King of the Street

@Margie: To be continued... :)

@Michael Skorulski: Thanks, Michael! Let's see if I have some more... :)
(You're now in Hong Kong...?)

@Tracey: A very crazy time! I'm sneezing all day!
Actually I don't know much about the history of that street or house but I guess it's not much older than 120 years, because it's beyond the former city wall. There are subtle modifications in old buildings before and after 1900: while buildings from 1870 - 1900 usually are very ornate with many quotes from older architectonic styles, the younger ones became more and more sober. Only shortly before WW I there was a strange renaissance of the older styles, but with more emphasis, almost excessively. I wonder if there's some literature about this development - I'd feel like making some pictures about that...

@Michael: Du hast ja auch einen tollen Palast :)

@akarui: Thanks :) Unfortunately no blue sky at that day...

@Japanalia: Well, exact the same problems exist still today with old buildings. It's a kind of love-hate I have here, because I experienced well refurbished old buildings and complete ruins as well. But a certain problem level is always present, as you have already mentioned: heating, hot water etc. But another important factor is the part of town: you don't want to live in the most beautiful old building if the street where it is located is dirty, loud, or even dangerous. Our recent flat is acceptable in every sense, but we've never paid that much for rather careless living!

@Twelvebit: That really means a lot of money! On my way to work I'm passing an old building that gets a renovation. Works started a year ago, almost every day since then several craftsmen renewed gas and water pipes, heating, sanitary - everything imaginable. They are still working there, so I guess that renovation is more expensive than the original costs of that building. Many builders therefore decide to keep the facade and to tear everything down behind that, because that's less expensive.
We're not yet ready for this, but if my wife and me want to have a house for ourselves, we'll buy a ruin and will make it a palace, year after year. Everything else will result in personal bankruptcy, as buidling a house is *very* expensive here (>500000 Euros for a small two-storied residence in a 'normal' part of the town).