Bockenheimer Landstrasse 102

From upper middle-class villa to cultural institution

That a major city like Frankfurt is in a state of constant change is an unavoidable necessity, which in many ways also has a positive effect on the cityscape. But whenever an important cultural institution, a striking building or a place that many people have grown fond of has to make way for change, the change is always accompanied by a great deal of melancholy. In other cases, however, constant change can also free the city from unwelcome building sins. But despite all the changes, it is always important not to lose sight of tradition. For many buildings have a significance that goes far beyond the architectural. What happened in a building can thus be of greater significance for the city's history and thus also for the current cityscape than its architectural style, which may no longer be entirely in keeping with the times. It is important that such houses do not simply disappear in a blind frenzy of change, as they represent an important mirror for the history of the city.

One such house has now had its own book dedicated to it, "Bockenheimer Landstrasse 102". The history of the building, which is probably known to most people as the former Literaturhaus, is so multifaceted that many important stages in Frankfurt's city history over the last 100 years can be read from it. In order to better understand this, the book first of all takes a general look at the upper middle-class villa culture, from its beginnings to its demise. Not only the representational function of the outer façade, but also the function of the individual rooms inside are dealt with. A very interesting chapter, followed by a foray into the history of Bockenheimer Landstrasse. Before actually dealing with the house with the number 102, its creator, the architect Alfred Engelhard, and his work as well as its importance for Frankfurt and Offenbach are first introduced in more detail.

But then it goes into the villa, to which this highly interesting book is actually dedicated. The interesting, very multi-faceted history of the house is discussed in detail in the following chapters, with the recollections of Eva Sondheimer-Stroh, who spent her childhood here, being particularly exciting to read. Supported by numerous archive photographs, documents or drawings of the use of space in the various chapters of the house's history, the path to becoming an important Frankfurt cultural monument is traced. The whole is rounded off by very atmospheric photos that document the current vacancy of the historic villa.

So the book allows the reader an excursion into a piece of Frankfurt's contemporary history that is both worth reading and worth seeing, represented by a house whose significance for the city's history will probably only be fully appreciated by most people after reading "Bockenheimer Landstrasse 102". In addition, the book makes you want to take a closer look at Frankfurt's city history on the one hand and to follow the future of the former Literaturhaus on the other. For all those who are interested in very special aspects of the city's history and in the upper middle-class villa culture, this book is: Absolutely recommendable!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp