Saarbrücken's tax office: DSD demands a stop to the demolition!

Saarbrücken's tax office: DSD demands a stop to the demolition!

The debate about the listed tax office in Saarbrücken is taking a new turn. The German Foundation for Monument Protection (DSD) is calling for the current demolition permit, which was granted by the Saarland state government last year, to be withdrawn. This decision followed the failed award of a concept for the new development of the area on the Stadtgraben, which the DSD describes as a catastrophic failure.

Dr. Steffen Skudelny, board member of the DSD, expresses sharp criticism of the current process for constructing a new building. In a press release, the foundation advocates a “new approach to thinking about the area”. The DSD sees this as an opportunity to regain trust and make decisions taking monument experts and the public into account. A purely utilitarian approach is inadequate.

DSD demands

In order to improve the situation, the DSD calls for the following in the event of a possible renewed tender:

• Den Erhalt des Denkmals als Grundlage für neues Bauen.
• Rechtzeitige Einbeziehung von Denkmalfachleuten und der Öffentlichkeit.
• Die Rücknahme der bestehenden Abrissgenehmigung.

In response to the state government's actions, the board of the State Monuments Council resigned in protest. This decision illustrates the great dissatisfaction with the current monument protection policy.

Architectural significance of the tax office

The building itself was built between 1949 and 1952 according to plans by the architect Karl Wundrack and is considered an important testimony to the years of reconstruction. The five-story building not only shapes the cityscape, but also embodies architectural ideals of the early post-war period.

The DSD also emphasizes that expert documents on the structural condition of the tax office were kept secret, even though the condition of the building is better than expected. Conservation could certainly be seen as economical and sustainable.

In summary, the DSD strongly demands that the demolition permit for the Saarbrücken tax office be withdrawn in order to start a new tender taking all relevant aspects into account. The discussion surrounding the building reflects larger issues surrounding historic preservation policy in the region.

For further information on this topic, see also the reporting by Saarbrücken newspaper and the official statement of the German Monument Protection Foundation.