Das Hochhaus am Hansaring in Köln (The High Rise at the Hansaring)

Eschweiler, Germany: Kunstdruckerei und Verlagsanstalt J. Zander, 1925. First edition. Hardcover. Good+ to very good condition. Small Folio. Unpaginated (65pp, 23 of those advertisements). 3 plates on heavy paper with tissue guards. Original textured brown boards with gilt lettering on cover in plain light-brown dustjacket; protected by modern mylar. Textured decorative brown endpapers. Photos by Hugo Schmölz, Cologne.

The construction of the high rise at the Hansaring started in May 1924 and was finished in May of 1925. The architect of this reinforced concrete building was Jakob Koerfer, Cologne. In its foreword the publisher states that (truncated) recent German architecture has the discipline take the lead in the faculties of art once again, developing style while adhering to the functional developments of the time. This monograph presents the decisive thoughts of the architect as well as important details regarding the interior and technical installations of the high rise in a series of essays by experts.

The plates include a watercolor study of the high rise by the architect, and two b/w photographs of the high rise, one a view from the Platz der Republik, and a view of Cologne taken from the top of the high rise, all rendered in high-quality offset reproductions. The essays are by Gustav Lampmann, Ernst Sagebiel, and Heinrich Maurer, containing b/w photographs of the exterior and interior, architectural drawings and plans. At rear a list of the companies involved in the construction and brief, photo-illustrated reviews of the major companies involved in the construction. At rear twenty-two pages of illustrated advertisements. Text in German. Dustjacket some light wear along edges, small chips and closed tears, a little more pronounced along top of back cover. Binding with light wear along edges. Previous owner's stamp on decorative front endpaper and title page. (Inventory #: 54088)