Bummerlhaus

The Bummerlhaus is an urban residence located at Stadtplatz 32 in Steyr, designed in the Gothic style. The origins of it can be traced back to the 13th century.

However, it was first documented in the year 1450. The building was most likely named after the sign of the former inn, “Zum Goldenen Löwen.”The lion depicted in the image was unfortunately mocked by the residents of Steyr, who humorously referred to it as “Bummerl,” which means puppy.

The townhouse, which holds significant importance in the realm of art history, can be traced back to the 15th century through its proprietors.Based on current research, it is possible to trace the history of construction back to the 13th century.According to records dating back to around 1450, Mert Pandorffer is documented as the proprietor.In 1456, Wolfgang Pandorffer succeeded his father as the new leader. In 1473, the property was sold to Georg Prandtstetter, a wealthy merchant, for the amount of 1,000 guilders.Valentin Preuenhueber, in his historical work Annales, mentions Styrenses and highlights the existence of a chapel within the house.Georg Prandstetter is believed to have made modifications to the house, which has contributed to its current state of preservation in its original form.In 1490, Hanns Prandtstetter inherited the patrician house.Based on the inscription of the year 1497 on the facade, it can be inferred that Hans Prandtstetter commissioned the architectural plan for the front building.Hanns Prandtstetter, who held the position of mayor of Steyr in 1521, unfortunately passed away during that same year. The property ownership was transferred to Hanns Prandtstetter, who is the son of the previous owner.The year 1543 signifies that “Prandtstetter’s heirs” were the owners.From 1567 to 1596, Wolf Händl von Ramingdorf held the position of mayor of Steyr for a significant period of time. Historical records indicate that he is listed as the owner in the tax registers during this period.Stefan Grafhaider purchased the dilapidated house in 1651.He was one of the wealthiest individuals in the city.He had a diverse range of occupations, which included being a baker, innkeeper, proprietor of a salt chamber, brewery owner, and musket barrel forge operator.The Grafhaider heirs sold the property to Daniel Edtinger in 1687. He then owned the building until 1748.Before the start of the Thirty Years’ War, the mentioned property was owned by prominent council members and merchants who were mainly involved in trading iron, steel, grain, and Venetian merchandise.Since the latter half of the 17th century, there has been a significant correlation observed between the wine trade and the fiefdom.The house used to house an inn called “Zum goldenen Löwen” until 1898. After that, it was used as a hardware store until 1964.In 1964, the Volkskreditbank acquired the property called Bummerlhaus and began a major renovation project. As part of the renovation, a cash hall has been installed on the ground floor of the front building.The attic extension was dismantled in 1994.A spacious office unit has been built, incorporating a roof truss design that represents a stable and formal construction principle, replacing the previous small archive rooms.In the spring of 2000, the front exterior of the building facing the town square underwent a much-needed restoration of its stonework and a renovation of the gable wall.

The Bummerlhaus in Steyr, Austria, is a remarkable and well-preserved late Gothic town house. This medieval secular structure is widely recognized as one of the most aesthetically pleasing in the country.The house’s architectural design reflects the traditional Steyr concept. It consists of a front building with a beautifully decorated façade that faces the town square, a rear building, and three courtyards that include arcades.The house’s architectural design is characterized by a steep roof with a half hip facing the town square, which is a common feature seen in buildings from the Middle Ages.The central focus of the house is a square tower, reminiscent of a medieval residential tower. This tower serves as the main structure around which the rest of the house is built.The building’s front elevation, which faces the town square, showcases a beautifully spacious bay window made of stone. This window extends outward from the first floor and spans the entire length of the house.The structure is embellished with blind arcades and a luxurious frieze that showcases a quatrefoil tracery. This design element supports the arrangement of five windows, which are placed in an asymmetrical manner.The brick gable wall is adorned with brick blind arcades and a steep crippled hip. It also includes an elevator hatch and rises above the narrow roof of the wide bay towers.The gable wall prominently displays a bifore late Gothic window, which showcases meticulously crafted stone pillars and arches that are aligned in an axial manner.

The house chapel, which is integrated within the house, is a remarkable illustration of Gothic secular architecture.The room is located on the upper level and is lit up by four elegant late-Gothic windows.The interior of the space is beautifully decorated with an altarpiece called the Ascension of Christ, which was painted by Martin Johann Schmidt, famously known as “Kremser Schmidt”.The door jamb of the residence is beautifully decorated with five trefoil motifs. Its profile adds to the luxurious decor of the place.The first-floor wooden ceilings in the front building are intricately designed, showcasing the builder’s wealth and opulence.Situated on the south-west side of the third courtyard is a partially free-standing late Gothic spiral staircase. The purpose of this staircase is to connect the building with the raised garden and to provide access to the Berggasse.