The Erich Kästner Brick School in Frankfurt (Oder) is a border gem of pre-war architecture. Despite the city’s difficult history after the Great War, the building’s architect spared no expense on fine details and expressionistic form. What’s more, despite the heavy destruction of the entire city during the Second World War, the original ceramic details of the school have been preserved to this day.
The new reality
The end of the German Empire after the end of the First World War had colossal consequences for the losing side. Moreover, the loss of the eastern lands to Poland, resurrected after 123 years, caused a collapse in the border towns of the Weimar Republic. Trade with the territories regained by Poland ceased, leaving cities such as Frankfurt (Oder) in financial difficulties. Frankfurt, which was an important point on the railway map of the Second Reich, lost its importance in the new post-war reality. In turn, you can read about the heyday of Germany’s imperial architecture HERE.
By 1926, Frankfurt was home to more than 8,000 refugees from the former eastern borderlands of the Reich. This meant that the impoverished city had to start building more schools and public facilities. For this reason, city planner Hugo Althoff and architect Josef Gesing attempted to design a large modern Paul von Hindenburg school in the west of the city.
Fresh Gothic
The building was constructed mainly thanks to the work of German refugees from the east, and the school opened as early as 1927. Students were greeted by the heavy brick façade of the three-winged edifice. Interestingly, the central part of the façade is set back from the rest of the block, and its tectonics are intriguing. The distinctive, expressive bay window makes a strong statement through its triangular shape.
The seemingly ordinary bricks of the façade are arranged in various classical shapes. We are talking about brick lisens, arches, cornices and friezes. A particularly important element is the gothic ogive shielding the entrance. In turn, starry servants reminiscent of those of the Middle Ages extend over the entrance staircase. Cheerful green combines with red and white to create a simple but stylish addition. It is worth mentioning that the façade is full of geometric patterns that highlight the architects’ mastery of brick expressionism.
Porcelain chamber
Gesing handed over the artistic vision for the interior to the Berlin painter Robert Sandfort. For years, the artist had been involved in painting church polychromes in the Brandenburg area, and his art was based on an accumulation of impressive patterns. For this reason, Sandfort’s wall paintings in the Hindenburgschule are precisely the numerous ornaments referring to nature and school subjects. Green and blue patterns reminiscent of Chinese porcelain or European faience were applied to white ceramic tiles. Most interesting are the pediments above the doors, which form a donkey’s back and show birds amidst the vegetation.
The most representative room of the school is the auditorium offering 300 square metres of space. The windows of the assembly hall are decorated with stained glass with allegorical representations of school objects. Thanks to these details, the overall design retains a coherent feel and the late Gothic elements take on a new meaning.
The Paul von Hindenburg School in Frankfurt was impressive with its many modern features. The classrooms were large (50 sq m) and well stocked. There were separate chemistry and physics laboratories, a workshop, kitchen, laundry and a large bathhouse. In total, there were as many as 39 different classrooms, and the complex did not lack space for staff housing either. Despite the difficult economic situation, the school was equipped with a modern heating system and the architects even took care to have numerous drinking water springs installed in the walls.
Nothing good comes easy
At the end of the Second World War, Frankfurt (Oder) was 93% destroyed. However, the Hindenburgschule survived the city’s annihilation because the Germans set up a military hospital in it. Interestingly, Sandfort, who was a member of the Nazi party, was killed in the bombing, and architect Gesing survived the wartime turmoil. After the war, Gesing helped to rebuild a ruined Frankfurt.
After 1945, the school received a new patron – August Bebel. One of the leaders of German Social Democracy suited the GDR authorities better than Hindenburg, who had allowed the Nazis to come to power. The change of patron was also linked to a change in the name of the street where the school stands.
It is worth mentioning that the current patron of the school, Erich Kästner, was a writer and poet who was targeted by the NSDAP. After the change of patron, an inscription was placed above the corridor doors, translating to: “Nothing good comes easy”. This inscription is the title of Kästner’s book.
The former Hindenburgschule in Frankfurt/Oder is one of the few local reminders of the impressive architecture of the 1920s. Today, the building is a hidden pearl of brick expressionism and information about it is scarce. However, the beauty of the brick façade and the “faience” interiors, noticeable at every turn, is worth seeing, especially because of its proximity to the Polish border.
Source: EKastner.de
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