Great Grandson of the Star Architect Oppler
Will Build the Synagogue
Dewezet
January 27, 2004
American learned of the project on the Internet.
Hamelin/WASHINGTON (tw) — Surprising turn for the plans for the rebuilding of the synagogue. Arnold Oppler (46) would like to — and may — build the House of God on the property of the Jewish Community. The architect is the great-grandson of Edwin Oppler (sic Erwin) (d. 1880), the most famous Jewish architect of his time. Arnold’s predecessor designed Marienburg bei Nordstemmen.
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Edwin Oppler built the synagogue in Hamelin from 1877 to 1879. |
With the proposed engagement of Arnold Oppler for the first new reform synagogue construction in Germany since 1945, the plans of the 200-member Jewish Congregation for the project to be awarded through an architectural competition have been set aside. “That Mr. Oppler has turned to us is for me a hint from God” said the chairperson of the congregation, Rachel Dohme.
Arnold Oppler, the son of German emigrants, learned of the plans on the Internet. At the request of Rachel Dohme and the Task Force “A Synagogue for Hameln” the architect, who has earned recognition in the States after 20 years in the profession with many residential projects, will present a preliminary design for the Hameln synagogue.
A preliminary design will enable the congregation to initiate a strong promotion for the project. Funds for the new construction still have to be raised. In fact, at the conferences in the congregation center on Bahnhofstrasse, Arnold Oppler noted persuasively, “You can also realize ideas on a small budget”. The Task Force is betting on the appeal of the name Oppler here as well as in the U.S. “As the great grandson of the ‘Royal Architect’ [Koeniglicher Baurat], he could open sources of funds in America that otherwise remain closed to us”, said Christa Bruns, noting the opinion of the Task Force. Hans-Georg Spangenberger added, “With the architectual competition we sought publicity; with Mr. Oppler we get it without the competition”.
However, as an American, the architect will have problems in proceeding with the building construction according to German law. “It would be otherwise if the architectural services are divided between Mr. Oppler assuming responsibility for the anning and design, and a local colleague in charge of the construction”, said City Project Leader Frank Taylor, who is also involved with the plans of the congregation. Rachel Dohme and the Task Force have already endorsed this solution.
Arnold Oppler will remain in Hameln this week looking around the city “to get a feel for the houses in the Buerenstrasse neighborhood”. “I would not erect a building in an American style here in Germany”, said the Washington architect.
With 100 building projects, Edwin Oppler was recognized as one of the first Jewish architects of Germany. Between 1857 and 1866, the Royal Hannover Architecht for Georg V drew up the plans for Marienburg bei Nordstemmen, which the monarch presented to his wife, Queen Marie, as a summer residence. From 1877 to 1879, Oppler built the Hameln synagogue in the Buerenstrasse. A benefactor, who remained anonymous, contributed 1500 Reichsmarks. Due to the “very limited funds for construction” the project was held to “the most modest bounds”. On November 8, 1938, the House of God was reduced to rubble and ashes by the Nazis.