TIMERIDEBlog
Frankfurt and its half-timbered houses - The development of the New Old Town
With its stock exchange and trade fair, banks and skyscrapers, the vibrant metropolis of Frankfurt am Main is synonymous with the modern world of finance. But with Ebbelwoi and half-timbered houses, it also stands for coziness. However, this side of Frankfurt had long disappeared from the heart of the city – until the construction of the New Old Town.
From Katharina Heinrich on 07.11.2024
Sunk in the bombs of the Second World War, the old Frankfurt almost completely disappeared from the cityscape. During reconstruction, the city planners laid out a new layout over the former old town – including wide streets for the increasing car traffic, generous squares and spacious inner courtyards. The winding alleyways and small squares were hardly missed, especially not in the planning offices. Half-timbered houses and cobblestones were considered dusty, while asphalt, bare concrete and glass were considered chic. The greater the contrast between old and new, the better. Probably the best-known example of this trend was the Technical City Hall, built in 1974 right next to the Imperial Cathedral.
The rediscovery
In the 1980s, people slowly returned to the coziness of the old town. The old half-timbered houses on the east side of the Römerberg square, which until then had been almost derelict, were rebuilt true to the original. This also brought tourism back to the heart of Frankfurt. The square with the Justitia Fountain and the “Römer”, between St. Paul’s Church and the Imperial Cathedral, was to form the backdrop for numerous celebrations in the following years – such as the 1990 World Cup triumph.
Turning new into (almost) old
But that was not all – the area between Römerberg and the imperial cathedral also became the focus of urban planning. The idea of the new Dom-Römer district was born: back to small alleyways, cozy squares and houses with half-timbered houses, red Main sandstone and slate. After the demolition of the Technical Town Hall, the area was transformed back into a dense old town center between 2012 and 2018. Historians, archaeologists and architects worked hand in hand to reconstruct the New Old Town around Hühnermarkt and Rebstock according to historical models. However, the new old houses also confidently show that they are interpretations of the old houses – with their own character that combines traditional materials and forms with modern building techniques and design in a rather unique way.
Katharina Heinrich
studied classical archaeology and history, which is why she is particularly interested in ancient for ancient cultures and the origin of of objects, buildings and concepts. and concepts. During various excavations, she has learned how important even the the smallest and most inconspicuous objects can be for the history of mankind.
