Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434) 560 Drillfield Drive Newman Library, Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Virginia 24061 Business Number: 540-231-6308 specref@vt.edu URL: http://spec.lib.vt.edu
Federica Geoffi, Architect, and Tamara Kennelly, University Archivist
Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
The Elisabeth-Charlotte Harling Architectural Collection consists of architectural drawings, photographs, specifications,
correspondence, newspaper clippings, publications, and other materials organized in two series, documents and drawings.
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University
Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.
Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization
form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction . Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition
form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with
forms or to submit a completed form.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder],
Elisabeth-Charlotte Harling Architectural Collection, Ms1999-007, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech,
Blacksburg, Va.
Source of Acquisition
The Elisabeth-Charlotte Harling Architectural Collection were donated to Special Collections in 1998.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Elisabeth-Charlotte Harling Architectural Collection commenced and was
completed in January 2000.
Elisabeth-Charlotte Harling was born on February 2, 1922 in Osnabrueck, Germany. She earned a diploma in Interior Design from
the State School of Crafts and Applied Arts in Weimar. Her course of study included three months practical experience in a
cabinetmaker's shop (1941-1943). In 1944 she attended the College of Architecture and Applied Arts in Weimar for a semester
of architectural studies.
In 1944-1945, she was a teaching assistant in the history of architecture for Professor Denis Boniver in Weimar, and in 1945-1946,
she worked at the British Area Works Office in Osnabrueck, gaining experience in interior design, construction supervision,
and maintenance staff supervision. During 1946-1947 she worked for the architectural firm of Theo Burlage and Niebuhr in Osnabrueck,
focusing on design and construction of residential and commercial buildings.
Harling returned to college in the Department of Architecture at the Technical University of Stuttgart, where she received
her diploma in architecture. She traveled extensively in Europe, visiting Italy, Switzerland, France, Greece, and, England.
Harling began her professional career as an independent architect in 1953 when she designed and constructed the residence
of Dr. Pante in Neuenkirchen, Germany.
In addition to designing as an independent architect, Harling was employed as architect and interior designer for several
architectural firms. She has completed projects in France, Switzerland and Germany.
Harling died November 19, 2011.
Below is a list of firms and projects.
Suter and Suter in Basel, Switzerland, 1955-1961
Tropical Institute, Basel, Switzerland
Reception Pavilion of Sulzer, Winterthur, Switzerland
Administrative building of Suiselectra, Basel, Switzerland
Harling also worked for Suter and Suter as interior designer on several projects:
Offices for upper management of Winterthur, Paris, France
Expansion of Westfalenbank, Bochum, Germany
Coop Haus, Basel, Switzerland
New building of Swiss Credit Institute, Basel, Switzerland
Offices for upper management of Lonza, Lonza Highrise, Basel, Switzerland
Otto H. Senn in Basel, Switzerland, 1961-1968
1961 Administrative building of "Allgemeine Treuhand," Basel, Switzerland
1962-1968 Library of the University Basel, Switzerland
1966-1967 Planning of a residential development of 1280 units in Oberes Murifeld-Wittingkofen near Bern, Switzerland
1968 Reorganization/reconstruction of the university library in Freiburg, Switzerland
Otto H. Senn - design competitions, 1961-1968
1962 Church Complex, Copenhagen, Denmark
1965 Stadttheater (theater) in Basel, Switzerland
1967-1968 School Im Moos, in Riehen near Basel, Switzerland
State University and Building Department in Konstanz, Germany, 1969-1984
1969-1972 Planning and design of Central Functions for a new University Library of the Konstanz University
1974-1982 Design and construction supervision of a Natural Sciences Library at the new University of Konstanz
1983-1984 Renovation of a historic administrative building in Konstanz
Independent architect
1965 Abbey St. Marie de Boulaur, Boulaur, France: reconstruction of a guesthouse of a Cistercian cloister
Vianney Hospital, Ueberlingen am Bodensee, Germany: reconstruction and interior design of a chapel
1989 Convent St. Marie de Rieunette, near Carcassonne, France: Reconstruction of a destroyed Cistercian convent
Publications and Presentations
1966 article "Notizen zum Heutigen Wohnungsbau" (remarks on contemporary housing) in the "Schweizer Rundschau"
1988-1997 lectures at the Senior Center Konstanz on "New Housing Projects for Senior Citizens in Stuttgart and Freiburg;"
"How to Adjust a Residence for Use by Handicapped Persons," and "Introduction to Auditing Courses at the University of Konstanz"
The Elisabeth-Charlotte Harling Architectural Collection consists of architectural drawings, photographs, specifications,
correspondence, newspaper clippings, publications, and other materials organized in two series, documents and drawings. Most
of the text of the materials is in German or French. The collection contains 171 drawings covering 18 different projects in
which Harling participated while working in cooperation with several architectural firms, the State University and Building
Department in Konstanz, Germany, and as an independent architect in France.
The drawings reflect Harling's activities as an interior designer and as an architect. The first folder contains original
drawings (ink and pencil) while folders 2,3 and 4 contain printed drawings. The drawings reflect diverse projects, and include
comprehensive floor plans, prospects, perspectives and several construction drawings. Additionally, several drawings document
her work as interior designer.
During her career Harling participated in the realization of several important design projects while cooperating with diverse
architectural offices, universities and as an independent architect. Some of these design projects are represented in the
collection by drawings, publications, miscellaneous newspaper clippings, and photographs. In particular the collection contains
a significant number of drawings and various related materials regarding the design of the Universitatsbibliothek in Basel,
Switzerland (1962-1968). Harling participated in this architectural project while working for the architectural firm of Otto
H. Senn. This design is documented with a significant number of original drawings (45), related publications, photographs
of drawings and models, and newspaper clippings. Also included are several remarkable original hand colored drawings of the
prospects and plans of the building.
While working for Suter and Suter, Harling helped in the design of the Swiss Credit Institute (1960) in Basel, Switzerland
and in the realization of an office building for the upper management of Lonza, Lonza Highrise (1960), also in Basel. The
two projects are documented in the collection through several drawings, photographs, and other miscellaneous material.
Finally, it is important to mention the drawings and related material regarding two projects that Harling developed while
working with the State University and Building Department in Konstanz (Germany). As Architect in charge, she participated
in the planning and design of the Central Functions for the new University Library (1969-1972) and in the design and construction
supervision of the Natural Sciences Library (1974-1982) at the new University of Konstanz. The Universitatsbibliothek in Basel
is represented in 45 drawings, the design for the Central Functions for a New University Library (1969-1972) of the Konstanz
University in Germany in 25 drawings, and the Natural Sciences Library, 31 drawings.
Photographs of Harling; model for the Naturwissenschaftliche Bibliothek, Universitat Konstanz; photographs of a lamp
1978-1999
box-folder 1 folder: 4
La bibliotheque cantonale del' Universitaire, Freibourg
1976
box-folder 1 folder: 5
Chronologische Aufstellung Meiner Arbeiten
1950-1995
box-folder 1 folder: 6
(2) Drawing and photograph of Kapellen Erweiterung
1952-1969
box-folder 1 folder: 7
Photographs of Abbaye Sainte Marie de Rieunette
1998
box-folder 1 folder: 8
Garten und Literatur
1988
box-folder 1 folder: 9
(2) Drawings of Saarbrucken, 1951-1952; (1) Drawing of the Albert Ludwig Universitat, Freiburg, 1989; Seminar: Ansicht des
Cortile del Belvedere in Rome von Vatican Palast aus gesehen, 1988-1989; Photographs and drawings of a table, 1984; Modelphotos
of Schweizerische Nationalversicherung Basel, n.d.; Modelphotos of Theaterraum mit Orchestergraben, Basel, 1966; Miscellaneous
photographs of several design projects, 1950-1995; Notizen zum Wohnbau heute in Schweizer Rundschau, 1967
box-folder 1 folder: 10
Negatives of Universitats Bibliothek, Basel
1964-1967
box-folder 1 folder: 11
Schweizerische Bauzeitung, Der Bibliothek der Universitat, Basel, by G. Risch and A. Ostertag
1969
box-folder 1 folder: 12
Newspapers clippings about the Univeristatsbibliothek in Basel
1964-1992
box-folder 1 folder: 13
Photographs of the Universitats Bibliothek, Basel
1996
box-folder 1 folder: 14
Basel Universitatsbibliothek
1968
box-folder 1 folder: 15
(15) Drawings of the Neubau Universitatsbibliothek, Basel
1963-1967
box-folder 1 folder: 16
Photographs of Universitats Bibliotek, Basel
1965-1968
box-folder 1 folder: 17
Photographs of Universitatsbibliothek, Basel
n.d.
box-folder 1 folder: 18
Miscellaneous newspapers clippings and publications about the Universitatsbauamt, Konstanz
1967-1983
box-folder 1 folder: 19
(1) Drawing of the Universitatsbauamt, Konstanz
1969
box-folder 1 folder: 20
(14) Drawings of the Universitat Konstanz Endstufe Giessberg and miscellaneous images and notes regarding the Universitat,
Konstanz
1969-1976
box-folder 1 folder: 21
(9) Drawings of the Neubau Universitatsbibliothek, Basel
1958-1967
box-folder 1 folder: 22
(6) Drawings of the Neubau Universitatsbibliothek, Basel
1958-1968
box-folder 1 folder: 23
Photographs of Naturwissenschaftliche Bibliothek, Universitat-Konstanz
n.d.
box-folder 1 folder: 24
(6) Drawings of the Naturwissenschaftliche Bibliothek, Universitatsbauamt, Konstanz
1978-1981
box-folder 1 folder: 25
(8) Drawings of the Naturwissenschaftliche Bibliothek, Universitatsbauamt, Konstanz
1977-1979
box-folder 1 folder: 26
Miscellaneous photographs and (2) drawings of Naturwissenschaftliche Bibliothek, Universitatsbauamt, Konstanz
1974-1983
box-folder 1 folder: 27
(10) Drawings of Gepolsterter Stahlrohr-Stuhland Tische, Handschriften, Hofbau
1964-1967
box-folder 1 folder: 28
(2) Drawings and photographs of Empfangspavillon, Basel
1956
box-folder 1 folder: 29
(5) Drawings and photographs of Coop-Haus, Aeschenplatz
1956-1958
box-folder 1 folder: 30
Winterthur, Paris, Societes Suisses D'Assurances
1957-1959
box-folder 1 folder: 31
Images of the Basler Borse-Umbau, Basel
1960-1961
box-folder 1 folder: 32
Images of Westfalenbank Bochum, Basel
1958-1959
box-folder 1 folder: 33
(7) Drawings of the Schweizerische Kreditanstalt, Basel
1960
box-folder 1 folder: 34
Photographs of a model for the Schweizerische Kreditanstalt, Basel; miscellaneous newspaper clippings
1958-1964
box-folder 1 folder: 35
(3) Drawings of the Cheminee Wohraum II, Basel
1960
box-folder 1 folder: 36
Edificio Lonza, S.A., in Basilea, Switzerland; images and (2) drawings of the Lonza AG. Burogebaude, Basel
1961-1962
box-folder 1 folder: 37
(1) Drawing of the Basler Kantonalbank, Basel
1960
box-folder 1 folder: 38
Alfred-Escher-Haus-Personalrestaurant der Schweizerischen Kreditanstalt, Zurich; images of the Schweiz Kreditanstalt, Zurich
1961-1962
oversize folder: 1
Clubhaus, Stuttgart
1950
Comprehensive plan and perspective
Construction details
Perspective of the interiors
Front facade and perspective
Front facades
Floor plan
Floor plan and perspective of interiors
Floor plan and Section
oversize folder: 1
Poster, UIFA, Berlin
1984
oversize folder: 1
Couvent de Rieunette
1992-1994
Isometric Perspective
Isometric Perspective
Design of the cells of the first floor
Facade N-E
Facade N-W
Sketches of the front facade
Facade S-W
Facade S-W
Facade of the aisle N-E
Elevation of the facade
Longitudinal section
Longitudinal section
Ground floor plan
First floor plan
Ground Floor
Facade S-E
Comprehensive plan
oversize folder: 1
Erweiterung der Kapelle des Vianney-Hospital, Uberlingen
1969-1970
Plans, front facades, sections
Plan and section of the Tabernackle
Construction details of the Kirchenbaenke
Plans, section, details of a chapel
Design details of the altar
Perspective of the interior of the chapel
Perspective of the interior of the chapel
oversize folder: 1
Cantine, Brussels
1956
Plan of the ground floor
Elevations of the facades
Perspective of the interiors
oversize folder: 1
Universitatsbibliothek, Basel
1961-1964
Front facade - west side
South facade
Plan and fronts of a chair.
Perspective of the interiors
Construction drawings for a perspective
oversize folder: 1
Schulen "Im Moss," Basel
1967
Perspective
Sections and front facades
Sections and front facades
General plans
General plans
General plans
Perspective of the interiors
Roof plan
oversize folder: 1
Abbey St. Marie De Boulaur
1965-1975
Sketches of the interiors
Design details of the bathroom
Interior design of a single room
Plans and section
Plan
Facades S-W, N-E
Plan, facades and section
Plans of the dormitories
Front facades and Sections of the dormitories
General plan
oversize folder: 1
Universitatsbauamt, Konstanz
1973
Miscellaneous designs
General plan
oversize folder: 1
Dreigenerationenhaus
n.d.
Plans
Plans
oversize folder: 1
Universitatsbauamt, Konstanz
1972-1982
Arbeitsplatzmobel
Perspective of the interiors
Perspective construction elements
Perspective
Sketches for axonometric drawings
Sketches for axonometric drawings
Sketches for axonometric drawings
Sketches for axonometric drawings
Construction drawings for the general plan
General plan, section, sketches
General plan, section, sketches
General plan, section, sketches
General plan, section, sketches
Plan and section
Plan level -1.33
Plan level +2.67/+4.00
Plan and facades
Sketches for chairs, tables and benches
Sketches for chairs, tables and benches
Sketches for chairs, tables and benches
Sketches for chairs, tables and benches
Sketches for chairs, tables and benches
Sketches for chairs, tables and benches
oversize folder: 2
2 Miscellaneous drawings
1952
oversize folder: 2
Planes and front facades of Saarbruecken
1952
oversize folder: 2
Construction details of Saarbruecken
1951-1952
oversize folder: 2
Plan for Platz der Weissen rose, Freiburg
1989
oversize folder: 2
Neubau Universitatsbibliothek, Basel
1963-1967
Perspective of the Treppenhalle
Perspective of the Treppenhalle
Perspective of the Katalog-Saal
Perspective of the Zeitschriftenlesensaal
Perspective of the Lesesaal
Perspective of the Grosser Lesesaal
Construction details
Construction details of Abhorkabinen and Telefonkabinen
Construction details of the Tur and Schrank
Construction details of Zeitschriften table in Plexiglas
Construction details of the Zeitschriftenlesesaal
Planes and sections of the Musikzimmer
Construction details
Plans and sections prospects of Mappenschanke
Construction details of Mappenschanke and Auskunftskorpus
oversize folder: 2
Neubau Universitatsbibliothek, Basel
1964-1967
Construction details of Schreibmaschinenkorpus
Construction details of Tisch Erfrischungs Raum
Construction details of Tische Handschriften
Details of Stahlrohrstuhl
Sketches of Stahlrohrstuhl
Sketches of Stahlrohrstuhl
Plans and front and lateral facades of Stahlrohrstuhl
Plan and front of Gepolsterter Stahlrohr
Perspective of Stahlrohrstuhl
Plan, front and lateral facades of Stahlrohrstuhl
oversize folder: 2
Neubau Universitatsbibliothek, Basel
1958-1964
Construction details and general plan of Galerie Untersichten
Front facade Hofbau Sud Botanischerkgarten
Floor plan at level +3.05 m
Prospect of a front facade Verwaltung West Schonbeinstrasse
Prospect of the front facade Kopfbau Nord Bernoullistrasse
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