A historic architectural gem in Hannover has been brought back to life after years of neglect. The Poelzig Building, located along the Mittelland Canal in the Vinnhorst district, has been meticulously restored and is now ready for occupancy as a modern office complex.
The brick building had been dormant for years, literally surrounded by stubborn bramble bushes that had grown wild around its perimeter. Despite its abandoned state, the structure represents a true architectural jewel, featuring a dramatically zigzagged facade that makes it one of Hannover's most distinctive buildings.
Along with the Anzeiger High-Rise at Steintor, this protected monument stands as the most important example of brick expressionist architecture in Hannover. The internationally renowned architect Hans Poelzig originally designed the building in 1924, making it nearly a century old.
Investor Steffen Dreßler has spent two years overseeing the careful restoration of the Poelzig Building, working in close consultation with heritage preservation authorities. The completion of the project was recently celebrated with guests from politics, city administration, and the construction industry gathering to view the transformed space.
Kai Schröder, representing the first tenant to move into the restored building, expressed his enthusiasm for the project. His company, PFI Planungsgemeinschaft GmbH (PFI Planning Community), will occupy two entire floors, comprising approximately 40 percent of the building's total space. As a company executive, Schröder was experiencing his future workplace for the first time during the unveiling event, and despite the rainy weather, he was impressed by the light-filled rooms.
'A lost place has been transformed into something new while preserving its historical substance,' Schröder praised. The planning office specializes in urban drainage systems and employs 110 people total, with 50 based in Hannover. The company plans to implement flexible workplace concepts in their new location, hoping that the unique working environment combining historic architecture with modern interior design will boost employee satisfaction. 'This creates a binding effect,' the executive believes.
Dreßler invested considerable attention to detail in reconstructing the building's original condition. This careful restoration work is immediately visible from the street level, where visitors can now see a beautifully decorated double-wing entrance door that has been faithfully recreated. The windows in this section of the facade consist of long vertical light bands, structured by delicate wooden mullions arranged in diamond patterns.
Achieving this level of authenticity required extensive detective work. 'The entire building was in terrible condition, the front entrance no longer existed, and the opening had been bricked up,' Dreßler explained. The city, which had been the long-time owner, had failed to maintain the property properly, leaving it vacant for years.
Fortunately, restoration experts discovered an original fragment of the old entrance door in the building's basement. 'They had simply sawed it off and cut a hole in it,' Dreßler recounted, displaying a mixture of indignation and amusement when telling the story.
For restoration specialist Guido Kramp from Lemgo, this door fragment represented a genuine treasure, though its value wasn't immediately apparent. 'The door was covered with panels, but I had a feeling I needed to look behind them,' explained Kramp, a carpenter who specializes in historic monuments. His instincts proved correct when he uncovered the door's artistic structure and original colors beneath the modern coverings.
Using this basement discovery along with old black-and-white photographs, Kramp was able to determine the exact measurements of the door ornaments, enabling him to reconstruct both the entrance and the surrounding wooden windows. His company, Kramp and Kramp, handled all the woodwork throughout the building, including the staircase restoration. 'Personally, this project gave me great satisfaction,' the restoration expert noted.
Dreßler invested approximately 6 million euros in purchasing and renovating the historic property, which now meets modern building standards. The restoration includes contemporary amenities such as heat pumps and underfloor heating systems. Three floors, each containing 450 square meters of space, remain available for lease.
'The office market isn't easy at the moment,' Dreßler acknowledged. Nevertheless, the investor beams with pride when discussing his projects. He previously restored the historic Marine Building not far away in Hainholz and constructed the student residential high-rise Hainbase next to it, which he has since sold.
Unlike his other ventures, Dreßler has chosen to retain the heritage-protected buildings in his private ownership portfolio. When he speaks about these historic properties, his eyes clearly shine with pride, reflecting his deep personal investment in preserving Hannover's architectural heritage.
The successful restoration of the Poelzig Building demonstrates how careful preservation work can breathe new life into historic structures while meeting the needs of modern businesses. The project serves as a model for how architectural heritage can be maintained and repurposed for contemporary use, ensuring that these cultural treasures continue to contribute to the urban landscape for future generations.
The building's transformation from a neglected, overgrown structure to a modern office facility represents more than just a real estate development – it's a preservation of cultural history and architectural significance that adds value to Hannover's built environment. With its first tenant already moving in and additional space available, the Poelzig Building stands ready to begin its second century of service to the community.
