The simple story
This website summarises my work, our work, in Zwickau. I enjoy working in the city. The people are local and have character. Many thanks to all those who have supported me and continue to support me.
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This website summarises my work, our work, in Zwickau. I enjoy working in the city. The people are local and have character. Many thanks to all those who have supported me and continue to support me.
In the summer of 1993, the property developer Walther Schneider visited Veronika and me in Feldafing together with our friend, the artist Bia Wunderer. Walther talked about the projects he had prepared in the new federal states, about the beauty of the cities, about the wonderful monuments that absolutely had to be renovated.
I, 42 years old, had a company for structural steel reinforcements and several shareholdings, everything was perfect. We lived on Lake Starnberg in a beautiful villa.
So I wasn't very interested at first.
Villa on Lake Starnberg
On the other hand, I have always been courageous and open to new challenges.
Also because, apart from art, I have been intensively involved with architecture since I was 15 years old. My best friend, the brilliant architect Boris Rozmarin, was one of my teachers. Together with him and Veronika, I realised several new buildings and an office building renovation in Munich in the 1980s.
When Schneider visited us again, he told us about a plot of land in the immediate vicinity of Voigtsberg Castle in Oelsnitz in Vogtland, just behind the zone border, as he said.
I somehow caught fire; we set off for Saxony, to Oelsnitz, Veronika, Boris, Schneider and me.
I liked the property. Only 7 kilometres from Plauen! I thought it was worth developing. Boris and I planned a project: 259 flats, attractive Italian-style apartment blocks, on the Schlossberg.
With Bilfinger and Berger, one of my long-standing business partners, and in particular with the support of purchasing manager Walter Neupert, a friend of mine, we developed the project ready for input.
We had a model of the Schlossberg built and presented it to the Oelsnitz town council. The town council rejected it, saying the project was too ambitious.
Despite the cancellation of the project, the time in Oelsnitz was a time of new beginnings.
I got to know and appreciate the politician Ulrich Lupart and his wife. I spoke to many citizens, Stasi agents and former NVA officers.
I learnt how people think, heard their experiences of change, understood their worries and their hopes for a good future.
Then the following happened: Prince Albert of Saxony, whom I met in connection with the Oelsnitz project, came to our villa in Feldafing for coffee.
The Wettin historian, a funny chap, told me about his childhood and said that he was painted as a toddler on a fresco on the ceiling of the living room in Wachwitz Castle.
His stories about his life and about Saxony before the war were moving.
He invited me to the opening of an education centre in Zwickau, the so-called "Penzler" at Dr.-Friedrichs-Ring 20, which Alfred Zenkner, known as Belmondo, had set up.
And so my story began in Zwickau.
Veronika Fliegerbauer
Link: This is what the houses we renovated looked like.
I met Steffi Haupt at the opening ceremony.
She headed the Zwickau Lower Monument Conservation Authority until 2022. Steffi Haupt is a great woman, an outstanding architect with vision.
As dusk fell, we left the inauguration party and went for a walk. She showed me the dilapidated ensemble of Osterstein Castle and the run-down, beautiful houses in the northern suburbs. I was deeply impressed.
A warm friendship developed between Steffi Haupt and me that will never end. Without the constructive and perfect collaboration with Steffi, so much would never have been achieved.
Balance sheet until 2023:
Monuments: 197
New buildings: 27
Houses: 101
Total: 325 houses
Steffi Haupt has done more for Zwickau than any mayor or anyone else. She motivated, supported, was willing to compromise and ensured that listed building approvals were granted quickly. She is an outstanding architect and a luminary of monument protection. Her book "Zwickau as it was" shows her heart for the city.
Unfortunately and far too early, because there are still ruins in Zwickau, Steffi Haupt and Norbert Oelsner retired in 2022.
In the final phase of Schoss Osterstein GmbH, which was only responsible for the castle, we founded Schloss Osterstein Verwaltungs GmbH.
Christina Schmidt was my employee for the procurement of the houses from 1995-2000. She did her job excellently and responsibly. She bought derelict houses for me for around DM 700 million.
Before I trained Christina as a property specialist, she was a barmaid at Eden in Bosestraße. She was the heart of the place, a pearl to fall in love with.
The "Wessis" often met at Eden in the evenings, some of them whistlers who had never achieved anything before and were big show-offs.
That's how it was:
A banker from a major bank boasted that he would finance Zwickau, one hundred million, he would lend. It turned out he could only authorise loans of up to DM 500.00.
A short time later he was sent back to Bremen.
Property agent Friedhelm Schenk often stood at the bar. Once it was about a girl he wanted to protect. He said to another man who was treating a girl badly:
I have nails that are 25 centimetres long, if you do that again, I'll hit you on the cross with these nails like Jesus Christ.
Bravo Friedhelm, the guy disappeared.
Former furniture salespeople were now financial advisors and property professionals. Judges and public prosecutors who were sorted out in the West spoke up.
But professionals also arrived in the East.
Wild times.
I bought 25 houses in one go and started refurbishing them. At the beginning, quite strangely, I was seen as something of a fantasist. Both the building mayor, whose name was Kühnel, and the marvellous Volker Lippmann, the head of the building authority, said that it would all be demolished. They believed that the northern suburb and the station suburb were lost.
That didn't stop me, quite the opposite.
I got started. It was mostly companies and craftsmen from the region that built the buildings. At peak times, over a thousand builders worked on our construction sites.
More and more houses were completed. The people of Zwickau were happy. I ran the business, I signed so many transfers every day that I still have calluses on my middle finger where I held the pen. One of my specialities was also sales. I showed prospective buyers around Zwickau and to the houses. Mainly in the northern suburbs, the former splendour of the district, which survived the Second World War almost undamaged, made a huge impression.
Sentence about the northern suburb by Steffi Haupt from my book "Zwickau Architecture at the Turn of the Century", which I published after the hundredth refurbishment.
"In contrast to many other cities, the architectural quality is coherent down to the last detail and of exceptional elegance. Of the great architects, Karl Frey, Franz Wolf and Wilhelm Junghans should be mentioned. The regular urban structures of the Wilhelminian period and the turn of the century with their streets and squares, interspersed with avenues, park-like open spaces, charming front gardens and not least the many interesting details - from wrought-iron fences to street lamps - still show the Wilhelminian character of urban planning today".
I was so convinced and committed and could well imagine a wonderfully redeveloped northern suburb with a unique quality of life, parks, avenues and street cafés. That was my motivation, I wanted it to happen.
I took over beautiful monuments on main roads that could not be sold and renovated them for myself. My aim was to renovate everything.
The northern suburbs of Zwickau would be a World Heritage Site if the city's mayors had not preferred to renovate the streets and squares in the prefabricated housing estates only. Unfortunately, there are still ruins, the streets are full of holes and the pavements are in urgent need of repair.
In the beginning, the most important employees were Veronika Fliegerbauer, Boris Rozmarin, Tina Schmidt, Anett Nitschke, Bernd Züllich, Stephan Berner, Evelyn Damisch, and later Silke Kunstmann.
Then a stroke of luck happened. Angela Einenkel, a graduate computer scientist, applied for the job. Angela became my most important companion. A tiger with an incredible capacity for realisation. We have been working together for 30 years now. An irreplaceable, true friend.
There were then around 40 employees in the office. Architects, site managers, accountants, commercial staff and apprentices.
Veronika and I renovated the romantic villa at Ludwig Richter Strasse 11 and moved to Zwickau. Our daughters Nora and Anna were in England and the USA at the time, so there was hardly any family life and we mostly worked in the office.
After we had completed a hundred houses, we celebrated a big party in the "Neue Welt", a magnificent Art Nouveau hall, with many guests. Gottfried Helnwein, Gert Hof and many people from Zwickau were there. Egmont Elschner, director of the Sero Theatre, was the director and responsible for the art programme.
The then building mayor Dietmar Vettermann also gave a speech. It ended with his wish that he was looking forward to more washing baskets full of building applications.
In 1997 I was awarded the Architecture Prize of the City of Zwickau for the refurbishment of Villa Kolpingstr. 24.
I published this book after completing the hundredth building. It shows the magnificent northern suburb.
The photographer of the pictures was Thomas Schlegel from Lunzenau.
Gottfried Helnwein helped me select the photos.
There was a lot of positive attention.
Immediately afterwards, the hysteria about my membership of Scientology began. Vile lying journalists tried to obstruct me. Scientology is my personal freedom and has always been a private matter.
The building authority was overwhelmed by our many building applications. Sometimes we built before planning permission was granted.
When we had completed 205 houses, we organised another party on Römerplatz. With lots of music, art and fireworks. Mayor Vettermann also gave a speech.
Veronika had honoured her promise to support me in Zwickau for 5 years. Time was up and she returned to Munich.
It wasn't easy for her.
I worked with Veronika from 1972 to 2000. The two of us were always a unit. We always overcame crises and economic fluctuations together.
We had a harmonious life with our daughters Nora and Anna.
We now have 6 grandchildren.
Veronika took over the construction management of Schloss Osterstein Verwaltungs GmbH.
She did an excellent job.
An exciting time. We had our hands full. Your working day usually lasted 16 hours, 7 days a week. Her site managers and employees worked extremely hard. As a rule, she had 6 months to hand over a completely refurbished building.
In 1997 and 1998, she managed around 60 construction sites each year. Sometimes it was hard for her.
She developed the colour concepts for the monuments together with Steffi Haupt.
We have put so many flats on the market in such a short space of time. Letting, despite all our efforts, was a problem.
We advertised with posters on houses, adverts and much more, including a cinema spot:
Silke, a Zwickau child from the Marienthal neighbourhood, came into my life. We fell in love. We have been in perfect harmony for 25 years. Our greatest happiness is our daughter Frida. Silke has done great things for Zwickau.
Römerstr. 1a
The first joint project with Silke was a refurbishment that looks like a new build. The city absolutely wanted a pitched roof. I had to go to the architectural council and convince them.
Andreas Kottusch, Zwickau's most famous architect, supported our planning.
Magazinstrasse, including an underground car park with 100 parking spaces
Silke Kunstmann, fresh from Bauhaus University, and I planned the new buildings. The site manager was Arne Ernst. The contractor was Alpine Bau GmbH.
Then something happened that could have ruined us.
During the excavation of the building pit, an approx. 35 metre long section of the old city wall was found. Naturally, this caused an immediate halt to construction. We quickly redesigned the underground car park so that the city wall could be preserved. Silke and I drove to Dresden to see the chief archaeologist Dr Judith Oexle. The discussions were characterised by sympathy. The building freeze was lifted and while we continued building, a team from the state office drew the city wall.
Dr.-Friedrichs-Ring 18
On the same construction site, the underground car park runs underneath the house. The planning was a challenge. Between two monuments, the proportions of the new building had to be chosen sensitively.
Main market 11/12
Bold Silke Kunstmann architecture in the heart of the city.
The people of Zwickau like the house and enjoy going to the "Alex" restaurant
Hauptmarkt 17 + 18, the herb vaults
The renovation of the houses, built in 1403, was an adventure. Ceiling panelling from the Middle Ages to Renaissance and Baroque. Lots of coordination with Steffi Haupt.
A particular challenge was the roof landscape, which had to be preserved in its vaulted form. We installed a second roof truss under the Gothic roof truss.
The large construction sites were under construction, half finished, and I had to file for insolvency. I gave rental guarantees for too many houses.
Not all of the flats could be rented out back then. We paid the guarantees for as long as we could. The city refused to defer the trade tax, then it was no longer possible.
I bought all the houses that were under construction myself, everything was finished. And then we moved on.
Block 26
One particularly bold project that Silke and I have brought to life is Peter Breuer Str. 26, Block 26.
Inspired by a project in London, where we often spend time, we created a building out of containers. The basic idea was to offer cheap rents for creative people to set up their own businesses in the fields of jewellery design, fashion, galleries and advertising, combined with a bistro. We bought 48 GDR containers and initially stacked them on the site.
The planning permission process was very complicated, as the block is in the immediate vicinity of the cathedral. We owe the planning permission to Volker Lippmann, who was head of the building regulations office at the time. Lippmann always stood up for us.
The building is special because the containers were stacked irregularly, a technical challenge.
Architects, architecture students and interested people kept coming to look at the block.
Our idea didn't work out, it wasn't economically viable. We couldn't interest enough tenants. When a refurbishment was due, we demolished the block.
Silke and I started buying and collecting GDR designs in 2003. We rented a factory in Saupersdorf.
Over the years, uniforms, furniture, radios, televisions, cameras, toys, clothing, sporting goods, magazines, motorbikes, cars and photo collections have been acquired on three floors.
The "People and Trabant" photo collection was particularly noteworthy. These were photos of families who, on the day they finally got their Trabi after years of waiting, all lined up in front of the car and had their photo taken. The emotion on their faces is incredible.
Silke and I held talks with Claus Dietl, Hans Brockhage, Günther Höhne and others, studied books, and delved deeply into the subject matter. We were sure that a Trabant museum would create another attraction for Zwickau.
We planned the museum, began remodelling Peter Breuer Str. 19 and also drew up the concept and furnishing plans. Unfortunately, the mayor and the city council didn't want anything to do with the project.
Without the support of the city, for example we needed a bus parking space and the obligation to be included in the advertising of the city of Zwickau, the project was impossible. When we were then given an obligation to dismantle the Trabi-Box that had already been built, the project was cancelled.
As part of the preparations for the museum, we managed to rededicate Peter Breuer-Magazinstraße as a pedestrian zone in the face of fierce resistance. This would not have been possible without the courageous head of department Rainer Kallweit
He actively supported the project. We bought the trees and benches and paid for the development ourselves. Peter Breuer Straße, the pub street, has become very attractive thanks to the outdoor seating in the pubs.
Simone Koeberle became an employee of AKW. A great asset to the company. Her cleverness is extraordinary, her team spirit is a delight.
The Leipziger Strasse
Under the construction mayor Rainer Dietrich, extensive demolitions were planned in the northern suburbs. I did everything I could to prevent this and bought up more houses in Leipziger Strasse.
We had a heated argument at an event organised by Haus und Grund. He was of the opinion that I should be happy if no more flats could be built, then it would be easier to rent them out. I was shocked that he was suggesting such a thing to me of all people. A cultural disgrace!
Unfortunately, he succeeded in demolishing one house (see photo).
Further demolition was stopped.
Dr Thomas Beierlein (chairman of the CDU parliamentary group) was a great help. He also clearly campaigned against the demolition.
We are still renovating Leipziger Strasse to a very high standard. We recently (as of 11/2023) completed house numbers 98 and 100.
Leipziger Str. 98
Activities outside Germany
Silke and I also worked abroad, especially in Italy on Lake Garda.
Back in Zwickau.
The city leadership still didn't want to work with me.
Römerplatz
Silvia Staudte planned the redevelopment of Römerplatz for us.
I offered to pay the costs for the renovation, trees and roads myself if the city would make the car parks available to me for 20 years. That way I would have refinanced myself.
It looked good at first. I successfully obtained tenders for the renovation of the pitch.
When the construction work was due to start, the city cancelled. I wanted to close the square, but the city couldn't find another route for the bus.
New market
Silke, myself and Sebastian Kriegsmann also planned the Neumarkt, including attractive market stalls.
We built a model and presented it at Münzstr. 3.
Many interested citizens attended. Bernd Meyer came from the city.
Many were enthusiastic about our planning.
Römerplatz has still not been redeveloped, Neumarkt, which the city has redeveloped, is sad.
I tried again.
I met with Pia Findeiß and Kathrin Köhler. We talked about the missed opportunities. My free offers for the city, the redevelopment of Neumarkt and Römerplatz, the amount of work we have invested.
The atmosphere of the conversation was good and something like sympathy developed.
Mrs Findeiß and I have the same taste in music. Mrs Köhler has done everything she can to promote Zwickau, a pearl.
I asked myself whether I should continue my efforts in the future, whether I should continue to provide planning, refurbishment and ideas.
The change of heart
Mrs Findeiß and Mrs Köhler decided to work with me for the good of the city.
Crimmitschauer Str. 13
Our first joint project. The monument fell into disrepair, the roof truss was burnt out.
I could no longer look at the ruined house and decided to find a way to renovate it.
I visited Dr Findeiß and asked her to check whether the owner owes property tax to the city. If so, she should instruct her to initiate foreclosure. Which she did.
I promised to buy the house at auction and renovate it.
Römerplatz 12 + 13
The second joint project. Mrs Findeiß cleared the way for the AKW and we were able to purchase and renovate the municipal monuments at Römerplatz 12+13.
Now the houses are pearls of the northern suburbs.
Gerhart Hauptmann Grammar School
After an event in the town hall, I approached Dr Findeiß and told her about the idea of a hotel in the secondary school.
Mrs Findeiß nodded, I knew I could rely on her support. Kathrin Köhler prepared all property matters perfectly
We bought the grammar school.
Together with Michael Uhlig (aboa - Architekten), we designed a hotel in the Wilhelminian monument, in the 1930s extension, and also a new building similar to the Bauhaus. It was to be a 4-star hotel.
Together with Steffi Haupt and Norbert Oelsner, I put a lot of effort into preparing a very detailed, qualified preliminary building enquiry.
This enabled us to sell the project ready for construction to Honestis AG, the parent company of Dorint.
The demolition of the ruins on Dr.-Friedrichs-Ring and Amtsgerichtsstraße was completed promptly.
Then came corona and the hotel industry ran out of steam.
The hotel project seems to have failed. Corona, the explosion in construction costs. The Dorint can't cope.
I have been in charge again since December 2023 and am looking for a new solution for the Gerhart-Hauptmann-Gymnasium.
Hotel Wagner, Bahnhofstraße 67
The city had a hopeless dispute with the owner Klaus Brinkmann. Kathrin Köhler asked me to try to buy the property. After constructive negotiations with Mr Brinkmann, who was able to unload all his frustration against the city on me, I managed to buy it.
We demolished the old building, the roof structure had burnt out, and planned luxury flats with a magnificent view of the city in the so-called bed tower.
Mrs Findeiß unexpectedly resigned prematurely. Constance Arndt became the new Lord Mayor.
The city wanted to use the Wagner site to build a city centre tangent. So we quietly submitted our planning application. I didn't want to prevent the city centre bypass. Mrs Köhler and I prepared a property swap, Kolpingstr. 8 for the Wagner property.
Despite the positive cooperation in recent years, an alleged resolution from 1997 was conjured up again, which is supposed to say that no business will be done with me or people associated with me. I have never seen the resolution.
The exchange was rejected by the city council. I wish the city a successful redevelopment of Kolpingstrasse 8.
The city virtually cancelled the cooperation that had worked so well with Ms Findeiß and Ms Köhler.
In the meantime, the city has bought the Wagner site for the city centre bypass.
I still don't know why Dr Findeiß resigned.
Together with Mrs Köhler, she has achieved enormous things for Zwickau. Kornhaus refurbishment, Gewandhaus and much more.
The crowning glory of their achievement is the "Schocken". The redevelopment of the large department stores' area in the heart of the city. The buildings are currently under construction.
All mayors before her have failed to achieve this. The negotiations with the heirs of Samuel Schocken were emotionally charged for good reason.
I myself tried to buy the site and negotiated with the heirs' lawyers without success.
Ms Findeiß travelled to Israel, spoke to the heirs and reached an agreement.
Bravo !!!
Constance Arndt
Constance is likeable and does a lot for the city. She also endeavours to clean up the big problems, the remaining ruins.
To show how bad it is, I published a brochure. Many ruins that still exist in Zwickau.
At the moment, three projects are at the top of my list, are close to my heart and would be so important for Zwickau.
My friend, city councillor Sven Itzek, and I have been campaigning for years, calling on the city to develop an area for business relocations.
We consider the concentration mainly on VW and the supplier industry to be a risk. New companies and jobs are urgently needed.
Sven and I suggested the airfield (airfield). This was rejected on the grounds that there were gliders.
Bernd Arzt, who developed a great deal for the city, prepared the purchase of the land in Schneppendorf ready for notarisation. The marketing work was too much for the then head of business development.
The town of Werdau wanted to develop an area at the end of Zwickau together with the town of Zwickau. This also came to nothing.
The link road from the A 72 motorway to the A 4 motorway has still not been completed.
It will probably no longer be a hotel. In the meantime, I have secured the rights for the new marketing and am starting all over again. One of the ideas is a public school.
While Steffi Haupt thought the planning was very good and approval would have been a formality, today's monument protection authorities don't see it that way.
Silke Kunstmann's architecture was arrogantly rejected.
Silke Kunstmann's architecture is outstanding and will be realised in this way. Sooner or later.
The federal government also spent 4 million on the "Schocken" development, Marienplatz 2 is part of the neighbourhood. It should have been included in the funding.
We developed the project together with Michael Uhlig. There is no doubt that it is a building that would bring Zwickau into the future. The building, the architecture, would attract attention throughout Germany and would be a great advertisement for Zwickau.
The project is economically well thought out and calculated. The new head of Sparkasse Zwickau, Andreas Fohrmann, wants to provide financial support for the tower.
The course is set.
The city council is in favour of the project, but Constance Arndt only sees hurdles and problems.
We are just starting to plan it. I promise it will be a gem.
Zwickau is a beautiful city. The people of Zwickau are great, helpful and love their city. It must continue to move forward.
Zwickau is going its own way. I have contributed for 30 years. I'll be building for years to come.
I wish all Zwickau residents a life full of joy.
This website is for Veronika, Silke, Nora, Anna, Frida, Loisi, Leni, Franzi, Leo, Rudi and Carli.
