Munich’s Au district

In 1908 Franz Zell publishes the book "Volkstümliche Bauweise in der Au bei München" (Popular architectural construction in the Au near Munich), including an additional chapter on "Altmünchener Tanzplätze" (Old Munich’s Dance Venues). Zell was born and grew up in Munich’s Au district, which was incorporated into the city in 1854. This book can also be seen as a reminiscence of his childhood and youth.

Zell dedicated the work to Baron Theodor von Cramer-Klett (1874-1938). In 1908, he designed a schoolhouse for him in Stein near Aschau. A few years later he built the Burghotel and a forester’s lodge for Cramer-Klett in Aschau.

For Franz Zell, his book is of a conservation nature and is an emotional retrospective. The hostels, which had already been demolished at that time, should at least be preserved in the picture. The Au, writes the architect, "... has long since been embraced by the giant arms of the big city, mighty apartment buildings, which leave nothing to be desired in terms of uncomfortableness and tastelessness, and in which more rent is paid for a flat in one month than in the former hostels for the whole year, have taken the place of comfort and cosy living".

Zell does not see any outstanding architecture in a design sense in the residential buildings depicted. Instead, he points to the successful solving of the remit and requirement, namely to create houses for "little people".

Michaela Thomas