Let’s go to one of the most popular streets in Bremen, which was placed under monumental protection in 1973. This street is one of the greatest sites in Bremen and it houses the Böttcherstraße Museums, art workshops, gastronomy, retail stores and a hotel. The Bremen Sparkasse owns most buildings in the Böttcherstraße.Majority of the buildings here were constructed between 1922 and 1931. Bremen merchant Ludwig Roselius contracted Bernhard Hoetger, a famous craftsman to take over the artistic design. The 100 metres long street and its buildings are an example of expressionist architecture.Böttcherstraße’s history dates back to the medieval time. It connected the Marktplatz and the Weser-River. In these times, Böttcher,(coopers) Kimker, Fass – und Zubermacher (barrel- and tub makers) lived there. The harbour was moved in the 19th century, and therefore Böttcherstraße lost its importance.In 1921 today’s Roselius Haus was converted to a museum. Numerous parts of the Böttcherstraße were destroyed in 1944. For the most part, by 1954 the facades were restored to their former condition again.In 1979 Roselius jun. sold the “Kaffee HAG” company and the Böttcherstraße to General Foods, but repurchased it in 1981. The street was then privately owned.Sparkasse Bremen purchased Böttcherstraße including its buildings (except for the Haus Atlantis) in 1989 and finalised all restoration work in 1999.- The “Robinson-Crusoe-Haus” was the last house built on the street in 1931. It was used by Club Bremen until 1944. Visitors can follow its history on carved wooden boards in the stairwell today.- The “Haus der Sieben Faulen” (house of seven lazy guys) was built between 1924 and 1927 and served as a business office for the German Work Federation. - The “Haus St. Petrus” was built by Eduard Scotland and Alfred Runge between 1923 and 1927 and served gastronomy purposes. The restaurant “Ständige Vertretung im Flett” is still located there today.
Photo Böttcherstraße Bremen Juli 2009 PD 028 by Bin im Garten is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0