Brunswick Palace

Brunswick Palace, known in German as Braunschweiger Schloss or Braunschweiger Residenzschloss, was a palace on Bohlweg in the centre of Brunswick, Lower Saxony. It served as the residence of the dukes of Brunswick from 1753 until the end of the German monarchy in November 1918. The site therefore represents both the political history of the Duchy of Brunswick and the changing urban character of the city. Construction of the first palace began in 1718 under the direction of architect Hermann Korb. That building was destroyed by fire in 1830. A replacement palace was subsequently designed by Carl Theodor Ottmer and completed in 1841. The second palace became the principal architectural expression of the ducal residence and remained a major landmark in the city centre. The building suffered extensive damage during the air raids of the Second World War. Although the palace had been a significant historic structure, Brunswick's city council ultimately directed its complete demolition in 1960. The cleared site was subsequently used as the Palace Park, or Schlosspark. The park remained until the city council resolved in 2004 to redevelop the area with a large shopping centre. The redevelopment project, known as Schloss-Arkaden or Palace Arcades, incorporated a faithful reconstruction of the western façade of Ottmer's nineteenth-century palace. The construction area was cleared in stages, with the remaining site removed in spring 2005 and the cleared land prepared by spring 2007. Schloss-Arkaden opened to the public on 6 May 2007. The resulting complex is not the surviving historic palace: the original structure had been demolished decades earlier, while the reconstructed façade serves as an architectural and commemorative reference within a modern commercial development. Brunswick Palace received the Peter Joseph Krahe Prize in 2009. The award reflects the site's architectural and urban significance, particularly the relationship between the historic palace design, its postwar destruction, and the later reconstruction of its prominent façade. Today, the name principally denotes the former royal and ducal residence, its architectural legacy, and the reconstructed palace frontage associated with Schloss-Arkaden rather than an operating commercial brand.

Brunswick Palace was a ducal residence situated on Bohlweg in the centre of Brunswick, in what is now Lower Saxony, Germany. Its historical importance derived from its role as the residence of the Brunswick dukes from 1753 until 8 November 1918, when the revolutionary collapse of the German monarchies ended the institution of the ducal court. The first palace was begun in 1718 under the direction of Hermann Korb. Korb's building was destroyed by fire in 1830, creating the need for a replacement residence. Carl Theodor Ottmer designed the second palace, which was completed in 1841. This later building became the best-known architectural form of the residence and provided the façade that would eventually be reconstructed after the original palace disappeared. The palace was heavily damaged during the air raids of the Second World War. In the postwar period, the city faced the practical and political question of whether to preserve, restore, or remove the damaged structure. Brunswick's city council decided to demolish the palace completely in 1960. The former building site was then converted into the Palace Park, known as Schlosspark, leaving no intact palace structure on the location. The park remained in place for several decades. In 2004, the city council approved a plan to redevelop the central site with a large shopping centre called Schloss-Arkaden, or Palace Arcades. The redevelopment involved removing the park and clearing the site. The remaining ground was removed in spring 2005, and by spring 2007 the area had been cleared for the new construction. A central feature of the project was the reconstruction of the western façade of Ottmer's palace. This was intended as a faithful architectural reproduction of the historic frontage, while the interior and broader function of the new complex were modern and commercial rather than residential or governmental. Schloss-Arkaden opened to the public on 6 May 2007. Consequently, the present-day architectural reference to Brunswick Palace is a reconstructed façade integrated into a shopping-centre complex, not the original nineteenth-century palace. The site received the Peter Joseph Krahe Prize in 2009. Its history illustrates the layered development of a German urban landmark: an eighteenth-century ducal residence, a nineteenth-century replacement after fire, a wartime-damaged building demolished in the postwar era, a landscaped interim site, and finally a commercial redevelopment incorporating a historicist reconstruction. Brunswick Palace is therefore best understood as a former palace and heritage landmark rather than an active brand, operating institution, or surviving royal residence.

• 2009

  Peter Joseph Krahe Prize

  [1]Brunswick Palaceen.wikipedia.org

  Brunswick Palace was recorded as receiving the Peter Joseph Krahe Prize.

• 2007

  Schloss-Arkaden opens

  [1]Brunswick Palaceen.wikipedia.org

  The new complex, incorporating a reconstructed western palace façade, opened to the public on 6 May.

• 2005

  Palace Park site cleared

  [1]Brunswick Palaceen.wikipedia.org

  The remaining Palace Park was removed during the spring as part of preparations for redevelopment.

• 2004

  Shopping-centre redevelopment approved

  [1]Brunswick Palaceen.wikipedia.org

  The city council resolved to replace the Palace Park site with the Schloss-Arkaden shopping-centre project, including a reconstruction of the historic western façade.

• 1960

  Palace demolished

  [1]Brunswick Palaceen.wikipedia.org

  After severe damage from Second World War air raids, the remaining palace structure was completely demolished by decision of Brunswick's city council.

• 1918

  End of ducal residential use

  [1]Brunswick Palaceen.wikipedia.org

  The palace ceased to be the residence of the Brunswick dukes on 8 November 1918 amid the end of German monarchical rule.

• 1841

  Ottmer palace completed

  [1]Brunswick Palaceen.wikipedia.org

  Carl Theodor Ottmer's replacement palace was completed and became the principal historic form later used for façade reconstruction.

• 1830

  First palace destroyed by fire

  [1]Brunswick Palaceen.wikipedia.org

  The first palace building burned down, leading to the construction of a replacement.

• 1753

  Palace becomes a ducal residence

  [1]Brunswick Palaceen.wikipedia.org

  Brunswick Palace began serving as the residence of the Brunswick dukes.

• 1718

  Construction of the first palace begins

  [1]Brunswick Palaceen.wikipedia.org

  Work on the original Brunswick Palace began under the direction of architect Hermann Korb.

Historic architectural landmark and former ducal residence; its reconstructed façade is integrated into a modern shopping-centre development.

• 2004

  Decision to redevelop the Palace Park siteStrategy

  Background

  The former palace grounds had been occupied by the Palace Park since the demolition of the damaged building in 1960.

  Action taken

  The city council approved construction of the Schloss-Arkaden shopping centre and planned a faithful reconstruction of the historic western façade.

  Aftermath

  The park was removed, the site was cleared, and a modern retail complex incorporating the reconstructed façade opened in 2007.

  Source

• 1960

  Decision to demolish the damaged palaceStrategy

  Background

  The palace had sustained heavy damage during Second World War air raids, and the city had to determine how to treat the surviving structure in the postwar urban environment.

  Action taken

  Brunswick's city council directed the complete demolition of the palace.

  Aftermath

  The former palace site was converted into the Palace Park, leaving no original palace building standing.

  Source

1. 1Brunswick Palaceen.wikipedia.org