Stadthaus (Townhouse)
The townhouse of the Ortsbürgergemeinde (citizen’s municipality) of St. Gallen bears architectural witness to the heyday of the textile industry during the early modern period. It was built at the end of the 16th Century by a wealthy merchant.
History:
Until the reformation in the early 16th Century, a Johannes Chapel and a nun’s cloister belonging to the monastery stood on the site of today’s townhouse. In 1589, the merchant Hans Schlumpf bought these buildings and used the site to build today’s townhouse, nicknamed the «grosses Haus» (large house) or «hohes Haus» (tall house) due to its size. The third name, the «halbe Haus» (half house), points to the unusual floor plan; there may have been plans for expansion.Hans Schlumpf was a typical member of St. Gallen’s upper class and extremely wealthy: when he built the townhouse, he was one of the twenty richest citizens of the city. His ancestors had made their fortune exporting linen. They owned trading points in Nuremberg and Lyon. Members of the Schlumpf family often held significant political office. Hans Schlumpf, for example, was the son of the merchant and mayor Caspar Schlumpf (1510-1587) and Anna Schirmer. In 1568, he married Sabina Zollikofer (1545-1585), who had wealthy and politically influenti-al parents from St. Gallen.
Architecture:
The homes of wealthy tradesmen were usually both office and residence. The ground floor was used as a warehouse and for handling, whilst the upper floors offered living space and served a representative purpose. This can still be seen in the townhouse. The large, vaulted rooms on either side of the entrance were for business, whilst the banqueting hall in the first floor was – and is – used for social events.
Present-day use:
The townhouse is the headquarters of the Ortsbürgergemeinde (citizen’s municipality) of St. Gallen and their administration building. The banquet hall and the renovated cellar serve as space for cultural and social events and can be rented. The vaulted room in the gound floor also holds a small exhibition on the city’s history.
Until the reformation in the early 16th Century, a Johannes Chapel and a nun’s cloister belonging to the monastery stood on the site of today’s townhouse. In 1589, the merchant Hans Schlumpf bought these buildings and used the site to build today’s townhouse, nicknamed the «grosses Haus» (large house) or «hohes Haus» (tall house) due to its size. The third name, the «halbe Haus» (half house), points to the unusual floor plan; there may have been plans for expansion.Hans Schlumpf was a typical member of St. Gallen’s upper class and extremely wealthy: when he built the townhouse, he was one of the twenty richest citizens of the city. His ancestors had made their fortune exporting linen. They owned trading points in Nuremberg and Lyon. Members of the Schlumpf family often held significant political office. Hans Schlumpf, for example, was the son of the merchant and mayor Caspar Schlumpf (1510-1587) and Anna Schirmer. In 1568, he married Sabina Zollikofer (1545-1585), who had wealthy and politically influenti-al parents from St. Gallen.
Architecture:
The homes of wealthy tradesmen were usually both office and residence. The ground floor was used as a warehouse and for handling, whilst the upper floors offered living space and served a representative purpose. This can still be seen in the townhouse. The large, vaulted rooms on either side of the entrance were for business, whilst the banqueting hall in the first floor was – and is – used for social events.
Present-day use:
The townhouse is the headquarters of the Ortsbürgergemeinde (citizen’s municipality) of St. Gallen and their administration building. The banquet hall and the renovated cellar serve as space for cultural and social events and can be rented. The vaulted room in the gound floor also holds a small exhibition on the city’s history.