Plans to reconstruct a historic tower featured in a famous painting by Caspar David Friedrich have been abandoned due to prohibitive costs and structural challenges. The tower, which once adorned a university building on Domstraße 14 in downtown Greifswald, Germany, was part of the iconic cityscape immortalized in Friedrich's 1821-22 masterpiece "Meadows near Greifswald." The Finance Ministry has determined that restoration would be too expensive and technically complex to undertake.
The painter Caspar David Friedrich gave the silhouette of the Hanseatic city immortality through his famous work, which still influences how people view Greifswald today. Most of the towers Friedrich painted, including those of churches and the town hall's roof rider, continue to define the city's skyline. However, one crucial element has been missing from the actual cityscape for over 130 years – the roof rider atop the building at Domstraße 14, which formerly housed the General Superintendent, the highest-ranking Protestant clergyman in Swedish Pomerania.
The missing tower, visible in Friedrich's painting to the right of the town hall, was removed in 1890 due to severe structural problems that had plagued the building since its construction. The General Superintendent held multiple roles, serving simultaneously as pastor of St. Nicholas Church and professor at the Theological Faculty. The building at Domstraße 14 was constructed between 1784 and 1785, but structural issues were apparent from the beginning.
Anna Lewerenz, spokesperson for the Finance Ministry, confirmed that restoration of this element of the so-called "Caspar David Friedrich view" was considered during planning for the current comprehensive renovation of Domstraße 14. The ministry commissioned expert assessments to evaluate the feasibility of reconstruction. However, these studies revealed that rebuilding the tower would require extraordinary effort and expense due to fundamental structural deficiencies that have existed since the building's original construction.
The State Building and Property Management (SBL), which belongs to the Finance Ministry, is responsible for implementing the university's construction project. According to Lewerenz, the building suffers from inadequate foundations, insufficient load-bearing walls, and poor ground conditions. These same structural problems led to the tower's removal in 1890, when the roof structure was also modified to accommodate the changes.
During the current renovation, measures will be taken to improve the building's foundation and overall stability. The Finance Ministry has announced that the historic appearance following the 1890 reconstruction will be restored in accordance with heritage preservation standards. Original plaster from the construction period will be professionally restored, and the 19th-century facade will be made visible once again. Original paint schemes, windows, and entrance doors will also be restored as part of the comprehensive renovation project.
The renovation is expected to cost nearly seven million euros and should be completed by 2027. The project represents a significant investment in preserving the building's historical character while addressing long-standing structural issues. Elisabeth Böker, spokesperson for the University of Greifswald, confirmed that the university administration has occupied Domstraße 14 for approximately 130 years and will continue to use the building. The Human Resources department is expected to be housed in the renovated structure.
The building has served various academic purposes throughout its history. After its original function as the General Superintendent's residence, it became the university's first women's clinic in 1826. From 1885 to approximately 1905, the building housed the Pharmacological Institute for two decades before transitioning to its current administrative use.
The decision not to reconstruct the tower means that Friedrich's complete vision of Greifswald's skyline will remain only in his artistic representation. While the renovation will preserve and restore much of the building's historical character, this particular element of the city's artistic heritage will continue to exist solely in the realm of fine art rather than architectural reality.
