Die neue Bürgerstadt

The Burnitz Building is part of the Historical Museum's ensemble of old buildings. But who knows who it is named after? It is its master builder, Rudolf Burnitz (1788-1849), whose son Heinrich (1827-1880) also became an architect. Although together they significantly shaped Frankfurt's cityscape for more than half a century, Rudolf and Heinrich Burnitz have been almost entirely forgotten. This exhibition now comprehensively honors their work for the first time.

Rudolf Burnitz's first building after arriving in Frankfurt in 1822 was the Metzler Palace in Bonames; he had already recommended himself for a similar project with a princely palace in Hechingen. Just a few years later, he was entrusted with the new building projects of the civic city – an orphanage, a hospital, and a retirement home commissioned by foundations. Unfortunately, none of these buildings have survived, nor has his house on the Lower Main Quay.

Heinrich Burnitz also built charitable buildings, but he made his career in the rapidly changing city primarily through residential and commercial buildings. Only a few of his works have survived, including two houses on Kaiserstrasse, the Rothschilds' flagship Luisenhof farm, and his most significant – the Neue Börse (New Stock Exchange) (together with Oscar Sommer). Prestigious residential buildings, including those for the Metzler and Grunelius banking families, as well as Frankfurt's first hall building, have been lost.

The exhibition is primarily based on the historical museum's Burnitz collection, which was significantly expanded in 2009 through a partial bequest from the family. Buildings and designs are presented using high-quality, often colored original drawings, supplemented by photographs and models. The collections also provide insight into the training of the two architects – with student projects, photographs, and travel sketches, primarily from Italy. Selected examples also represent Rudolf Burnitz's work for the Hohenzollern princes of Hechingen and Sigmaringen.

The exhibition offers a nuanced insight into the local architectural history of the 19th century, from Classicism to Historicism. By focusing on the clients and embedding it in the urban development, it conveys a picture of Frankfurt's history of that period that goes beyond the architecture. A comprehensive catalog will be published. The exhibition was curated by Michael Stöneberg.