Architecture
See the different building eras and architectural styles that characterize Stuttgart
Schlossplatz Stuttgart
The extraordinary thing about Stuttgart’s Schloßplatz is its size, probably one of the largest inner-city squares in Germany and also a “smorgasbord” of all the architectural styles we know from our architectural history. If you stand in front of the cour d’honneur of the New Palace and look towards the collegiate church (the south tower is still partly Romanesque and otherwise Gothic), you will see two buildings in the Renaissance style to the left and right of the choir, the Old Palace and the old chancellery, the Wittwer bookstore in the 20th century “concrete brutalism” style in the direction of Königstrasse, the art museum, as well as the old church.In the direction of Königstraße, the Wittwer bookshop in the “concrete brutalism” style of the 20th century, the art museum as a representative of the 21st century, the Königsbau in the classicist style of the 19th century, the Marqurardt building as an example of historicism or the Gründerzeit style, “Carls Brauhaus” as post-war architecture with elements from the Stuttgart School and finally the Kunstgebäude, a mixture of art nouveau and historicism.
Weißenhofsiedlung Stuttgart
The Weissenhof Estate was created in 1927 on the initiative of the Deutscher Werkbund on the theme of “the home” under the direction of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. 17 architects from five European countries ( Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Holland and France ) worked together on a project that has not been repeated to this day. Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Josef Frank, Walter Gropius, Richard Döcker, Peter Behrens and Mart Stam, to name but a few, wanted to show the public what a home for the modern city dweller could look like. The only requirement for all the architects was a flat roof. Apart from that, the architects had every opportunity to build their ideas in order to find solutions to the problems that arose after the industrialization era. Ultimately, to alleviate the housing shortage, a problem that is apparently always topical. I am also happy to offer you a tour of the estate, a visit to the Corbusier Museum (UNESCO World Heritage Site) is optional.
Stuttgart television tower
Inaugurated in 1956 after almost two years of construction, the television tower is considered the first of its kind in the world. Fritz Leonhardt and Erwin Heinle, the former responsible for statics and design, the latter for technical and artistic direction, gave the city of Stuttgart its unmistakable landmark to this day. The 217-metre-high tower rises above the city on a conical shell ring foundation eight meters below the surface. At 150 meters is the viewing platform, 2.40 meters higher is the “children’s viewing platform”, a special request of Leonhard, father of four children, who noted that children on the lower viewing platform could not see over the parapet. After all, his children would also want to visit the tower one day.
Old Palace and Schillerplatz
The only thing that has survived from the old castle to the present day is the so-called “motte”, an artificial mound that was necessary for a fortification in the marshy Nesenbach valley. Until the Renaissance, it was referred to as a moated castle surrounded by a moat, which was only drained in the 16th century. A drawbridge led over the moat to the castle square, which was only renamed Schillerplatz in the 19th century when Bertel Thorvaldsen’s Schiller monument was erected. The inner courtyard of the Old Palace is interesting and unique with the Gothic Dürnitz building from the 14th century and the Renaissance wings from the 16th century, which are grouped around an equestrian statue of Eberhard im Bart by the classicist sculptor Ludwig von Hofer. In the south wing, only visible from the outside, is the Protestant castle church, the only one of its kind in Germany. After the introduction of the Reformation in Württemberg in 1534, this “Church of the Word”, with a wide nave and a dominant pulpit, was intended to make it easier for preachers to proclaim the Gospel. Miraculously, this castle church is the only part of the Old Castle that was able to withstand both the great fire of 1931 and the bombing raids of 1944.
Stuttgart State Gallery
Anyone interested in architecture in Stuttgart will remember the heated debate when the new Staatsgalerie, designed by British architects James Stirling and Michael Wilford and Associates, was inaugurated in 1984 after five years of construction. Especially as the celebrated Stuttgart architect Günter Behnisch won the first design, but the municipal council demanded a revision of it and ultimately decided in favor of the British architects. This postmodern design, which adapts to the topographical situation of the city with its staggered construction and the U-shaped floor plan, echoes the perimeter block development destroyed in the Second World War, reflects the architecture of past centuries in its façades and historicizing quotations. We are happy to give you a short tour of the building on request.
Burial chapel on the Württemberg
The Counts of Württemberg have resided on this hilltop since the end of the 11th century, presumably after immigrating here from Luxembourg. Konrad von Wirtemberg, who married Luitgard von Beutelsbach in 1070, is mentioned as the first Württemberger. Three rings of walls fortified the castle complex, which was destroyed at the beginning of the 14th century by Esslingen and Rudolf von Habsburg’s imperial troops. This prompted the counts of Württemberg to retreat to the impassable and marshy Nesenbach valley, where they maintained a stud farm, the Stutengarten (=Stuttgart), and developed it into their new residence. They were protected on three sides by hills and only had to defend themselves to the east, which explains the impossible situation of today’s major city and state capital.
Stuttgart Trade Fair
The optimal location, opposite Stuttgart Airport, offers a total exhibition area of approx. 120,000 m², including a high-rise hall with 20,000 m² and 8 standard halls with 10,000 m² each. The congress center, which, like the entrance area, is located directly at the exhibition site, has a variable area of 10,000 m², the conference rooms can be divided up according to the needs of the visitors and events with rooms for 25-400 people. The large congress hall offers space for over 2,000 visitors, while the congress hall for up to 5,000 visitors is directly connected to the congress center.
