Rudolf Kern Explained

Rudolf Kern
Birth Date:end of 19th century
Birth Place:n.a.
Death Date:n.a.
Nationality:Prussian,
Occupation:architect

Rudolf Kern was an important designer and builder in Bydgoszcz, at the end of the Prussian period of the city. Most his works have been realized between 1903 and 1914. His artistic style relates to Art Nouveau and Modernism.

Life

Rudolf Kern allegedly practised in the studio of Józef Święcicki.From 1903 to the beginning of the 1920s, he ran his own architectural and construction office. At that time, like many architects from Bydgoszcz, he was involved in the design and construction of tenement houses that were then sold to profitable real estate brokers. This process was particularly noticeable in the erection of edifices along Cieszkowskiego Street.[1]

In Bydgoszcz, he lived until 1922 in his own house at the corner of Gdańska Street and Adam Mickiewicz Alley[2]

Style

Rudolf Kern's style is characterized by Art Nouveau features and details.

In 1912, one of his projects was awarded most beautiful new building of the year (together with Fritz Weidner's house at Kołłątaja street 1), in a competition organized by city authorities: it stands at 20 January 1920 Street 24.[3]

Works in Bydgoszcz

Main preserved buildings by Rudolf Kern in Bydgoszcz
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1900House at 4 August Cieszkowski StreetThe project was based on a Józef Święcicki's blueprint. The building underwent a thorough renovation in 2017-2018.
1902–1903House at 10 August Cieszkowski StreetThe plot where stands the house belonged to Józef Święcicki: he sold it in 1902, to his colleague Rudolf Kern.
1903–1904Located at the corner of Chodkiewicza and Paderewskiego streets. Among first realizations in Bydgoszcz for Julius Berger, a merchant[4]
1903–19042 20 Stycznia 1920 StreetAmong first realizations in Bydgoszcz for Julius Berger, a merchant.
1903–1904Rudolf Kern BuildingLocated at 1 Adam Mickiewicz Alley. Built for Kern's own use.
1903–1904Villa at 15 Adam Mickiewicz AlleyBuilt for Julius Berger, a merchant.
1904Hübschmann House The villa is located at 4 Paderewskiego. Alfred Hübschmann was a merchant in clothing business.
1904Heinrich Kirsch tenement The building is located at 86 Dworcowa Street. The main elevation has suffered from successional renovations that obliterated many architectural details.
1904–1905Villa at 13 Adam Mickiewicz Alley3Built for Julius Berger, a merchant.
1904–1905Tenement at 7 Adam Mickiewicz AlleyRegistered on Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship heritage list, No.601379, Reg.A/1082 (January 10, 1995)[5] kujawsko-pomorskieissued=1.03.2014
1905–1906Tenement at 1 Józef Weyssenhoff SquareBuilt for Julius Berger, a merchant.
1904–1905House at 9 Adam Mickiewicz AlleyBuilt for Arnold Schattschneider, first head of the Music School of Bydgoszcz (German: Bromberger Konservatorium der Musik).[6]
1904–1905Eduard Schulz TenementIt stands at 66/68 Gdańska Street. Eduard Schulz was a local restaurateur.
1906–1907Tenement at 5 Adam Mickiewicz AlleyBuilt for Adolf Berger, a merchant.
1906–1907Tenement at 14 Chodkiewicza streetLocated at the corner with 20 Stycznia 1920 street. Built for Friedrich Fiedler, a merchant.
1906–1907Tenement at 24 Gdańska StreetCommissioned by merchant Julius Berger, it has been heavily ravaged by a fire in 1945.
Main preserved buildings by Rudolf Kern in Bydgoszcz
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1906–190871 Gdańska StreetThe tenement has been the seat, since 1938-1939, of the Municipal Conservatoire.[7]
1908–1909Tenement at 27 20 Stycznia 1920 streetBuilt for Dittmann, a merchant.
1909August Mentzel TenementLocated at 5 Gdańska Street, it has been rebuilt by R. Kern.
1909Julius Grey houseLocated at 35 Gdańska Street, it has been renovated by R. Kern.
1909–1910Tenement at 2A Chodkiewicza streetVilla at the corner with 20 Stycznia 1920 street. Built for Guenthar, a teachermerchant, the house has been recently refurbished.
1910Tenement at 16 20 Stycznia 1920 streetThe building was the property of Rudolf Kern himself.
1910Villa at 29 20 Stycznia 1920 streetThe building was commissioned by Alexander Schmidt, a factory manager.
1910–1911Tenement at 67 Gdanska streetFirst landlord was Carl Ernst, a butcher.
1910–1911Tenement at 11 Zamoyskiego streetThe building was commissioned by Hermann Draheim, a rentier.
1910–1911Tenement at 13 Zamoyskiego streetThe building was commissioned by Hermann Pflaum.
1911Building at 24 20 Stycznia 1920 streetThe building was erected for Emil Zemisch, a building contractor.
1911–1912Tenement at 18 20 Stycznia 1920 streetThe building was erected for Mr Weiss, a master bricklayer.
1911–1912Tenement at 13 PaderewskiegoCommissioner was Emil Heydemann, a master bricklayer.
1913Savoy BuildingLocated at 2 Jagiellońska street, corner with Theatre square
1913–1915Tenement at 23 PaderewskiegoBoth facades combine eclectic-neo-classical style and Art Nouveau features.
1914Villa at 6 Wyspiańskiego street
1914–1916House at 5/7 Kopernika StreetBuilt for the Secretary of the Bydgoszcz Regency, Ernest Werner.

See also

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Book: Winter, Piotr . 1996 . Ulica Augusta Cieszkowskiego w Bydgoszczy: zespół architektoniczny z przełomu XIX i XX wieku . Bydgoszcz . Wojewódzki Ośrodek Kultury w Bydgoszczy . 13 . 9788386970049 .
  2. Book: D. Bręczewska-Kulesza, B. Derkowska-Kostkowska, A. Wysocka . 2003 . Ulica Gdańska. Przewodnik historyczny . Bydgoszcz . Wojewódzki Ośrodek Kultury w Bydgoszczy . 9788386970100.
  3. Web site: Cieszkowskiego Pięknieje jedna z najładniejszych ulic w Bydgoszczy . Dobosz . Krystian . 4 May 2017 . bydgoszczwbudowie.pl . bydgoszczwbudowie.pl . 30 June 2020.
  4. Book: Bręczewska-Kulesza, Daria . 2004 . Nowoczesna dzielnica mieszkaniowa z początku XX w. Kronika Bydgoska 26 . Bydgoszcz . Towarzystwo Miłosnikow Miasta Bydgoszczy-Bydgoskie Towarzystwo Naukowe . 69–94.
  5. zabytek
  6. Book: Majchrzak, Agnieszka . 1996 . Bydgoskie Konserwatorium Muzyczne. Materiały do Dziejów Kultury i Sztuki Bydgoszczy i Regionu. zeszyt 1 . Bydgoszcz . Pracownia Dokumentacji i Popularyzacji Zabytków Wojewódzkiego Ośrodka Kultury w Bydgoszczy . 41.
  7. Book: Nowak, Anna Maria . 2002 . Szkolnictwo muzyczne w XX wieku. Kalendarz Bydgoski . Bydgoszcz . Towarzystwo Miłośników Miasta Bydgoszczy .