Renovation of the Art Nouveau department store in Görlitz finally approved!

Renovation of the Art Nouveau department store in Görlitz finally approved!

An exciting turnaround for the Görlitz Art Nouveau department store “Zum Strauß”: On November 5, 2025, the Saxony State Directorate gave the green light for its renovation. The highest monument protection authority issued the preliminary building permit, which means that the approval process can now be continued. This gives the planners around Winfried Stöcker planning security to modernize the historic building without losing its charm. This is particularly significant since the renovation will involve close cooperation with the monument protection authority of the city of Görlitz in order to preserve the characteristic elements of the cultural monument, as MDR reported.

The former magnate of department store culture, the department store opened in 1913, was used as such until 2009. It has been empty ever since, waiting for a new purpose. Stöcker, who acquired the building in 2013, plans to convert the upper floors into contemporary commercial space and redesign the roof. It is important that the measures do not significantly affect the original character of the department store. The approval is based on a careful examination of all the arguments of those involved, and the public interest in the conversion outweighs the monument protection concerns, as n-tv emphasizes.

A step into the future

Mayor Octavian Ursu praises the state management's decision as a significant step forward for the city and inner-city retail. The department store, an amazing example of early 20th century department store architecture, has even served as a backdrop for film productions in recent years, such as the famous “The Grand Budapest Hotel” in 2013. This eventful history of the building should now be led into a flourishing future.

Renovating listed buildings naturally brings with it some challenges. It is important to preserve the historical building structure as well as comply with legal requirements such as fire protection and accessibility. According to information from Glass Architekten, modern solutions for monument protection are in demand. Invisible insulation concepts, listed windows and intelligent fire protection systems are some of the innovative approaches that are being considered during renovation.

The path to implementation

Successful renovation requires close coordination with the monument authorities and detailed planning. An early analysis of the existing structure and the development of a well-thought-out renovation concept are crucial in order to be able to optimally use funding opportunities from institutions such as KfW or BAFA. The city of Görlitz is faced with the challenge of combining old heritage with new usage concepts and seems to be well on its way to mastering this.

The renovation of the “Zum Strauß” department store not only preserves a piece of history, but also contributes to the revitalization of Görlitz’s retail trade. Citizens can be excited to see what the future holds for this architectural gem.