Janssen-Fabrik

The Janssen restaurant at Schloßstraße 12, situated right by the little river Chemnitz, is a popular spot for good food and a relaxed stay in a stylish setting. You really do need to book in advance, especially in the evenings and at weekends, if you don’t want to risk turning away empty-handed because there are no tables available. Exquisite and lovingly prepared dishes await anyone lucky enough to secure one of the restaurant’s 60 seats. In summer, the large terrace offers additional al fresco seating. Lush greenery surrounds the building, whilst the river splashes gently in the background. Guests with an interest in history will know that this building served a completely different purpose 100 years ago.

The Janssen company was founded in Berlin in 1883. It soon became one of the most respected firms producing knitwear. Just one year later, the company moved to Chemnitz, where conditions for the textile industry were better at that time. The entrepreneur William Janssen came from a small town in Schleswig-Holstein, where he was born in 1852. After completing his apprenticeship, he soon set up his own business. On several trips around the globe, he learnt about a wide variety of technologies for producing innovative, fluffy fabrics. Among other places, he visited textile companies in the USA, Canada and Japan. William Janssen invested in machinery capable of producing this sought-after fabric. In his home country of Germany, he was the first to adopt this technology. Sales quickly took off. The company was in the black after only a short time.

The first premises in Chemnitz on Hartmannstraße soon became too small. Expansions were needed. A warehouse and a machine hall were added, though both were some distance away. Partly because the number of employees was rising steadily in line with the volume of orders, Janssen decided to build a new, integrated site. Planning for this began in 1894. A new factory building was erected at 14 Schloßstraße. Shortly afterwards, Janssen purchased the neighbouring plot at number 12. A modern extension was built on this site. It was inaugurated in 1906. A clinker brick facing forms the façade of the reinforced concrete frame structure, which is adorned with Art Nouveau motifs.

“The Janssen factory originally consisted of several buildings. It was a large complex stretching along the River Chemnitz. There were two large buildings, numbered 14 and 12, as well as smaller ancillary buildings. During the Second World War, building number 14 was completely destroyed and subsequently demolished, leaving only number 12 standing. This has now been beautifully restored as a factory building, converted into flats, shops and restaurants, and stands as a remarkable example of factory architecture whose design is akin to that of residential buildings – in other words, it is very attractively designed. That was the ambition of the developers and factory owners, who also wanted to showcase themselves.”

The production of clothing textiles is in full swing. Over 500 workers are labouring round the clock at the site, tending the noisy machines. It is hot and stuffy. The air shimmers in the dim light. The River Chemnitz flows past the William Janssen knitwear factory, carrying its murky waters northwards. Wastewater from industrial plants further upstream clouds the river.

The extension to the knitwear factory above the bridge is equipped with state-of-the-art technology. Two steam engines, each with an output of 150 PS, provide the power for the knitting machinery. The electric lighting is generated by two dynamos. The new building has reinforced, vaulted ceilings to support the heavy machinery and their concentrated loads, even on the upper floors.

By the early 20th century, over 700 people were already working at Janssen’s factory. The main products were stockings, children’s clothing, ladies’ fashion and sports accessories. During the First World War, the production of knitted shirts for the army was added to the range.

In 1922, William Janssen died at the age of 70, having been one of Chemnitz’s most prominent textile manufacturers. One of his sons took over the business. In the same year, the company was converted into a public limited company.

The factories on Schloßstraße also suffered as a result of the global economic crisis in the early 1930s. A court-mediated settlement was sought, but the proceedings were discontinued shortly afterwards. Towards the end of the Second World War, factory building number 14 was bombed to rubble. Only the extension was spared. From the late 1950s onwards, the building served as the headquarters of VEB Hydraulik Rochlitz. After German reunification, the building stood empty. Almost seven years passed before a private investor purchased the property and saved it from further decay.

The architect Gert Wagner-Kühn completely redesigned the building. Construction took place in 1998 and 1999. The result is impressive. Alongside the Janssen restaurant described at the outset, spacious loft flats have been created on the upper floors. In the roof and gable areas, the formerly austere appearance of the building has been softened through the use of reinforced concrete and glass. On the ground floor, offices and shops have moved in alongside the restaurant. With this building complex, the architect has impressively succeeded in combining historic industrial heritage, with its distinctive, rugged charm, with a style that is both modern and timeless.