy Mayor, Department for Building and Real Estate, Reform Projects, Citizens Service and IT, City of Frankfurt/Main
PETER CACHOLA SCHMAL, Director Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM)
PHILIP KURZ, Director Wüstenrot Foundation
MAXIMILIAN LIESNER & PHILIPP STURM, Curators of the exhibition

A collaboration by the Deutsches Architekturmuseum and the Wüstenrot Foundation

In the hope that Frankfurt would become the new German capital, the Paulskirche was rebuild as a potential seat for the parliament in 194748, having been severely damaged by bombing raids. Under the leadership of Rudolf Schwarz, a consciously plain space was developed to represent the admission of guilt and the democratic new beginning. In the meantime, the Paulskirche has become a ceremonial hall where nationwide debates have their origin. However, its architectural quality is seldom acknowledged.
The exhibition outlines the history of its construction and rebuilding from 1786 to today in parallel with the relevant political and social trends. Numerous historical and current photos are displayed, along with design drawings from the DAM’s collection. Particular attention is paid to the renovations in the 1960s and 1980s, which were accompanied by calls for reconstruction of the church to a pre-war state. These are resurfacing today in light of the approaching restoration work.

EXHIBITION OPENING: Fri, September 6, 2019, 7 p.m. DAM Auditorium
EXHIBITION: September 7, 2019 – February 16, 2020, 1st floor
GUIDED TOURS: saturdays and sundays, 2 p.m.