Munich: Thierschbau

1910 – 1916

Architect: Friedrich von Thiersch

Arcisstraße 21, Munich

Friedrich von Thiersch was Professor of Architecture from 1879 until his death in 1921, and Rector of the Technical University of Munich from 1906 to 1908.

When the number of students rose sharply around 1900, he was commis­sioned to expand the university and, starting in 1907, planned the first major extension in the southwest of the grounds at the corner of Gabelsbergerstrasse and Luisenstrasse.

The so-called Thiersch Building, which consists of two three-story wing buildings connected to the old building and a richly sculp­tured central building with a tower dominating the L‑shaped complex, still houses the Faculty of Architecture today.

Since its completion in 1916, the 37-meter high clock tower, now a listed building, has stood over the building complex.

The tower portal with its allego­rical repre­sen­tation of technology and art was designed by Ernst Pfeifer.

Inside the building Thiersch designed the two new wings with rich floor ornamen­tation and colored marble railings in Art Nouveau forms.

On Gabelsbergerstrasse, the second floor housed the library and the plan collection of the archi­tecture department of the Technical University in a suite of rooms magni­fi­cently decorated by Thiersch.

The gilded statue of the angel in the stairwell was designed by the sculptor Ludwig Dasio.

In keeping with the state of the art in building technology at the time, the reinforced concrete ceilings were reinforced with steel girders to make the partition walls movable and allow for flexible use.

The building underwent general renovation from 2013 to 2019.

The clock tower, which is striking in terms of urban develo­pment, was converted for repre­sen­tative use on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the TU in 2018.

For this purpose, the interior of the tower above the fourth floor was completely gutted and the load-bearing reinforced concrete ceilings were replaced by a steel structure.

Grating walkways were installed all around these levels, which are accessed via steel stairs and used as viewing platforms.