Leipzig: Konsumzentrale

1929 – 1932

Architect: Fritz Höger

Industriestraße 85-95, Leipzig-Plagwitz, Germany

The Konsumzentrale building complex in Leipzig was designed by Hamburg architect Fritz Höger and completed between 1929 and 1932.

Consumer Association

Since its establishment in 1884, Konsumverein Leipzig-Plagwitz had grown to become one of the largest consumer cooperatives in Germany.

Since the mid-19th century, consumer cooperatives had been established with the aim of improving workers’ living standards through organised trade and production.

However, the Leipzig-Plagwitz consumer association’s administration and production building, which was constructed in 1895 and housed a bakery, dairy, butcher’s and coffee roastery, could no longer meet the growing demands of the 1920s.

It was demolished to make room for a new building.

Competition

In December 1928, architects Walther Beyer, Otto Droge, Fritz Höger and Curt Schiemichen, as well as the design department of Mitteldeutschen Wohnungsfürsorge GmbH, were invited to participate in a limited competition for the new building.

Fritz Höger was the only architect from outside the city to be invited, as the managing chairman of the cooperative’s board, Wilhelm Fischer, had worked in Hamburg until 1922 and was familiar with Höger’s work.

Hubert Ritter, the city architect, was the only expert commissioned by the Konsumgenossenschaft, and his vote in favour of Höger’s design ultimately tipped the scales in favour of awarding the contract in March 1929.

Building Complex

The Konsum headquarters building complex is an 180-metre-long reinforced concrete skeleton structure comprising administrative, storage and workshop buildings within an area measuring approximately 180 by 65 metres.

Designed entirely for horizontal effect, bands of curved ‘bowl windows’ extend across the entire façade.

The main entrance is accentuated by curved wall edges with integrated porter’s lodges. Similar to the Chilehaus, the clinker wall incorporates gold-applied stones in bands.

Building Layout

The main stairwell emerges from the façade like a risalit and towers above the five-storey building.

To create enough space for garages, the courtyard was given a three-storey basement.

The first floor contained a large counter hall for the membership department of the consumer cooperative, while the upper floors were used for office space.

The fourth floor was occupied by the supervisory board’s meeting room and a large assembly hall with a roof terrace.

Main Staircase

The main staircase features iridescent, turquoise-blue wall tiles that contrast with the vermilion railing and brass handrail. These tiles were manufactured by Richard Blumenfeld AG in Velten.

Current Use

Since 2022, the historic building complex has undergone revitalisation and been transformed into a creative campus.

As part of this project, a new five-storey building was constructed in 2023 and the historic warehouse was extended upwards. The project is scheduled for completion in 2026.