Augustusplatz
Encyclopedia
The Augustusplatz is a square located at the east end of the city centre of Leipzig
. It is the city's largest square and one of the largest (and, prior to almost all its buildings being destroyed in bombing in the Second World War, the most beautiful) squares in Germany. It is also part of the city's inner-city ring-road and a central hub for its tram network.
ischen Thor to designs by the city architect Johann Carl Friedrich Dauthe
. but was renamed Augustusplatz in 1839 after Frederick Augustus
, the first king of Saxony. In 1928 the social-democratic city government renamed it Karl-Marx-Platz
, though this name proved unpopular and was ignored even in newspaper articles and town plans. In 1933 the National Socialists renamed it Augustusplatz, then in 1953 it became Karl-Marx-Platz again, and finally in 1990 (on the same day as reunification) it returned to its current name of Augustusplatz.
It is now dominated by the Opernhaus on Nordrand, the Neuen Gewandhaus (with the Mendebrunnen) on Südrand and the main buildings of the University of Leipzig
, including the City-Hochhaus Leipzig
in the inner-city facing west. Destruction during the Second World War and the radical city-planning policies of the GDR both mean the Augustusplatz has lost its historical appearance: the Hauptpost, the newly-built Radisson SAS Hotel (formerly the Hotel Mercure) and the University are all "Plattenbauten
". In May 1968, for example, the bomb-damaged Augusteum
and the intact university Paulinerkirche
were both dynamited. In 1996 a carpark was built under the Augustusplatz, where many of the buildings had their entrances or ventilation shafts, though its construction proved controversial. The carpark's eight illuminated glass cylinders housing the stairwells have been particularly mocked, being nicknamed "Milchtöpfe" or milk-bottles.
The University's New Building or Neubau was built between 2002 and 2004 and involved a fierce controversy over the possible reconstruction of the university church. For the university's 600th anniversary in 2009, the Augustusplatz was mostly redesigned to plans by the architect Erick van Egeraat
, with an auditorium whose gabled roof and style recall the destroyed church.
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
. It is the city's largest square and one of the largest (and, prior to almost all its buildings being destroyed in bombing in the Second World War, the most beautiful) squares in Germany. It is also part of the city's inner-city ring-road and a central hub for its tram network.
History
It was begun in 1785 on a site within the city walls as the Platz vor dem GrimmaGrimma
Grimma is a town in the Free State of Saxony, Germany on the left bank of the Mulde, southeast of Leipzig. Founded in c. 1170, it is part of the Leipzig district.- Location :...
ischen Thor to designs by the city architect Johann Carl Friedrich Dauthe
Johann Carl Friedrich Dauthe
Johann Carl Friedrich Dauthe was a German architect and etcher who specialised in the Neo-Classical style.Dauthe was born in Leipzig and educated by Adam Friedrich Oeser...
. but was renamed Augustusplatz in 1839 after Frederick Augustus
Frederick Augustus I of Saxony
Frederick Augustus I was King of Saxony from the House of Wettin. He was also Elector Frederick Augustus III of Saxony and Duke Frederick Augustus I of Warsaw...
, the first king of Saxony. In 1928 the social-democratic city government renamed it Karl-Marx-Platz
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
, though this name proved unpopular and was ignored even in newspaper articles and town plans. In 1933 the National Socialists renamed it Augustusplatz, then in 1953 it became Karl-Marx-Platz again, and finally in 1990 (on the same day as reunification) it returned to its current name of Augustusplatz.
It is now dominated by the Opernhaus on Nordrand, the Neuen Gewandhaus (with the Mendebrunnen) on Südrand and the main buildings of the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
, including the City-Hochhaus Leipzig
City-Hochhaus Leipzig
City-Hochhaus , at a height of 142.5 metres, is the tallest building in the city of Leipzig, and the tallest multistory building erected in the former East Germany. It was designed by architect Hermann Henselmann in the shape of an open book, and built between 1968 and 1972...
in the inner-city facing west. Destruction during the Second World War and the radical city-planning policies of the GDR both mean the Augustusplatz has lost its historical appearance: the Hauptpost, the newly-built Radisson SAS Hotel (formerly the Hotel Mercure) and the University are all "Plattenbauten
Panelák
is a colloquial term in Czech and Slovak for a panel building constructed of pre-fabricated, pre-stressed concrete, such as those extant in Czech Republic and elsewhere in the former Soviet bloc...
". In May 1968, for example, the bomb-damaged Augusteum
Augusteum (Leipzig)
The Augusteum was a building on the Augustusplatz in Leipzig, to the left of the Paulinerkirche. It was the original site of the University of Leipzig.-History:...
and the intact university Paulinerkirche
Paulinerkirche, Leipzig
The Paulinerkirche was a church on the Augustusplatz in Leipzig, named after the "Pauliner", its original Dominican friars. It was built in 1231 as the Klosterkirche St. Pauli for the Dominican monastery in Leipzig. From the foundation of the University of Leipzig in 1409, it served as the...
were both dynamited. In 1996 a carpark was built under the Augustusplatz, where many of the buildings had their entrances or ventilation shafts, though its construction proved controversial. The carpark's eight illuminated glass cylinders housing the stairwells have been particularly mocked, being nicknamed "Milchtöpfe" or milk-bottles.
The University's New Building or Neubau was built between 2002 and 2004 and involved a fierce controversy over the possible reconstruction of the university church. For the university's 600th anniversary in 2009, the Augustusplatz was mostly redesigned to plans by the architect Erick van Egeraat
Erick van Egeraat
Erick van Egeraat is a Dutch architect. He is based in Rotterdam but particularly active in Germany and Russia....
, with an auditorium whose gabled roof and style recall the destroyed church.