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Magasin Knopf

41-45, rue des grandes Arcades / 9-10, place du temple neuf, Strasbourg in 1899 by BERNINGER & KRAFFT

Dedicated on November 11th, 1898, the KNOPF(1) department store owned a structure and façades made of iron and were erected in no more than 6 months, as soon as the foundations were achieved. At the corner Grandes-Arcades - rue Des dominicains stood a cupola inspired by the Printemps(2)department store (by Sédille). Inside, an interesting iron framework decorated with art nouveau elements were to see. A central stair lit by an outstanding cupola made of stained glass(3)lead up to four levels dedicated to the sale(4). In 1911, an extension were built on 10, place du Temple Neuf (and corner rue des Dominicains). For the façades of the latter ashlar has been prefered to iron. The pillars, numerous and imposing, emphasize the impression of verticality. Art nouveau is already more discreet (garlands, and bouquets). The come back to stone and the overall look of that new façade features the german department stores built before World War I. The link to the Tietz(5) department store in Düsseldorf (by Olbrich in 1906-08) is quite strong. From that outstanding set, which would be probably listed as an historic building if it had not be strongly altered in the fifties(6), only the façade on the place du Temple Neuf and the small part in the rue des Dominicains remains.

(1) In 1904, Moritz Knopf let build by Berninger & Krafft a villa (10, rue Schiller).
(2) 2, rue du Havre in Paris, by Paul Sédille in 1881.
(3) Maybe by Ott Frères.
(4) The basement, the third ans forth floors were used to stock goods.
(5) A Tietz department store also existed in Strasbourg: some façades (partly altered) remain on 27-29, rue du Vieux-Marché-aux-Vins (by Oberthur) as well as 5, quai de Paris (Brion & Haug).
(6) This building will meet its first alteration with the suppression of the circular stairwell. The shop windows will be modified around 1912, the main entrance will be moved. As the owner changed in the twenties, many other alterations will occur (closing of the lightwells in 1946, transformation beyond recognition of the façades at the Grandes-Arcades & rue des Dominicains in 1956).

Bibliography:

Façade at Grandes-Arcades  Inside  Lightwell  Façade place du Temple-Neuf 

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