Deutsche Architektur / German Architecture

"Deutsche Architektur" is about the architectural designs and decorations of half-timbered houses, town halls, towers, gates, and castles in Germany through different ages. Let us explore the architectural lexicons and history of these structures together.
To learn more, click on each photo below.
(To enhance the visual experience, use a computer or a laptop.)

Slideshow of Man Figure

The man figure, which is made of braces and struts, bears a resemblance to an abstract figure of a man with arms stretched and its legs spread apart.

Head braces are short struts that extend diagonally from the frame to the vertical post or stand. They form the arms of a man figure.

Foot braces extend diagonally from the sill to the vertical post or stand. They, on the other hand, form the legs. If the foot braces are three-quarters of a story-high struts, they form the legs of the Hessenmann.

Schütt 5, Braunfels

Innere Brücke, Esslingen am Neckar

Altes Rathaus Dillenburg

Eulenspiegelhaus, Osterwieck

Haus aus Fellingshausen, Hessen Park, Neu-Anspach

Oberstadt 23, Lich

It is a relief to see that the serpentines climbing the facade of Oberstadt 23 in Lich, Germany, are merely struts! These almost floor-high struts are curved in an S-shaped or wavy pattern.

Griedeler Straße 12, Butzbach

The striking feature of this half-timbered house at Griedeler Straße 12 in Butzbach, Germany, is the two-story oriel window in the middle of the facade.

Lusthäuschen (Rapunzelturm), Wetter

If there is one word to describe this half-timbered tower with an octagonal bay window in Wetter, Germany, that word would be "quaint."

Hessen Park, Neu-Anspach, Deutschland

Tiedexer Straße 30 and 32, Einbeck

Most of the half-timbered houses in Tiedexer Straße were built using the post-and-beam construction method, which was popular during Medieval times. This method utilizes large, vertical wooden beams set further apart, creating open spaces.

Schloßstraße 9, Braunfels

Inspired by classical architecture, a pediment atop a window or door creates harmony and symmetry. This style is often associated with Greek and Roman temples, especially in terms of structure and form.

Burggraben 12, Höchst, Frankfurt am Main

A lovely pink house nestles at Burggraben 12 in Höchst, a district in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The blue door, mailbox, and flat panel shutters with horizontal wooden slats add contrast to this pink house.

Marktstraße 39, Eschwege

The ventilation slots or grills are still visible at Marktstraße 39, a two-story half-timbered former meat shop built in 1711, in Eschwege, Germany.

Haus aus Queck, Hessen Park, Neu-Anspach

The saying "diamonds are forever" signifies endurance, durability, and long-lasting. To some degree, these gemstones are like the diamond-shaped wooden pieces in German half-timbered houses.

Schloß Werdorf, Aßlar

The Schloß Werdorf is a baroque lowland castle in Aßlar, Germany. It was built between 1686 to 1690.

Neukirchenstraße 1, Osterwieck

When combined, blue and yellow produce vibrant and cheerful colors. This contrasting combination is visible on the facade at Neukirchenstraße 1, a three-story half-timbered house in Osterwieck, Germany.

Vogelsbergstraße 95, Schotten

The neoclassical half-timbered house at Vogelsbergstraße 95 in Schotten, Germany, creates a visual feast by combining elements of both neoclassical decorations and wooden framework.

Historisches Rathaus von Neustadt (Hessen)

Four towers crown the gable roof of the Historisches Rathaus von Neustadt in Germany. All towers have pointed roofs.

Weilburger Straße 10, Braunfels

A prime example of a half-timbered decoration is the man figure. The man figure, which is made of braces and struts, bears a resemblance to an abstract figure of a man with arms stretched and its legs spread apart.

Slideshow from Osterwieck

Hessische Straße 31, Treffurt

One of the highlights of this half-timbered house at Hessische Straße 31 in Treffurt, Germany, is the dormer decorated with three fan rosettes.

Hafenmarkt 5, Esslingen am Neckar

Pointed trefoil arch-shaped struts intricately decorate the gable of Hafenmarkt 5 in Esslingen am Neckar, Germany.

Am Markt 14, Osterwieck

Kapellenstraße 1, Osterwieck

What makes the three-story half-timbered house at Kapellenstraße 1 in Osterwieck, Germany, unique is the combination of the ship's throats carved far up on the thresholds and the fan rosettes.

Burgau 1, Monschau

The cobblestone streets of Monschau are decked with half-timbered structures with horizontal weatherboard walls and locally quarried slates.

Hafenmarkt 1, Esslingen am Neckar

Rödelseer Tor, Iphofen

Ober-Bessinger Pforte, Lich

Dammstraße 12, Hornburg

Mineralogisches Museum, Marburg

Central Hesse is one of the three regions in Hesse. It comprised the districts of Limburg-Weilburg, Lahn-Dill, Giessen District, Marburg-Biedenkopf, and Vogelsberg District.