Harmelin-Haus, Commercial monument at Nikolaistraße, Leipzig, Germany.
Harmelin-Haus is a five-story commercial building on Nikolaistraße that stretches approximately 63 meters (207 feet) along the street and features multiple bay windows and sculptural decorations on the facade. The ground floor holds retail spaces while the upper levels house the Medieval Crime Museum, and the entire structure is made of light-colored limestone.
Emil Franz Hänsel designed this structure in 1913 for Marcus Harmelin's fur trading company, which operated successfully until forced liquidation in 1939. The building survived the war years and was later converted to house cultural institutions, fundamentally changing its original commercial purpose.
The building displays reform architecture language with detailed limestone carvings, window arches, and fine relief work that characterizes early 1900s design. Walking past the facade, visitors can observe the crafted details and carefully designed ornaments that reflect the building style of that era.
The building sits at the intersection of Nikolaistraße and Richard-Wagner-Straße in central Leipzig and is easily reached on foot. Ground-level access is available and the areas are well-signposted, making orientation straightforward when exploring the retail spaces and museum.
Archaeological excavations beneath the adjacent construction site revealed original cellars from the fur trading operations of the Harmelin family business. These underground spaces show how intensive the trade was in this area and what infrastructure supported such commerce.
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