Glass façade at the vocational school artistically preserved

The restoration of Herbert Bessel's glass façade at the Johann-Vießmann vocational school has been completed.

Auf dem Bild ist eine mehrstöckige bunte Glasfassade von Innen zu sehen. Durch die zusammengesetzten Scheiben fällt Licht. — Foto (Stadt Hof): Die restaurierte Glasfassade von Herbert Bessel

Auf dem Bild ist ein sitzendes Publikum zu sehen, das einem Mann zuhört. Hinter ihm läuft eine Bildschirmpräsentation. — Foto (Stadt Hof): Einweihung der restaurierten Glasfassade in der Johann-Vießmann-Berufsschule

Auf dem Bild sind sechs Personen zu sehen, die auf einer Innentreppe vor einer bunten Glasfassade stehen. — Foto (Stadt Hof): (von links) Peter Nürmberger, Kulturamtsleiter Stadt Hof, Rainer Schmidt, Vorstandsmitglied Hans Viessmann Technologie Stiftung, Manuela Spörl, Vorsitzende Hoftex Group-Stiftung, Oberbürgermeisterin Eva Döhla, Schulleiterin Dr. Andrea Brönner, Andreas Pöhlmann, Vorstandsvorsitzender der Sparkasse Hochfranken

The glass façade in the foyer and main staircase of the Johann-Vießmann-Schule - Staatliches Berufliches Schulzentrum Hof - has been restored. With the support of several foundations, the important work by artist Herbert Bessel from 1960 has been restored true to the original. On Wednesday, May 14, 2025, the glass artwork was officially handed over to the school family and the public.

Mayor Eva Döhla: "This work combines art, history and identity. The fact that it can now be experienced again in its original radiance is thanks to great community commitment. It was important to us to preserve this special piece of Hof's school and cultural history - for today's pupils as well as for future generations."

The glass design by Herbert Bessel (1921-2013), which is around 14 meters high and three meters wide, extends across all floors of the foyer. At the time, it was created using a new adhesive technique, which Bessel was one of the first visual artists in Germany to use for his work. This technique enabled new forms of expression in glass design - without the traditional separating lead strips.

After more than six decades, the glued areas were considerably discolored and the effect of the colored glass fragments was barely recognizable. The genuine antique glass panes could - with a few exceptions - be completely preserved, removed and applied to new carrier surfaces. A technique similar to that used for Gerhard Richter's windows in Cologne Cathedral was applied.

The restoration of the glass façade was part of the comprehensive general refurbishment of the school building. The financing of around 205,000 euros was made possible largely thanks to the support of the Viessmann Foundation gGmbH, the Upper Franconia Foundation, the Hoftex Group Foundation and the charitable foundation of Sparkasse Hochfranken.