Historical Buildings in Lüderitz, Nambia
Sightseeing of Art Nouveau and German Imperial-Style Buildings
May 5, 2009
Visitors to Lüderitz in the west of Namibia, would do well to take a walking tour of the town, exploring the numerous historically important buildings along the way. Lüderitz is a coastal desert town and all equipment and materials had to be either delivered by ship, or via road transport through desert area. Although crime in Lüderitz is not prolific, any visitor should be mindful of pickpockets and thieves while strolling through the streets.
Deutche – Afrika Bank In Lüderitz
Situated in Bismarck Street, between Molkte and Bahnhof Streets, the bank was built in 1907 by the Bause brothers , according to Willie and Sandra Olivier in The Adventurers Guide to Namibia, Struik Publishers 2003. The decorative building style is prominent in the stonework of the lower storey as well as the one corner of the upper storey. A bell tower and Renaissance- style gable is incorporated in the design of the building. This private bank has its headquarters is in Hamburg.
Another interesting building is the station building. The station building hosts a combination of different building styles as the original building became inadequate to handle the increased passenger and goods traffic after the discovery of diamonds in 1908. Construction to enlarge the station building in Lüderitz was undertaken by Metje and Ziegler following plans by draughtsman and architect Lohse. The building was completed in 1914 some seven years after the completion of he railroad between Lüderitz and Aus.
Goerke House Situated On Diamandberg (Diamond Mountain)
Goerke house offers an excellent view over the Lutheran Church. Built in 1909 its main feature is an unique sundial, a Wilhelminische decoration which was totally unknown in Namibia at that time. The house was erected in 1909 for occupation by Hans Goerke, who resided there until 1912 after which he returned to Germany. In 1920 Consolidated Diamond Mines (CDM) acquired the house, but sold it in 1944 to the South West Africa Administration (the previous Namibian Government). From 1944 to 1983 Goerke house was used as residence for the local town Magistrate.
Consolidated Diamond Mines bought Goerke house again in 1983 and restored it to its former glory. Currently the company uses the house as a guest house. Members of the public may view the building from Monday to Friday between 14h00 and 15h00.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church (Felsenkirche) Watching Over Lüderitz
Visitors' first impression of Lüderitz is of the impressive Lutheran Church, towering over the town from the vantage point of Diamantberg - the Dutch name for Diamond Mountain. Despite several requests to establish a Lutheran congregation in Lüderitz, the first minister arrived only in 1909 from Germany. Prior to 1909, the population in Lüderitz was too small to justify allocating a minister to the community.
Albert Bause, the brother of the first minister, Heinrich Bause, designed and constructed the church and the foundation stone was laid on 19 November 1911, while the church was consecrated on 4 August 1912. Kaiser Wilhelm II donated the stained glass altar window and his wife donated the altar Bible.
The building style of the church leans more to the Victorian Gothic than to the German neo- Gothic style of the time. The church is open to the public daily for about half an hour at 18h00 during summer and 17h00 during winter.
Many other restored buildings offer the visitor hours of pleasure, keeping modern builders in awe of the inventiveness and skill of early 1900 craftsmanship. Swakopmund also boasts historical buildings of note and tourists to Namibia should explore these as well.
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