Illingen town hall

This town hall is among the most beautiful in all of Germany. It’s especially attractive during the late evening hours, when the light shines through the large art deco windows (e.g. during the town hall concert series). Remarkable elements such as oriel windows, balconies, trusses, art deco style ornaments, and the contrast between sandstone and the plastered upper floor give distinction to a representative building, which cannot deny its 19th century heritage. Chiefly two architects have left their stamp on Illingen’s town hall: Ludwig Israel in 1876/77 and Otto Eberbach in 1912. The prestigious council chamber with the six districts’ coats of arms is especially worth seeing. This is where the mayor presides (since 1974 Alfons Senz, Werner Woll, and Armin König respectively) and conducts municipal council meetings with its 33 members. This is also where wedding couples get married, and they can choose to do so with musical accompaniment by the mayor on the grand piano. Concerts and readings are given, and German and International athletes (e.g. winners of the UEFA Champions League, world champions, etc) are celebrated here as well.

In 125 years, the building has changed considerably, and it comes as no surprise that it combines several different architectural styles. The oldest part is the left wing, which is mostly characterized by the portal with the single-headed Prussian eagle. Ludwig Israel created a building of Wilhelmine austerity in 1876. It was only later that ornaments were added to liven up the stringent style. At the turn of the century, it was decided to expand the town hall to create more room for the growing administration. Otto Eberbach, a well-known local architect, created a monument to himself. In keeping with the spirit of the times, he added an annex to the old Wilhelmine structure, emphasized the use of ornaments, embellishments, and trusses. The newly finished building was inaugurated on 06 december 1912.
In the 1930s, the town hall was transformed yet again, this time receiving a make-over in a retrospective rustic style with dark paneling and a massive wrought-iron chandelier. The gorgeous ceiling was painted over with a finish in rustic oak style. It took four decades until the town hall received an all-around renovation. In 1973, then-mayor Werner Woll, an avid preservationist, initiated the restoration of the sandstone façade.

One year later, the council chamber and the corridors were renovated, and the town hall began to host important and glamorous events, such as concerts, readings, and receptions. With delicacies from Saarland’s Upper Moselle and from the neighboring French Alsace region, the wine cellar enjoys an excellent reputation even beyond regional borders. Its welcoming atmosphere makes it a good place for challenging treaty signings. In 2001, mayor Woll’s successor, Armin König, began an extensive process of restructuring to bring the town hall up to date in terms of digitalization.

Under the watchful eye of conservator Johann Peter Lüth, the historic wall paintings in the council chamber were exposed again. The corridors were restored to their former colourful glory. The rustic style elements which had been added over the years and were now deemed to take focus away from the building’s essential beauty, had to give way. The mayor, the council members, and the conservator agreed that the council chamber had to undergo the biggest change to once again shine in its full splendor. Emphasis was put on a light interior, the massive chandelier was removed in order to draw attention to the stunning windows. The new concept harmoniously combines the contrast between historic building structure and functional modern elements.