Living Places

Two world wars have a profound impact on Zell’s life and career. With the beginning of the First World War, the "busiest" architecture firm’s contracts collapse. Zell only writes about this time on the occasion of his 70th birthday: "During the war I studied art history for five semesters at the University of Munich with Wöfflin."

During National Socialism, the architect Zell is of retirement age. Like many other entrepreneurs and self-employed workers, he lost his assets and his security for his old age due to the war. He lived in precarious circumstances, but never gave up. At over 80 years of age, he becomes the architect of Germany’s economic recovery and reconstruction era, sells his collections and ultimately his house in return for a lifelong annuity.

Zell, a native of Munich, was a dazzling trendsetter of his time. He was awarded the Prinzregent-Luitpold Medal in bronze and silver. In 1912 he was awarded the title of "Royal Professor". He received the Golden Ring of Honour from the Deutsches Museum twice and in 1952 the Federal Republic of Germany’s Order of Merit. Franz Zell was an architect and designer, honoured with awards during the monarchy and democracy.

Zell grew up in the Munich’s Au district, as a successful architect he resided with his office and residential building in Pienzenauerstraße in Munich’s Herzogpark, and he had his holiday home on Lake Ammersee. Zell died in 1961 at the age of 95 in Munich, in his house in the Ramersdorf model housing estate.

Michaela Thomas