Alfred Fischer (architect)

Updated on Jan 04, 2024

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Name Alfred Fischer		Role Architect

Died April 10, 1950, Murnau am Staffelsee, Germany

Alfred Fischer (29 August 1881 - 10 April 1950) was a German architect.

Born in Stuttgart, Alfred Fischer studied from 1900 to 1904 at the Stuttgart Technical University of Architecture under Professor Theodor Fischer (no relation). In 1904 he deferred the 1st State examination and from 1905/1906 worked in Berlin as an assistant for the urban design consultant Ludwig Hoffmann and from 1906 to 1908 with Paul Schultze-Naumburg. In 1909 he became a teacher at the College of Arts and Crafts in Dusseldorf (Kunstgewerbeschule Dusseldorf) 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.

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. He died at Murnau am Staffelsee in 1950.

Buildings

Prospect and water tower at Zeche Mont Cenis, 1912-1913, Herne-Sodingen, in the Volkspark

Factory for the Pit Emil Zeche Konigin Elisabeth, 1913, Essen-Frillendorf, Elisabethstrase

Pit for Zeche Sachsen I/II, 1912-1914, Hamm-Heessen, Sachsenweg (1922-1925 additional buildings by Fischer)

So-called 'Patriotic Monument', 1913, Essen-Bredeney, in the municipal forest west of Bredeneyer Strase

Power station 'Vorgebirgszentrale', since 1917: 'Goldenberg-Works (and/or 'Kraftwerk Goldenberg'), for the Rheinisch-Westfalische Elektrizitatswerke AG (RWE), 1913-1914, Hurth-Knapsack

Pumping plant, Alte Emscher for the Emschergenossenschaft (Emscher Cooperative), 1914, Duisburg-Hamborn-Beeck, Alsumer Strase

'Volkshaus Rotthausen' (Rotthausen Community Centre), 1919-1920, Gelsenkirchen-Rotthausen, Gruner 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 fur Huttenbetrieb, 1923-1925, Duisburg-Meiderich (Obermeiderich), Emscherstrase 57

Parish Church of St. Antonius, 1924-1925, Castrop-Rauxel-Ickern, Ickerner Strase 66

'Hans-Sachs-Haus' (Office building with shops, concert hall and hotel), 1924-1927, Gelsenkirchen, Ebertstrase / Munkelstrase / Vattmannstrase

Winding tower for Zeche Konigsborn Pit III/IV, 1924-1929, Altenbogge (today called Bonen)

Sachsse House, 1926-1927, Essen-Bredeney, Walter-Sachsse-Weg 8

Pumping station and smelter for the Emschergenossenschaft, 1927, Duisburg-Hamborn-Schwelgern, Neue Schwelgernstrase 135

Imhoff House, 1927-1928, Essen, Robert-Schmidt-Strase 8

Richard Hessberg House, 1928, Essen-Bredeney, Stocksiepen 12

Administration building for the 'Siedlungsverband Ruhrkohlenbezirk' (today: Regionalverband Ruhr), 1929, Essen, Kronprinzenstrase 35

Lyseum (today: High School), 1929-1930 (1931?), Essen-Bredeney, Grashofstrase 55/57

Riding sports hall, 1932, Essen, Wittenbergstrase

References

Alfred Fischer (architect) Wikipedia

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