Waldspirale, former Software AG and PTZ buildings will be listed as historical monuments
The city of Darmstadt, a center of science and research, is expanding its list of protected monuments to include three significant buildings from recent urban history. In its meeting on May 27, 2026, the city council approved the inclusion of the former Software AG building on Uhlandstrasse, the Waldspirale (Forest Spiral), and the former Postal Technical Central Office (PTZ) in the list of protected monuments.
The three buildings will therefore be listed as historical monuments in the future.
Postmodernism comes into focus
The basis for this is the ongoing updating of the Hessian register of monuments. Currently, the State Office for Monument Preservation is recording, in particular, postmodern buildings from the years 1975 to 2000.
Planning Director Michael Kolmer emphasizes the special significance of this era for Darmstadt: "Especially in a city that lost large parts of its historical building fabric in the Second World War, the architecture of modernism and postmodernism plays an important role in the city's identity."
Former Software AG as an example of modern enterprise architecture
The former Software AG building on Uhlandstrasse was built in two phases between 1982 and 1988 according to plans by the architect Klaus Bollmann.
Characteristic features include the hexagonal basic forms, the almost complete avoidance of right angles, and the close connection between architecture and nature. The design reflects the anthroposophical ideas of the company's founder, Peter Schnell.
The building is considered an outstanding example of modern corporate architecture from the 1980s.
Forest spiral as an international Gesamtkunstwerk
The Waldspirale (Forest Spiral) in northern Darmstadt will also be protected as a cultural monument in the future. The striking residential building with 105 apartments was designed by the Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser.
With its spiral design, green spaces, and avoidance of straight lines, Hundertwasser realized his vision of a natural and individual architecture. The detailed planning was undertaken by the architect Heinz M. Springmann.
Since the laying of the foundation stone in 1998, the Waldspirale has been one of Darmstadt's most famous buildings.
PTZ documents a piece of contemporary history
The former Central Postal Technical Office on Hilpertstrasse was built between 1986 and 1990 for approximately 1,600 employees. The building complex was designed by Otto Vogel, Horst Dibelius, and Wolfgang Last in collaboration with the Darmstadt-based firm Schröder-Planung.
Besides its size, the building is characterized by several works of art, including works by the artists Günther Uecker and Arnaldo Pomodoro.
The PTZ is also attributed special historical significance, as it was the first central nationwide office of its kind established in the final phase of the Cold War.
Protection for future generations
The three buildings are classified as cultural monuments for historical, artistic, and urban planning reasons. The Darmstadt heritage preservation authority aims to permanently secure important testimonies of the city's history and preserve them for future generations.
(DARMSTADT – RED/PSD/stip)
Featured image: Hundertwasser House in Darmstadt. Photo: Arthur Schönbein
