A historic building in Münster's old town has finally received the proper gable it was meant to have for nearly eight decades. The structure at Prinzipalmarkt 41, located between St. Paul's Cathedral and St. Lambert's Church in the heart of Münster's historic district, recently underwent a comprehensive renovation that included the installation of a new sandstone gable designed to better match its neighboring buildings.
The Prinzipalmarkt, whose history dates back to the 11th century, is characterized by sandstone facades and stepped shield gables that define the streetscape. The ground-floor retail spaces are set back several meters behind arcaded walkways featuring rounded and pointed arches. The building at number 41 was originally constructed in 1523 and, until its destruction during World War II, closely resembled its neighbors in appearance. It served as both a residential and commercial building, as well as housing small-scale manufacturing operations.
During its long history, the building was once owned by Bernd Knipperdolling, leader of the Anabaptist movement, who operated a printing press there. Following the war's devastation, the building was reconstructed according to plans by architects Heinrich Benteler and Alfred Wörmann. However, due to the property owner's limited financial resources, a temporary gable was installed as a stopgap measure, intended to eventually be replaced with a proper Gothic stepped gable.
This temporary solution remained in place until 2021 – a span of nearly 80 years. At the suggestion of the city's design advisory board, the private developer organized an invited competition for the facade's redesign. The winning proposal came from Achterkamp + Möller Architects, based in Steinfurt. Their design features a flat, isosceles gable constructed from sandstone blocks that continues the existing masonry work while echoing the appearance of the temporary structure, making it distinctly different from its neighbors.
The new gable is self-supporting and anchored back to a brick masonry structure. Slender, centrally positioned, rib-like wall openings give the building a certain severity. The vertical reveals are beveled at different angles and are designed to optimize light penetration into the interior spaces.
The renovation and construction planning were handled by Mensen + Zora Architects from Münster. The ground floor continues to serve retail purposes, while the second and third floors now house two compact residential units each, featuring open floor plans. On the third floor, an open gallery level with a sleeping alcove was created under the roof ridge. The street-facing residential unit is set back from the vertical openings in the gable facade through a loggia.
The completed building now encompasses approximately 600 square meters of usable space. The total cost for the new construction and renovation is estimated at 1.3 million euros. The project represents a thoughtful balance between historical preservation and contemporary architectural needs, finally giving the building the prominence it deserves within Münster's carefully maintained historic streetscape.
The renovation demonstrates how modern architectural intervention can respect historical context while creating functional contemporary spaces. After decades with a makeshift solution, the building now stands as a proper member of the Prinzipalmarkt's distinguished architectural ensemble, maintaining the area's character while serving the needs of 21st-century residents and businesses.
