# Rudolf Kern

Rudolf Kern was an important designer and builder in Bydgoszcz, at the end of the Prussian period of the city. Most his works have been realized between 1903 and 1914. His artistic style relates to Art Nouveau and Modernism.

## Life

Rudolf Kern allegedly practised in the studio of Józef Święcicki. From 1903 to the beginning of the 1920s, he ran his own architectural and construction office. At that time, like many architects from Bydgoszcz, he was involved in the design and construction of tenement houses that were then sold to profitable real estate brokers. This process was particularly noticeable in the erection of edifices along Cieszkowskiego Street.
In Bydgoszcz, he lived until 1922 in his own house at the corner of Gdańska Street and Adam Mickiewicz Alley

## Style

Rudolf Kern's style is characterized by Art Nouveau features and details.
In 1912, one of his projects was awarded most beautiful new building of the year (together with Fritz Weidner's house at Kołłątaja street 1), in a competition organized by city authorities: it stands at 20 January 1920 Street 24.

## Works in Bydgoszcz

Main preserved buildings by Rudolf Kern in Bydgoszcz :
| Year | Edifice | Remarks |
| 1900 | House at 4 August Cieszkowski Street | The project was based on a Józef Święcicki's blueprint. The building underwent a thorough renovation in 2017-2018. |
| 1902–1903 | House at 10 August Cieszkowski Street | The plot where stands the house belonged to Józef Święcicki: he sold it in 1902, to his colleague Rudolf Kern. |
| 1903–1904 | Tenement at 22 Chodkiewicza Street | Located at the corner of Chodkiewicza and Paderewskiego streets. Among first realizations in Bydgoszcz for Julius Berger, a merchant |
| 1903–1904 | 2 20 Stycznia 1920 Street | Among first realizations in Bydgoszcz for Julius Berger, a merchant. |
| 1903–1904 | Rudolf Kern Building | Located at 1 Adam Mickiewicz Alley. Built for Kern's own use. |
| 1903–1904 | Villa at 15 Adam Mickiewicz Alley | Built for Julius Berger, a merchant. |
| 1904 | Hübschmann House | The villa is located at 4 Paderewskiego. Alfred Hübschmann was a merchant in clothing business. |
| 1904 | Heinrich Kirsch tenement | The building is located at 86 Dworcowa Street. The main elevation has suffered from successional renovations that obliterated many architectural details. |
| 1904–1905 | Villa at 13 Adam Mickiewicz Alley3 | Built for Julius Berger, a merchant. |
| 1904–1905 | Tenement at 7 Adam Mickiewicz Alley | Registered on Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship heritage list, No.601379, Reg.A/1082 (January 10, 1995) |
| 1905–1906 | Tenement at 1 Józef Weyssenhoff Square | Built for Julius Berger, a merchant. |
| 1904–1905 | House at 9 Adam Mickiewicz Alley | Built for Arnold Schattschneider, first head of the Music School of Bydgoszcz (German: Bromberger Konservatorium der Musik). |
| 1904–1905 | Eduard Schulz Tenement | It stands at 66/68 Gdańska Street. Eduard Schulz was a local restaurateur. |
| 1906–1907 | Tenement at 5 Adam Mickiewicz Alley | Built for Adolf Berger, a merchant. |
| 1906–1907 | Tenement at 14 Chodkiewicza street | Located at the corner with 20 Stycznia 1920 street. Built for Friedrich Fiedler, a merchant. |
| 1906–1907 | Tenement at 24 Gdańska Street | Commissioned by merchant Julius Berger, it has been heavily ravaged by a fire in 1945. |
Main preserved buildings by Rudolf Kern in Bydgoszcz :
| Year | Edifice | Remarks |
| 1906–1908 | 71 Gdańska Street | The tenement has been the seat, since 1938-1939, of the Municipal Conservatoire. |
| 1908–1909 | Tenement at 27 20 Stycznia 1920 street | Built for Dittmann, a merchant. |
| 1909 | August Mentzel Tenement | Located at 5 Gdańska Street, it has been rebuilt by R. Kern. |
| 1909 | Julius Grey house | Located at 35 Gdańska Street, it has been renovated by R. Kern. |
| 1909–1910 | Tenement at 2A Chodkiewicza street | Villa at the corner with 20 Stycznia 1920 street. Built for Guenthar, a teachermerchant, the house has been recently refurbished. |
| 1910 | Tenement at 16 20 Stycznia 1920 street | The building was the property of Rudolf Kern himself. |
| 1910 | Villa at 29 20 Stycznia 1920 street | The building was commissioned by Alexander Schmidt, a factory manager. |
| 1910–1911 | Tenement at 67 Gdanska street | First landlord was Carl Ernst, a butcher. |
| 1910–1911 | Tenement at 11 Zamoyskiego street | The building was commissioned by Hermann Draheim, a rentier. |
| 1910–1911 | Tenement at 13 Zamoyskiego street | The building was commissioned by Hermann Pflaum. |
| 1911 | Building at 24 20 Stycznia 1920 street | The building was erected for Emil Zemisch, a building contractor. |
| 1911–1912 | Tenement at 18 20 Stycznia 1920 street | The building was erected for Mr Weiss, a master bricklayer. |
| 1911–1912 | Tenement at 13 Paderewskiego | Commissioner was Emil Heydemann, a master bricklayer. |
| 1913 | Savoy Building | Located at 2 Jagiellońska street, corner with Theatre square |
| 1913–1915 | Tenement at 23 Paderewskiego | Both facades combine eclectic-neo-classical style and Art Nouveau features. |
| 1914 | Villa at 6 Wyspiańskiego street | |
| 1914–1916 | House at 5/7 Kopernika Street | Built for the Secretary of the Bydgoszcz Regency, Ernest Werner. |