Mollerbau
In 1819 (Georg Moller's court theatre)
A quintessential point of the arrangement of Darmstadt to the capital and seat of power of the Grand Duchy recreated in 1806 Hessen, the Grand Duke Ludwig I with Georg Moller appointed in 1810 to the court construction manager planned, the theatrical new building was between castle and man's garden.
The new "court theatre" was with 1800 places only theatre causes for the court, with priority, however, educational institution for the citizens, »for the transportation of true clarification and spreading of useful knowledge« as one said in the decrees for the at the same time ordered opening of court library and museum for the general public.
In 1871 (The theatrical fire)
The conversion of the court theatre on gas lighting in 1855 documented the move of the technical age in Darmstadt. In the end, in spite of partly rather risqué experiments with the gas flames it was the casual carelessness of an illuminator which allowed to rise the insufficiently secure construction on the 24th of October, 1871 in flames. Only Mollers classicistic portico and the outside walls were saved. Nur Mollers klassizistischer Portikus und die Außenmauern wurden gerettet.
Contemporary stings to the varied reports on the theatrical fire which book the questionable documentation value of such representations in the rather different intensity of the fire application.
In 1872 (An opera for Darmstadt?
)
For the reconstruction of the court theatre wanted to win prince Alexander, the younger brother of the Grand Duke who took over the management of the theatrical commission, the famous theatrical architects Gottfried Semper in Vienna who was just occupied with the reconstruction of his opera-house burnt down shortly before in Dresden. The Darmstadt theatrical operator Carl Brandt who was involved together with Semper in the preliminary works for Richard Wagner's festival performance house created the contacts.
For Semper which came at the end of February, 1872 to Darmstadt to present his ideas, the preservation of the minor Porticus, was »an absolute obstacle for the draught of a nice, contemporary architect's plan« to which also a part of the preserved outside walls should give way.
In 1879 (The reconstruction)
The reconstruction will transfer after elimination Sempers and prince Alexander who renounced his "theatrical dictatorship" to which till then in the building authorities Bensheim active government building surveyor Christian Horst presented, his plans in 1876.
The costs became from those of Semper 1.3 millions estimated at 975,000 guilders diminishedly. When Grand Duke Ludwig III died in summer, the shell was ready, however, the technology could be still modernised after the ideas by machine manager Brandt.
The new building which held the outside walls of the minor-construction the core construction, however, for the installation of the modern stage technique increased, it was initiated in October, 1879 with Wagner "Lohengrin".
Plan and cuts of the Horst'schen plans of 1876/1879 which in numerous details basis for the restoration of the historical rooms (input area and side entrance halls) was in the new construction finished now.
In 1904 (The modernisation)
The internal rebuilding of the court theatre after only 25 years had to do on the one hand to the changed time taste, the Grand Duke under the aegis Ernst Ludwig carried out crossing to the modern "style stage", on the other hand since the fire disaster in
Viennese ring theatres in 1881 raised security standards calculation carry.The reorganisation carried out in 1904/1905 took over the specialist's team of the Viennese architect's office of Fellner stated by numerous theatrical constructions in whole Europe & Helmer who had also built in Wiesbaden and Mainz.
In 1944 (The fire night)
With the destructive bomb attack at the so-called "fire night" from the 11th to the 12th of September, 1944 the minor-construction become in 1920 to the "land theatre" was also destroyed.
Beside portico and outside walls a part of the concrete-roofed coat construction was also preserved, while stage and auditorium burnt out in the internal wall square completely.
In 1953 (How are of use?
)
After the temporary stop of the protection works on the minor-construction demanded the »Medium Rhenish architect and engineer association« and the »association educated in the beginning of 1953 of the friends of the big house« against the removal plans developed in the meantime for the orangery as an »only portable and lasting solution "den alsbaldigen" reconstruction of the big house«.
The first plans presented dipl. engineer Wilhelm Zimmer, town delegate of the free voters, and the former town government building surveyor August Buxbaum for the new construction in and with the preserved structural fabric. A professional certificate presented in the end of 1953 of the theatrical architect Armin spring explained a new building in the old encirclement walls, nevertheless, for absolutely "unsuitable" and recommended a theatrical new building at other place with preservation of the minor-construction »for another cultural purpose«.
In 1992 (The house of the history)
After a study of the Darmstadt City Council had underlined in spring, 1970 the urgency of a first-in first-out congressional centre and hotel centre for the further development of Darmstadt, the "Steigenberger Consulting GmbH" in March, 1971 presented a new plan draught which wanted to connect a hall construction in externally on the dimensions of 1819 diminished »big house» with a 20-storied hotel construction in the man's garden.
The technical college recommended a common »congressional centre and educational centre» in the Mollerbau to the town, instead. The studies made in addition of the Th professor Max Bächer also discussed the possibility of a use of the interior of the minor-ruin for library magazines or archive magazines.
A draught sketch of 1974 connected the planned convention hall with the archive new building brought in the meantime in the conversation.
