The Grossmarkthalle in Frankfurt am Main, completed in 1928, remains the largest construction project Martin Elsaesser oversaw during his tenure as head of the municipal building department. This facility represents a significant example of his contributions to the New Frankfurt project, reflecting his technical approach to large-scale infrastructure during a period of intense civic urban development.
Formative Training and Early Practice
Born in 1884 in Tübingen, Elsaesser pursued architectural studies from 1901 to 1906. He attended the Technical University of Munich, where he studied under Friedrich von Thiersch, and the Technical University of Stuttgart, under the guidance of Theodor Fischer. His early career gained momentum in 1905 when he secured the commission for the Lutheran church in Baden-Baden, marking his transition into freelance practice. By 1911, he joined the staff at Stuttgart Technical University as an assistant to Paul Bonatz, eventually assuming a professorship focused on medieval architecture in 1913.
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In 1920, Elsaesser moved to Cologne to serve as the managing director of the School of Arts and Crafts. His administrative capacity expanded significantly in 1925 when Ernst May invited him to lead the municipal building department in Frankfurt am Main. During this phase, he managed the New Frankfurt project, overseeing the construction of civic and residential infrastructure. Among his notable works from this era are the primary school in Römerstadt and the clinical facility for psychiatric care in Niederrad.
The War Years and Post-War Recovery
Following the onset of National Socialism, Elsaesser faced professional exclusion, receiving no official commissions. He remained in Germany, occupying his time with academic study tours and developing utopian designs. After the conflict ended, he resumed a formal teaching career as a professor of design at the Munich Technical University, a role he held from 1947 until 1956. His late-career output included the 1950 residential high-rise in Munich and the 1953 rebuilding of the Gustav-Siegle-Haus in Stuttgart.
Fast facts
- Born: 1884, Tübingen
- Died: 1957, Stuttgart
- Education: Technical University of Munich
- Significant Project: Grossmarkthalle, Frankfurt
- Academic Tenure: Munich Technical University, 1947–1956
- Notable Association: Association of German Architects
Questions readers ask
What was Elsaesser’s role in the New Frankfurt project?
From 1925 to 1932, he served as the chief of the municipal building department in Frankfurt am Main, where he managed large-scale municipal construction projects.
Did Elsaesser leave Germany during the National Socialist period?
No, he remained in Germany during the war years in a state of internal exile, dedicating his time to architectural study and hypothetical designs.
Achievements
- Trained at Technical University of Munich
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