The Architecture of the Mädler-Passage

Councillor of Commerce, Anton Mädler, built the Mädler Passage between 1912 and 1914 on the historic site of the complex of houses of Auerbach’s Cellar situated between Grimmaischer Straße and the Neumarkt.
The design of Theodor Kösser, Advisor for Building to the King of Saxony, chosen in an Architectural competition, created a perfect combination of exhibition halls and shopping arcade.

Mädler-Passage with stairways to Auerbach’s Cellar

The Mädler Passage offers over 8000 square metres of display area which is spread over four wide-ranging upper floors. The shopping arcade creates an impressive “Ante-chamber” to the six stairways to the exhibition hall.

Facades and glass roof

There were and are a number of arcades in Leipzig which cannot deny their character as thoroughfares. Only the Mädler Passage is a real arcade: It has proper street facades which are completely covered by a glass roof. Beneath this glass roof – a pre-stressed concrete construction, 13 metres high and which was a master-piece of engineering in its time, are three storeys and above it there are another two. In the basement there are the vaults of Auerbach’s Cellar.

Entrance Grimmaische Straße

Entrance Neumarkt

The Mädler Passage is 140 metres long and between five and seven metres wide. It runs between the Grimmaischen Straße opposite the south side of the Old Town Hall, across an octagonal rotunda and the Neumarkt. The most opulent of the two street entrances is that on the Grimmaischen Straße. It is a pure stone facade of light sandstone comprising a round arch portico over two storeys, flanked by two life sized female sandstone figures. They hold a vase and a bunch of grapes and so symbolise the purpose of the premises as a porcelain exhibition as well as a wine bar.

“Faust and Mephisto”

“Lustige Gesellen”

Directly behind the Grimmaischen Straße entrance the passage widens out like a hall. The two stairways down to Auerbach’s Cellar are here. On the balustrades opposite one another, stand two bronze statues by the Leipzig sculpturer Matthieu Molitor. They portray The Cellar Scene from Faust in which the students are entranced by Mephisto.

Entrance with classicist decorations

The way through the Mädler Passage passes striking shop fronts and the six entrances to the upper floors. The stairways to the former exhibition areas – which were partly rebuilt as offices during the 1997 reconstruction work – are also architecturally remarkable. The Portals A, B and D are all framed by cherubs holding coats of arms and flanked by vases, following the classicist example.

Rotunda

The rotunda is 12 metres in diameter and is about 15 metres high with a glass cupola. There is a Glockenspiel made of Meissener porcelain, which was installed in 1970 above the exit to Peterstraße (newly installed in 1997) Today, various classical or folk melodies are played on the hour.

Glockenspiel

There is a remarkable detail in the shop on the southern corner at the Neumarkt entrance. The baroque ceiling fresco with ” Helios in his chariot” was discovered during the demolition of Auerbach’s Hof and transfered here.

Ceiling fresco “Helios in his chariot”

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