Stopover in Dresden...

We just left Vienna where we saw Hans Hollein, Coop Himmelb(l)au, Berger + Parkkinen, the new Museumquartier and Architekturzentrum and a lot of buildings.
On our way to Berlin we made a Full Stop in Dresden to visit the impressive reconstruction site of Frauenkirche and the futuristic UFA Cinema Center designed by Coop Himmelb(l)au..... two buildings at opposite poles.

 

Photo: Kirsten Kiser

Built from 1726 to 1743, by architect Georg Bähr, the monumental Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) was the jewel of Dresden for two centuries. Bombed during the allied raid on Feb.14, 1945, Frauenkirche burned for two days before collapsing into a pile of charred stones.

The demolished Frauenkirche was preserved as a precious ruin in the heart of Dresden for some 50 years.
Under reconstruction since the early 90's the restorers hope to remove damaged elements while preserving the many fragments salvaged from the treasured church by survivors.

Photo: Kirsten Kiser

The futuristic UFA Cinema Center opened in 1998.
Wolf Prix gives the term "Deconstructivist" substantial meaning. In his designs, structure and function are subordinate to the building program.

Photo: Kirsten Kiser

Photo: Kirsten Kiser
"The program's components are treated as spacial episodes in an overall narrative structure"
No one said it better than Herbert Muschamp

Coop Himme(l)bau (Partners Wolf Prix and Helmut Swiczinsky) recently won the competition for the Akron Art Museum's (new 50,000 square foot building to be constructed adjacent to the existing museum. Groundbreaking is scheduled for 2003. We congratulated Wolf Prix at his Vienna office before going to visit Coop Himmelb(l)au's latest project Gasometer.

Photo: Kirsten Kiser

More details about the UFA Cinema Center and other Coop Himmelb(l)au project coming soon.

P.S. No time in front of the keyboard in Berlin..... we will be there soon.

October 7, 2001