DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45213#0122
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decision was made to finance the exhibition.294 The initiator was Heinrich Lauterbach, the founder
and president of the Silesian section of the Deutscher Werkbund (Schlesischer Landesverband des
Deutschen Werkbundes).295 Later he would write to Vladimir Slapeta (Prague, October 17 1967): "[...]
I proposed the WUWA exhibition with a model housing estate [...], I had considered the idea even
before I learnt anything about Weissenhof". 296 It is possible, albeit not very likely, that the idea of the
exhibition sprang up either ahead or simultaneously with that of the Stuttgart estate.297
Christine Nielsen maintains that the exhibition idea was put forward by Wroclaw's young archi-
tects under Lauterbach's leadership: the centres of the Neues Bauen movement in Germany were
far away and they wanted a local forum to present their views on modern housing and domestic
architecture.298 The idea won the approval of the local Academy of Fine Art. Hans Scharoun and
Adolf Rading taught there at the time; the latter was appointed head of the working committee for
part of the exhibition which was to be arranged inside the Centennial Hall and on the adjacent Ex-
hibition Grounds by the Executive Board of the DWB in Berlin. Heinrich Lauterbach was appointed
artistic director. The tremendous organisational task required a collective management. Director
Carl Wilhelm Wolf (honorary senator of the local Technical University) oversaw the whole project,
entrusted to Breslauer Messe- und Ausstellungsgesellschaft, which owned the rights to the exhibi-
tion. The committee responsible for the part of the exhibition inside and around the Centennial Hall
was headed by Stadtbaurat Dr. Hugo Althoff (on behalf ofthe city) and Dr. Ernst Jentsch (on behalf of
the Werkbund's Silesian section). The construction ofthe exhibition was supervised by Magistratso-
berbaurat Richard Konwiarz and Dr. Eng. Hans Nowak was responsible for public relations (contacts
with the press). The main exhibition committee was headed by Oberburgemeister Dr. Otto Wagner,
the advertising department by Carl Wilhelm Wolf, the committee for special activities by Stadtrat Dr.
Schimmelpfenning. The committee for matters related to industry and commerce was also estab-
lished and another one for means of transport. Professor Johannes Molzahn of the Academy was
responsible for the design of promotional materials.
The WUWA exhibition was a local initiative, aimed at attracting attention to the Province of
Silesia and its capital city. These objectives were clearly stated by Oberburgemeister Dr. Otto Wag-
294 Schlesiens Handwerk und Gewerbe 1929, vol.10, no.25, p.289.
295 Lubomir SLAPETA, Vladimir SLAPETA, op. cit., p.1427. The Silesian Section ofthe Werkbund (Schlesischer Landesverband des Deutschen
Werkbundes) was founded in 1925.
296 Ibidem.
297 It does not seem very likely that the idea of the WUWA exhibition and its accompanying experimental housing estate preceded the idea
of the Wohnung exhibition in Stuttgart in 1927. The Stuttgart initiative was discussed in professional journals and the architects invited to
contribute certainly knew about it in advance. Since two local architects, Adolf Rading and Hans Scharoun, participated in the Wohnung
exhibition, it seems very likely that they discussed the project with their colleagues in Wroclaw. Lauterbach wrote his letter to Vladimir Slapeta
40 years after the WUWA exhibition. He might not have remembered all circumstances or wanted to take credit for the idea. Schlesiens Handwerk
und Gewerbe (1929, vol.10, no.25, p.289) pointedly observed: 'It is a time-honoured custom to be cautious about claiming one's authorship of
an idea until it becomes a success. The question of who is to be credited has become a hotly debated issue. Maybe the future will show who
actually came up with the idea ofthe large exhibition project.'
298 The young architects educated at the Academy of Fine and Decorative Arts rarely received major contracts. They had to take part in
competitions and rely on private sponsorship from wealthy and courageous investors.
decision was made to finance the exhibition.294 The initiator was Heinrich Lauterbach, the founder
and president of the Silesian section of the Deutscher Werkbund (Schlesischer Landesverband des
Deutschen Werkbundes).295 Later he would write to Vladimir Slapeta (Prague, October 17 1967): "[...]
I proposed the WUWA exhibition with a model housing estate [...], I had considered the idea even
before I learnt anything about Weissenhof". 296 It is possible, albeit not very likely, that the idea of the
exhibition sprang up either ahead or simultaneously with that of the Stuttgart estate.297
Christine Nielsen maintains that the exhibition idea was put forward by Wroclaw's young archi-
tects under Lauterbach's leadership: the centres of the Neues Bauen movement in Germany were
far away and they wanted a local forum to present their views on modern housing and domestic
architecture.298 The idea won the approval of the local Academy of Fine Art. Hans Scharoun and
Adolf Rading taught there at the time; the latter was appointed head of the working committee for
part of the exhibition which was to be arranged inside the Centennial Hall and on the adjacent Ex-
hibition Grounds by the Executive Board of the DWB in Berlin. Heinrich Lauterbach was appointed
artistic director. The tremendous organisational task required a collective management. Director
Carl Wilhelm Wolf (honorary senator of the local Technical University) oversaw the whole project,
entrusted to Breslauer Messe- und Ausstellungsgesellschaft, which owned the rights to the exhibi-
tion. The committee responsible for the part of the exhibition inside and around the Centennial Hall
was headed by Stadtbaurat Dr. Hugo Althoff (on behalf ofthe city) and Dr. Ernst Jentsch (on behalf of
the Werkbund's Silesian section). The construction ofthe exhibition was supervised by Magistratso-
berbaurat Richard Konwiarz and Dr. Eng. Hans Nowak was responsible for public relations (contacts
with the press). The main exhibition committee was headed by Oberburgemeister Dr. Otto Wagner,
the advertising department by Carl Wilhelm Wolf, the committee for special activities by Stadtrat Dr.
Schimmelpfenning. The committee for matters related to industry and commerce was also estab-
lished and another one for means of transport. Professor Johannes Molzahn of the Academy was
responsible for the design of promotional materials.
The WUWA exhibition was a local initiative, aimed at attracting attention to the Province of
Silesia and its capital city. These objectives were clearly stated by Oberburgemeister Dr. Otto Wag-
294 Schlesiens Handwerk und Gewerbe 1929, vol.10, no.25, p.289.
295 Lubomir SLAPETA, Vladimir SLAPETA, op. cit., p.1427. The Silesian Section ofthe Werkbund (Schlesischer Landesverband des Deutschen
Werkbundes) was founded in 1925.
296 Ibidem.
297 It does not seem very likely that the idea of the WUWA exhibition and its accompanying experimental housing estate preceded the idea
of the Wohnung exhibition in Stuttgart in 1927. The Stuttgart initiative was discussed in professional journals and the architects invited to
contribute certainly knew about it in advance. Since two local architects, Adolf Rading and Hans Scharoun, participated in the Wohnung
exhibition, it seems very likely that they discussed the project with their colleagues in Wroclaw. Lauterbach wrote his letter to Vladimir Slapeta
40 years after the WUWA exhibition. He might not have remembered all circumstances or wanted to take credit for the idea. Schlesiens Handwerk
und Gewerbe (1929, vol.10, no.25, p.289) pointedly observed: 'It is a time-honoured custom to be cautious about claiming one's authorship of
an idea until it becomes a success. The question of who is to be credited has become a hotly debated issue. Maybe the future will show who
actually came up with the idea ofthe large exhibition project.'
298 The young architects educated at the Academy of Fine and Decorative Arts rarely received major contracts. They had to take part in
competitions and rely on private sponsorship from wealthy and courageous investors.