Obituary Prof. h. c. Dr jur. Klaus Hübotter

Prof. h.c. Dr. jur. Klaus Hübotter at the laying of the foundation stone for Speicher XI a in Bremen's Überseestadt in 2021. Photo: Jörg Sarbach

The Hochschule für Künste (HfK) Bremen mourns the loss of its longtime friend, supporter and pioneer Prof. h.c. Dr. jur. Klaus Hübotter, who passed away on June 21, 2022, at the age of 92.

"With Klaus Hübotter, we are losing a person who stood behind the HfK and its students with humor, acumen and expertise, a reliable partner and inspiring supporter – a true friend," said Professor Roland Lambrette, Rector of the Hochschule für Künste Bremen.

Klaus Hübotter had many passions and facets: He was a building contractor, patron, honorary citizen of Bremen, honorary senator of the HfK, poet, leftist, member of the peace movement and pioneer of cultural institutions. He was born in Hanover on May 17, 1930. He studied law in Hamburg and wrote his doctoral thesis on "The Planning of a City – Legal and Organizational Issues in the Construction of New Municipalities in the Federal Republic of Germany" before his path led him to Bremen in 1962.

A step that left a lasting mark on the Hanseatic city. Klaus Hübotter often made seemingly impossible building projects possible. The Villa Ichon, which was restored on his initiative in 1982, is a central forum for peace policy initiatives with a national reputation.

He was also responsible for the refurbishment as well as the conversion and expansion of Speicher XI as the location of the Hochschule für Künste Bremen and private harbor museum in Überseestadt.

It is largely thanks to Klaus Hübotter that the HfK community is able to work, teach, study and experiment in Speicher XI today. 
As his last project for the HfK, Klaus Hübotter also initiated the construction of the new Speicher XI A, which is currently being built in Überseestadt. 
The HfK Bremen is proud that the life's work of Klaus Hübotter will be lastingly honored through its activities.

In addition, Hübotter was responsible for the preservation and renovation of the Bamberg high-rise, which today houses the Volkshochschule. He also realized the conversion of the former Radio Bremen site with the concert venue Sendesaal. He made the conversion, renovation and establishment of the Haus der Wissenschaft (HdW) possible, which brings current scientific topics closer to the people of Bremen. The Hochschule für Künste Bremen is one of the supporting institutions of the HdW.

In addition to multiple awards from the Bund Deutscher Architekten (BDA), Klaus Hübotter's project to save Villa Ichon was awarded the German Prize for Monument Preservation in 1984. In January 2007, he was the first to receive Bremen's "Award for Building Culture" (awarded by the Bremer Zentrum für Baukultur). In 2010, he was made an honorary citizen of Bremen.

Klaus Hübotter had the rare gift of being both a visionary entrepreneur and a selfless supporter of the city. His life's work – preserving historic buildings and filling them with contemporary artistic life – has left a lasting mark on the HfK and Bremen.

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Speicher XI in 2011, the Academic Senate of the HfK appointed him honorary senator, a sign of thanks, solidarity and lasting appreciation for his years of commitment.

"His sincere interest, warm-heartedness and generosity touched us deeply. We will miss him greatly and honor his memory. Our sympathies go out to his family," said Professor Roland Lambrette.