Popular opinion is that old buildings deserve be preserved, restored, used and loved.
Popular opinion however has a very singular and narrow definition of “old.” A definition normally based on a simplified, generic, understanding of visual beauty rather than age or historical relevance.
Something that means a lot of 1950s buildings are all too often classed as meaningless post-war quick-fixes.
And so ignored.
Allowed to fall in disrepair.
Demolished.
Munich based photographer Hans Engels felt something needed to be done and so started the photo project “Aufbruch! Architektur der 1950er Jahre” – Takeoff! 1950s Architecture – to highlight some of the delights of 1950s architecture still to be found in Germany.
The photo project became a book and the book has become an exhibition which from Thursday July 3rd can be enjoyed at the Stiftung Stadtgedächtnis in Cologne.
Presenting 23 large format photos by Hans Engels the exhibition aims to show that 1950s architecture isn’t all about soulless concrete functionality but does include some truly delightful objects that are not only valuable architectural creations in their own right, but which have also contributed positively to the story of German architecture.
Buildings such as the Park-Café in Cologne’s Rheinpark.
Designed by Austrian architect Rambald von Steinbüchel-Rheinwall in context of the 1957 Cologne Garden Festival, the Park-Café is characterised by a free standing kidney shaped roof terrace floating above a glass fronted first floor dining room. And is very much a building of its time. Organic, modern and completely untroubled by any inclination as to what either of those terms may mean.
It is also currently empty. A situation the initiative Perle sucht Dame hope to change.
The exhibition Aufbruch! Architektur der 1950er Jahre has been organised by Perle sucht Dame with the intention of helping stimulate a debate about our relationship to 1950s architecture and so encourage more people to take an active interest in those works that surround them. Such as the Park-Café.
Aufbruch! Architektur der 1950er Jahre runs at the Stiftung Stadtgedächtnis, Große Budengasse 10, 50667 Cologne from Thursday July 3rd until Saturday August 30th 2014.
Park-Café Rheinpark Cologne (Photo: http://rheinparkcafe-koeln.de)