Visiting the Böttcherstraße

News from the Böttcherstraße: On August 23, 2016, about 50 alumni came together in the Böttcherstraße at the invitation of the board of the Sparkasse Bremen and chairman of our board, Dr. Tim Nesemann. Nesemann provided us with details on why the Sparkasse bought the today world-famous Böttcherstraße in 1989 and passed over the ownership to a foundation, and what all that had to do with the self-concept of the Sparkasse. Afterwards, the alumni split into two groups. Director Dr. Frank Schmidt showed one of the groups ‘his’ Paula Modersohn-Becker Museum and explained the courageous but convincing concept of confronting its historic artwork with that of the young, contemporary artist Laura Eckert. It was astonishing how the current works fit into the historic context and simultaneously allowed a new perspective on the historic pieces. Referring to the catch phrase of a TV station, one alumna, who had visited the museum before, said: “So hab ich das noch nie gesehen!” (“I’ve never seen it that way!”) The other group was led through the Böttcherstraße by Uwe Bölts. Most Bremen locals probably know that, at the beginning of the 19th century, Ludwig Roselius bought the house at number 6 and initially set up the administration of his coffee company there. After World War I, Roselius had the street architecturally designed according to plans by Bernhard Hoetger. Yet, it was about more than just a street – it was a vision for the future. It was Roselius’ belief that Atlantis, which is also the name of one of the houses, sank in Germania, in the North Sea, a belief which has been the topic of scientific congresses. Within the tension field of proximity and distance to the National Socialists, Roselius tried to develop his vision of the future and express it in this street. Uwe Bölts showed us pictures of the damage caused to the Atlantis House in World War II and explained why it has been rebuilt quite differently. The subsequent get-together took place on the terrace of the Paula Modersohn-Becker Museum, filling the beautiful summer night with lively conversations. One alumna later said goodbye with the following remark: “This was again such a wonderful event! When is the next one going to be?”

Michael Wolf

1. Stellvertretender Vorsitzender