Treuners Altstadtmodell, Architectural model at Historical Museum in Frankfurt, Germany.
Treuners Altstadtmodell is a detailed wooden replica of Frankfurt's medieval center at 1:200 scale, featuring paper facades in various colors. The ensemble measures roughly 4.8 by 2.5 meters and comprises 64 segments, with the cathedral spire rising to about 48 centimeters in height.
Brothers Hermann and Robert Treuner created this model between 1926 and 1961, documenting Frankfurt's medieval heart before it was destroyed in a bombing in March 1944. Their work preserved the memory of a world that would soon disappear.
The model shows the city as it was in 1927, with narrow streets and tightly packed buildings reflecting daily life in the old town. You can see how people once moved between these structures, before the area transformed completely.
The model is housed at the Historical Museum and can be viewed from multiple angles to understand its spatial structure and details. It helps to move slowly from segment to segment, observing the colored paper details of individual buildings.
Each building was created based on precise measurements the brothers recorded in sketchbooks, noting specific colors and architectural features. These handwritten notes make the model a personal document where one can see the meticulous craftsmanship of both creators.
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