Eiskeller, Historic ice cellar in Campus Westend, Frankfurt, Germany
Eiskeller Affenstein is a cylindrical stone structure on Campus Westend that rises approximately seven meters high with a diameter of about five meters. The interior features regularly laid stone blocks, while the exterior shows rougher surfaces, and the distinctive cone-shaped chamber inside was engineered to preserve ice effectively.
This structure was built in 1859 as part of a psychiatric facility led by Heinrich Hoffmann. During the 19th century, the cellar served medical purposes and reflects how treatment approaches evolved during that era.
The structure represents the evolution of medical practices in Frankfurt, where ice storage played a role in psychiatric treatment methods.
The ice cellar is located within the Social Sciences and Psychology Library building at Frankfurt University. Visitors should plan their visit during library hours and can explore the structure within its original institutional setting.
The triple-door entrance system was deliberately designed to minimize direct air exchange and maintain stable temperatures inside. This engineering solution demonstrates how carefully the construction was planned for its primary purpose of ice storage.
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