Alfred Fischer (architect)

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Alfred Fischer (born 29th August 1881 in Stuttgart, died 10th April 1950 in Murnau am Staffelsee) was a German architect.

Alfred Fischer studied from 1900 to 1904 at the Stuttgart Technical University of Architecture under Professor Theodor Fischer (no relation). In 1904 he defered the 1st State examination and from 1905/1906 worked in Berlin as an assistant for the urban design consultant Ludwig Hoffman and from 1906 to 1908 with Paul Schultze Naumburg. In 1909 he became a teacher at the College of Arts and Crafts in Duesseldorf (Kunstgewerbeschule Düsseldorf under Wilhelm Kreis. From 1911 to 1933 he led the Essen Arts and Crafts School (later called the Folkwangschule). In 1921 he was awarded a professorship. In 1929 he was awarded an Engineering doctorate from the Hannover Technical University ((Dr. - engineer E.h.).

Fischer was a member of the German Architects Federation (Bund Deutscher Architekten - BDA) and an executive member of the Deutscher Werkbund (DWB). Apart from his teaching activity he worked freelance as an architect, for some years in partnership with the architect Richard Speidel.

After the change of power in 1933 to the Nazis, as an advocate of modern architecture (see Neue Sachlichkeit, modernism, Bauhaus) and modern training concepts, he experienced increasing difficulties with the school. He was given time off and soon after moved into premature retirement. Fischer left Essen and moved to Murnau.

The Ruhrgebiet has Alfred Fischer to thank for numerous buildings, important examples of regional architectural history and also a legacy of acknowledged contributions to industrial culture.

The title 'Alfred Fischer-Essen' has been given to him to distinguish him from the architect Alfred Fischer who was active at the same time in Karlsruhe.

[edit] Buildings

(Incomplete list)

Prospect and water tower at Zeche Mont Cenis, 1912-1913, Herne-Sodingen, im Volkspark
Factory for the Pit Emil Zeche Königin Elisabeth, 1913, Essen-Frillendorf, Elisabethstraße
Pit for Zeche Sachsen I/II, 1912-1914, Hamm-Heessen, Sachsenweg (1922-1925 durch weitere Bauten von Fischer ergänzt)
So-called 'Patriotic Monument', 1913, Essen-Bredeney, im Gemeindewald westlich oberhalb der Bredeneyer Straße
Power station 'Vorgebirgszentrale', since 1917: 'Goldenberg-Works (and/or 'Kraftwerk Goldenberg'), for the Rheinisch-Westfälische Elektrizitätswerke AG (RWE), 1913-1914, Hürth-Knapsack
Pumping plant , Alte Emscher for the Emschergenossenschaft (Emsher Cooperative), 1914, Duisburg-Hamborn-Beeck, Alsumer Straße
'Rotthausen Community Centre', 1919-1920, Gelsenkirchen-Rotthausen, Grüner Weg 3
Kern House, 1922-1923, Essen-Bredeney, Hohe Buchen 12
Own House of Alfred Fischer, 1922-1923, Essen-Bredeney, Hohe Buchen 5
Administration building of AG Hüttenbetrieb, 1923-1925, Duisburg-Meiderich (Obermeiderich), Emscherstraße 57
Parish Chuch of St. Antonius, 1924-1925, Castrop-Rauxel-Ickern, Ickerner Straße 66
Hans Sachs House (Office and shops with concert hall and hotel ), 1924-1927, Gelsenkirchen, Ebertstraße / Munkelstraße / Vattmannstraße
Winding tower for Zeche Königsborn Pit III/IV, 1924-1929, Altenbögge (today called Bönen)
Sachsse house, 1926-1927, Essen-Bredeney, Walter-Sachsse-Weg 8
Pumping station and smelter for the Emscher cooperative, 1927, Duisburg-Hamborn-Schwelgern, Neue Schwelgernstraße 135
Imhoff house, 1927-1928, Essen, Robert-Schmidt-Straße 8
Richard Hessberg house, 1928, Essen-Bredeney, Stocksiepen 12
Administration building for the Ruhr coal-mining area land settlement association. (today called: Regionalverband Ruhr), 1929, Essen, Kronprinzenstraße 35
Lyseum (today: High School), 1929-1930 (1931?), Essen-Bredeney, Grashofstraße 55/57
Riding sports hall, 1932, Essen, Wittenbergstraße

[edit] Bibliography

Fischer, Alfred: Wohnhausform. Wege zur Gestaltung. Ravensburg, 1950.
Busch, Wilhelm: Bauten der 20er Jahre an Rhein und Ruhr. Köln, 1993.
Hendrich, Jörn-Hanno: Alfred Fischer-Essen 1881-1950, in: Deutsches Architektenblatt 1997, H. 10, S. 1454f.