Former finishing plant
Throughout the 19th Century, the Mülenenschlucht became increasingly industrialised. The building at Mühlensteg 8 served as a finishing works and bleaching house for refining fabrics.
History:
Though the building’s exact construction date is unknown, it has appeared on city maps since 1860. At the time it formed part of Niklaus Messmer’s finishing plant (refinement of textiles) which was made up of several factories. After him the companies Weniger & Scheitlin (1889), Erwin Grüebler (1891), Bächtiger & Wartmann (1903) and Bächtiger & Co. (1916) all ran a finishing plant here, which was also connected to a bleaching house for a while. The 1932 change in function was in keeping with the times: the factory no longer served the struggling textile indus-try and instead housed Josef Albert Lüthi’s car repair shop.
Architecture:
The four-story core structure with gabled roof is in line with the factory architecture of the day. The entrance is relegated at the northwestern corner. The basement is still much like a workshop. A three-story extension extends the building eastwards.
Present-day use:
The poorly maintained property now holds flats.
Though the building’s exact construction date is unknown, it has appeared on city maps since 1860. At the time it formed part of Niklaus Messmer’s finishing plant (refinement of textiles) which was made up of several factories. After him the companies Weniger & Scheitlin (1889), Erwin Grüebler (1891), Bächtiger & Wartmann (1903) and Bächtiger & Co. (1916) all ran a finishing plant here, which was also connected to a bleaching house for a while. The 1932 change in function was in keeping with the times: the factory no longer served the struggling textile indus-try and instead housed Josef Albert Lüthi’s car repair shop.
Architecture:
The four-story core structure with gabled roof is in line with the factory architecture of the day. The entrance is relegated at the northwestern corner. The basement is still much like a workshop. A three-story extension extends the building eastwards.
Present-day use:
The poorly maintained property now holds flats.