Preservation of the historic sandstone exterior at the old Kaufhof edifice to be prioritized as extensively as feasible
In the heart of Offenbach, Germany, a significant historical discovery has been made. The remains of a sandstone facade from the early 20th century have been unearthed in the former Kaufhof building, which is currently undergoing transformation into Station Mitte, a cultural and learning centre scheduled for completion in 2026.
The sandstone facade, spanning 32 meters of the original 1907 building and the 1930 extension, has withstood numerous structural changes over the decades, remaining in good condition according to a report by a renowned sandstone expert, Dr. Anette Ritter-Höll.
The city council shares the desire to make the facade visible again, but the question of how the costs for its potential restoration can be integrated into the existing renovation plan remains to be answered. Financial resources for the transformation of Station Mitte are limited, and it must be determined whether and how these costs can be accommodated.
The dialogue procedure for the tendering of a general contractor responsible for the renovation of Station Mitte is already underway. In the coming months, it will be decided to what extent the sandstone facade can be made visible again and incorporated into the new design of the building.
Large parts of the building, including the attic and the corresponding facade, were rebuilt without sandstone in the late 1940s. At the corner of Frankfurter Street/Herrn Street, where the main entrance once stood, the historical facade is no longer present.
The discovery of this well-preserved section of the original sandstone facade has caught the attention of passersby and Dr. Ritter-Höll, who noted that the condition of the sandstone is without significant weathering, suggesting that other axes under metal are likely in a similar good condition.
Martin Wilhelm, city treasurer and chairman of the supervisory board of Station Mitte GmbH, has expressed the wish of many residents to make the facade visible again. Andreas Herzog, managing director of Station Mitte GmbH, is pleased with the positive assessment of the sandstone facade but warns against raising false expectations.
Paul-Gerhard Weiß, building commissioner and deputy chairman of the supervisory board of Station Mitte GmbH, summarizes that only a part of the former facade is still present under the aluminum panels applied by the Kaufhof AG in the 1960s. Efforts will now be made to preserve and integrate this historical treasure into the new design of Station Mitte.
The discovery of the sandstone facade adds an exciting layer to Offenbach's architectural and urban development projects, such as the new building of the Hochschule für Gestaltung at Offenbach Harbour. Restoration and preservation projects in nearby Frankfurt and Hamburg, including energy-efficient modernization of museums and heritage façade replacements with compliance to heritage requirements, offer a promising precedent for the future of Station Mitte.
Despite the lack of specific information about the cost and restoration plans for the sandstone facade in the current search results, it is hoped that this historical treasure will be given the attention it deserves during the renovation process.
The discovery of the well-preserved sandstone facade, a remnant of the home-and-garden lifestyle of the early 20th-century building, has sparked debate about its potential restoration and integration into the architecture of the upcoming Station Mitte, a home-and-garden-inspired cultural and learning center.
Dr. Ritter-Höll, a renowned sandstone expert, believes that other sections under metal panels in the building may also be in good condition, suggesting a larger scope for the home-and-garden aesthetic in the renovation plans of Station Mitte.
