Almost 10 years ago, we were commissioned to restore the original historic character of the Rindermarkthalle. Determined to meet the challenges of this impressive project, we brought our extensive expertise in refurbishment and heritage conservation to bear.
The listed building, which served as a trading venue for live cattle until the 1970s, had changed its appearance significantly over time as a number of 'self-service' department stores moved in and out of the Rindermarkthalle, including co op, Plaza, Interspar, Hyperdiscount, Intermarché, Conti, Walmart and most recently Real. Several measures were taken to restore the original character of the time of origin: First, the retrofitted sheet metal façade to the north, east and west and the substructure were completely dismantled, as were the porch to the main entrance and the additions to the south. These steps were crucial to bring the building's appearance back into line with its historic form.
Deconstruct the parking deck?
Originally, the idea was to remove the retrofitted parking deck and make the shed roof construction visible again in order to restore the original character of the market hall. Regrettably, this proposal was rejected, resulting in the loss of the hall's open space.
The largest cantilever hall construction in Europe
Another special feature of the Rindermarkthalle: it was once one of the largest self-supporting steel construction halls in Europe. To ensure the longevity of the structure and to repair corrosion defects on the hollow planks and the prestressed concrete, the reinforced concrete parts and the steel roof structure were replaced with completely new elements. This step was necessary to ensure the stability and safety of the building.
Incidentally, the arched ground plan is due to the shape of the plot. The Rindermarkthalle, which was destroyed in the Second World War, was rebuilt in 1950 on the well-preserved foundations and with the same ground plan.
The architectural changes and sensitivity to the history of the building have led to a renewed appreciation of the hall and the historical value of the Rindermarkthalle.
Images:
Lead Image: Rindermarkthalle 1965 (c) St. Pauli Archive
Image 1: Rindermarkthalle around 2010 with sheet metal facades and porch
Image 2: Rindermarkthalle today with exposed façade (main entrance) Photo: Franziska Glück
Image 3: Parking deck Photo: Franziska Glück
Image 4: Rindermarkthalle around 1960 (c) St. Pauli Archive