Hyparschale (Magdeburg, GDR)
The famous Hyparschale in Magdeburg, one of the most striking examples of East German modernism.
Its architect, Ulrich Müther, was a world renowned specialist in hyperbolic paraboloid (saddle roof) constructions. He designed around 74 such buildings, mostly in the GDR, with the Hyparschale, a multi-purpose expo hall/event location, being one of his largest creations.
He became something of a celebrity architect in the GDR, but his business went bust amid the post-reunification crusade against everything associated with East Germany, including the country’s distinct architecture. Thankfully, the wind has turned against the frivolous destruction of East German landmarks over the past 15 years or so.
However, this came too late for dozens of Müther’s constructions. Having been abandoned and left to rot following reunification, many were demolished. There’s a documentary from the mid-2000s out there that shows a heartbroken Müther visiting one of his derelict and vandalised buildings shortly before his death.
The Hyparschale, which was abandoned in the early 90s, was also due to be torn down, but the local population successfully pressured the city of Magdeburg into stepping in and saving the building. Renovations began in late 2019 and finished in 2024. It still has its distinct look, but the textured glass – which Müther purposefully used – on the facade has been replaced with transparent glass.
The windows on the roof were taped over shortly after the building’s construction in 1969 because they were not properly insulated and rain was leaking into the interior. I have modelled the building on the original design. It’s a gallery/cinema in the game. Placing footpaths can be a little finicky because of the support beams, but I didn’t want the gap between the connections and the building to be too big.
