Wilhelm Eduard Brodtbeck
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm Eduard Brodtbeck (25 September 1873 in Liestal - 12 April 1957, in Liestal) was a famous Swiss architect from Liestal
canton
Basel-Country
.
Primarily Wilhelm Brodtbeck visited schools in Liestal and then at a later age in Basel
. He then studied architecture, concluding at the University of Stuttgart
und at the University of Karlsruhe. Later he made various studium journeys in Germany, Holland, Austria, Italy and France, hereafter Brodtbeck worked in Lausanne.
He married Susanna Elisabeth Buess from Wenslingen
, Basel-Country, in 1904.
As from 1921, together with his partner Fritz Bohny, he managed the architecture bureau W. Brodtbeck AG. In 1952 Rolf Georg Otto was invited by Brodtbeck to take over the well recognized business. The two founders members withdrew themselves from the daily business. Bohny retired, but Brodtbeck remained in the board of directors as president until his death in 1957. The well renowned firm still exists today under the name Otto und Partner.
, the administrative and head office building.
Further important projects from Brodtbeck's architecture bureau are, for example, the school complex "Rotackerschulhaus" in Liestal, the bank "Kantonalbank" in Binningen, the mill complex, including the small power station, in Lausen
, Basel-Country, (1923) and the building complex for the salt mines in Schweizerhalle by Muttenz
.
To the afore mentioned, addendum, the residential estate Wasserhaus
(1920/21) in the sub-district „Neue Welt
“ in Münchenstein
. The Wasserhaus estate was developed by Brodtbeck concluding the original plans drawn by Prof. Hans Benno Bernoulli
, Basel, (1876–1959). Due to the unique archetype nature and the prototypical neighbourhood, the Wasserhaus estate was taken up in the Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance
. Inventar der schützenswerten Ortsbilder (ISOS).
Liestal
Liestal is the capital of the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland, south of Basel.It is an industrial town with a cobbled-street Old Town.-History:...
canton
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
Basel-Country
Basel-Country
Basel-Landschaft , is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland. The capital is Liestal...
.
Early life
Wilhelm Eduard, son of Wilhelm senior (architect und cement factory owner) and Susanne Karoline Spinnler, grew up in Liestal.Primarily Wilhelm Brodtbeck visited schools in Liestal and then at a later age in Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
. He then studied architecture, concluding at the University of Stuttgart
University of Stuttgart
The University of Stuttgart is a university located in Stuttgart, Germany. It was founded in 1829 and is organized in 10 faculties....
und at the University of Karlsruhe. Later he made various studium journeys in Germany, Holland, Austria, Italy and France, hereafter Brodtbeck worked in Lausanne.
He married Susanna Elisabeth Buess from Wenslingen
Wenslingen
Wenslingen is a municipality in the district of Sissach in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland.-Geography:Wenslingen has an area, , of . Of this area, or 62.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 29.9% is forested...
, Basel-Country, in 1904.
Career
Wilhelm Brodtbeck founded his own architect's office in 1901 in Liestal. As young architect he accomplished a large variety of residential houses. Later he expanded his horizon and realized schools complexes and industrial buildings.As from 1921, together with his partner Fritz Bohny, he managed the architecture bureau W. Brodtbeck AG. In 1952 Rolf Georg Otto was invited by Brodtbeck to take over the well recognized business. The two founders members withdrew themselves from the daily business. Bohny retired, but Brodtbeck remained in the board of directors as president until his death in 1957. The well renowned firm still exists today under the name Otto und Partner.
Legacy
Throughout the district of Basel, the architect's bureau W. Brodtbeck AG became famous due to their modern style buildings. Be it in partnership work with other companies, W. Brodtbeck AG were able to realise two important projects in Basel city. These are the city of Basel casino (1939–1941) and, for the chemical enterprise SandozSandoz
Founded in 2003, Sandoz presently is the generic drug subsidiary of Novartis, a multinational pharmaceutical company. The company develops, manufactures and markets generic drugs as well as pharmaceutical and biotechnological active ingredients....
, the administrative and head office building.
Further important projects from Brodtbeck's architecture bureau are, for example, the school complex "Rotackerschulhaus" in Liestal, the bank "Kantonalbank" in Binningen, the mill complex, including the small power station, in Lausen
Lausen
Lausen is a municipality in the district of Liestal in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland.-History:Lausen is first mentioned in 1275 as in villa et banno Langenso. In 1305 it became the property of the Bishop of Basel, passing in 1400 to the city of Basel.-Geography:Lausen has an area, , of...
, Basel-Country, (1923) and the building complex for the salt mines in Schweizerhalle by Muttenz
Muttenz
Muttenz is a municipality with a population of approximately 17,000 in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland. It is located in the district of Arlesheim and next to the city of Basle.-History:...
.
To the afore mentioned, addendum, the residential estate Wasserhaus
Wasserhaus (Münchenstein)
The residential estate Wasserhaus is in the sub-district Neue Welt, Münchenstein, Basel-Country near Basel The German word "Siedlung" means settlement .-Geographical location:...
(1920/21) in the sub-district „Neue Welt
Neue Welt
The Neue Welt is a sub-district of Münchenstein, in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland.-Geographical location:The geographical area called the Neue Welt evolved in the 17th century as the industry started establishing itself around the upper end of the "St. Alban-Teich". This is a canal,...
“ in Münchenstein
Münchenstein
Münchenstein is a municipality in the district of Arlesheim in the canton of Basel-Landschaft in Switzerland.-Historical records:Münchenstein is first mentioned in 1196 as Kekingen. In 1270 it was mentioned as Geckingen and in 1279 as Munchenstein.* 1259: The hamlet and the mill, between "Neue...
. The Wasserhaus estate was developed by Brodtbeck concluding the original plans drawn by Prof. Hans Benno Bernoulli
Hans Benno Bernoulli
Hans Benno Bernoulli was a famous Swiss architect.- Biography :Bernoulli was born in Basel, the son of an office clerk, Theodor Bernoulli...
, Basel, (1876–1959). Due to the unique archetype nature and the prototypical neighbourhood, the Wasserhaus estate was taken up in the Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance
Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance
The Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance is a register of some 8,300 items of cultural property in Switzerland...
. Inventar der schützenswerten Ortsbilder (ISOS).
Honorary Work
Wilhelm Brodtbeck worked 20 years in the commission for the municipality („Gemeindekommission") of Liestal and he was member of the board of management of the Basel protected historic site/landmark (Heimatschutzes).Scripts
Wilhelm Brodtbeck also wrote poems, pageants and prose:- "Junges Blut" Gedichte 1899, (poems dated 1899)
- "D Vermögesabgab". Zeitbilder aus der jüngsten Vergangenheit. Festspiel am Kantonalschützenfest beider Basel in Liestal 1923. (Time essays of the latest history, pageant for the festival fair featuring shooting matches of the canton Basel-Country in Liestal 1923).