the house

In 1997, Lower Saxony’s current Minister President, Gerhard Schröder, inaugurated the new facilities of the kestnergesellschaft at Goseriede 11. Simultaneously the “Münchener Abendzeitung” declared the remodelled exhibition facility, “Germany’s most beautiful exhibition house.” The remodelling of the former Goseriede swimming-pool into an up-to-date exhibition house, not only incorporates the high tech demands of modern exhibition operations, but also preserves and showcases the “Jugendstil,” or art nouveau feautures of this historic landmark. With its five halls on two levels, the house has more than 1,500 square meters of exhibition surface at its command.

history of the house

From 1902 to 1905, Hanover’s chief city architectural commissioner, Carl Wolff, oversaw the construction of the Goseriede swimming-pool. The middle section of the public bathing facility was destroyed in 1943 during the Second World War, and later rebuilt from 1947 to 1953. After the reopening, the pool remained in use until 1982. In the same year, the city placed the beautiful "Jugendstil" façade under protection as a monument. In 1990 the publishing house Madsack purchased the building, offering the sections of the former women’s pool area, entrance hall and all adjoining rooms to the kestnergesellschaft for its use. An international architectural competition was launched in 1992 in search of an innovative design for the space with the support of Norddeutsche Landesbank. Chaired by Prof. Peter P. Schweger, the jury awarded the first prize to the Hanoverian architects Kai-Michael Koch, Anne Panse and Christian Hühn. In collaboration with the curators of the kestnergesellschaft, their design was developed further into the elegant and dynamic amalgamation of modern architectural elements. The prize of the Association of German Architects of the State of Lower Saxony was awarded to the building in 1998.

exhibition spaces

Each of the five halls at kestnergesellschaft has its own unique dimensions and atmosphere. Able to accommodate diverse exhibition concepts, the spaces can be transformed with high-tech equipment including a close-meshed and invisible network of electrical connections in the floors, walls and ceilings. The lateral galleries in Halls II and III can be closed off to create smaller exhibition spaces, while the twelve separate entrances into the Claussen Hall may be used to create different orientations for projects and viewing. In planning the buildings renovations, care was also taken to create the necessary infrastructure for careful transportation and handling of artwork to and within the halls using our loading dock to grant direct access to the exhibition spaces. Due to ceiling-high gates on the ground and upper floors, along with a large elevator, pieces arrive safely and easily into the exhibition halls.