Wetzlar, Germany, home to Buderus Hydronic Systems' corporate headquarters, is a city with a fascinating history dating back to 897 when a Conradine Earl consecrated a church where Wetzlar Cathedral stands today.
At one time a protected Imperial city and later, from the late 17th century to the fall of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, the seat of the Supreme Court of the German Nation of the Holy Roman Empire, Wetzlar endured the ups and downs of war, economic crises and disease and survived as a living museum to Germany's cultural, architectural and industrial history.
Along with Buderus, the Leica camera folks call Wetzlar home. With picturebook architecture spanning the stylistic traditions from late Romanesque to Baroque, Wetzlar provided extraordinary backdrops for the Home Again crew.
Wetzlar Cathedral, built in the late Romanesque style, was just 40 years old, when, in 1230, plans began to take shape for the construction of a new, grander church in the "modern" early Gothic style. Work, however, progressed slowly. In order that services could continue to be held during construction, demolition of the old church could not outpace construction of the new cathedral.
As decades passed, a rift between the convent and the city over money matters, deepening financial crises and ultimately the city's bankruptcy in the late 14th century ground construction almost to a halt. Work was sporadic. With each fresh crew of contractors, new stylistic ideas and construction techniques were introduced. By the year 1590 when the dome that now sits atop the catheral was lowered into place, Renaissance architecture was giving way to Baroque making the resulting, never completed Wetzlar cathedral a lasting monument to three centuries of religious architectural development.
Beautiful examples of Baroque wood beam architecture give Wetzlar its storybook charm. Exquisitely maintained half-timbered houses dot the townscape providing unimpeachable testimony to the durability of this light-hearted precursor to panelized construction.
Colorful architectural details decorate many of the city's countless half-timbered houses. Slate shingles are evident not only on roofs and dormers but are also often used for weather-side wall applications.
For an inside look at centuries-old insulation, we snapped a photo of an exposed wall clearly illustrating the framework of interwoven twigs packed with hay and mud that filled the cavities between the structures' massive timber members.
Bob even got behind the lens of his new Kodak Advantix camera to shoot a few snapshots for himself of the picturesque Wetzlar townscape.
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| Wood beam |
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Detail |
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Exposed wall |
Along with manufacturing some of the world's most efficient cast iron boilers and indirect hot water heaters, Buderus is also a recognized leader in the production of cast iron products for other industries including suspensions for the new VW Beetle and the locking mechanisms for BMW sunroofs. In another division, Buderus artists create exceptional cast iron decorative medallions and other works of art.
Look down as you walk through much of Europe and you'll may well find yourself stepping over Buderus cast iron manhole covers and tree grates.
Visit Wetzlar's City and Industry Museum and you'll discover a variety of antique cast iron stoves as well as other memorabilia from the 200-plus year-old cast iron manufacturer's impressive history.
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| Bob with camera |
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Manhole cover |
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Antique stove |
Finally, the Home Again crew posed for a group shot in the Cornmarket Square.
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From left: lighting director Michael Lee, audio Bob McCausland, director of photography Larry LeCain (above), director Chris Gilbert, co-producer Sarah Beasley, Bob Vila, production assistant John Troy, and executive co-producer Michael Ferrone. |
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For more information visit www.buderus.net.
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