Historical chairs for Bad Honnefs Kapelle: an architectural honorary work!

Historical chairs for Bad Honnefs Kapelle: an architectural honorary work!

in Bad Honnef, a special commitment causes excitement: Christine Lutz, a local architect, has worked intensively for the chapel at the forest cemetery. Her focus was on an impressive collection of 50 chairs of the “Santo” model, which were originally designed for the new cemetery chapel. These chairs, the designer Edlef Bandixen, found their way through an online auction house in Lutz. They allegedly come from the Berlin Cathedral and were offered by a Berlin school. A stroke of luck that symbolizes the connection between tradition and modernity could be said, because the chairs are now sought -after collector's pieces. Curiosity is great what there is to tell!

The architectural student Titian Rein - Henkel of the architect Hans Uwe Rein - took over the transport of the chairs from Berlin and temporarily stored them. At a symbolic handover on June 2, 2025, the chairs received their first official appearance when two of them were handed over to the city of Bad Honnef. Among other things, Mayor Otto Neuhoff and other committed supporters were present. When the handover, it was agreed that the chairs should find its final space after the renovation of the chapel. These measures should be completed in time for the 150th birthday of Konrad Adenauer in January 2026.

disorders in the cemetery project

not everything went smoothly. In the Rhöndorf cemetery, 42 “Santo” chairs that were disposed of as small wood in a container were discovered. Titian Rein bumped into the neglected chairs when visiting the neglected chairs and was shocked by her condition. The city of Bad Honnef justified the disposal with an expert opinion from 2017, which attested a "massive contamination" by mold. The city estimated the material damage at around 2,000 euros, while online offers for Santo chairs fluctuate between 300 and over 1,000 euros per piece, depending on its condition.

The loss of this unique chairs is now regarded not only as a material, but also as an ideal loss because they cannot be replaced. The city had the backing of an expert opinion, but the decision to dispose of the chairs is met with resistance. Titian Rein then offered his help with the renovation of the chapel, which was, however, rejected by the city. The debate about the fates of the chairs thus continues to come to a head, and it remains exciting how the city will react to the criticism.

The future of the chapel

Despite the difficulties, restoring the chapel remains an important project for Bad Honnef. With the symbolism of the word "Santo", which is often understood as sacred or sublime, one hopes to combine these values ​​in the architectural framework. Historically, furniture such as these chairs are not just everyday objects; They tell stories and contribute to the atmosphere of a place. The anticipation for the reopening of the chapel in January is not only justified, but also shaped by a noticeable spirit of optimism.

While the city of Bad Honnef is working on its renewal, it remains to be seen how the situation around the historical chairs will develop. News about the old chapel will be expected in the next week. Causa Finita or just the beginning of even more discussions? We'll stay tuned!