State-of-the-art Pharmacy with a Long Tradition

The Hirsch Pharmacy in the North Rhine-Westphalian town of Haltern am See impressively proves how tradition and progress can be harmoniously combined.

Troldtekt Hirsch Apotheke
Photo: Olaf Wiechers, architect

The pharmacy is owned by pharmacist and food chemist Klaus Dewies, who took over the business from his father in 1982, and is housed in a listed, neo-classical building from the 19th century. Straddling the northern boundary of the Ruhr region and the southern boundary of the Münsterland region, the building boasts one of the most beautiful façades in the town of Haltern and has housed the town’s oldest pharmacy since 1857.

Apart from conventional medicines and an exceptionally long list of services, Klaus Dewies and his team also offer their customers numerous self-prepared, herbal-based medicines - Klaus Dewies is famous for his legendary cold cure, among other things. Klaus Dewies stores his medicinal and kitchen herbs and spices in large maple wood boxes, which were admired back in 1857 by representatives of the royal Münster government and today exude a sense of nostalgia.

Today, the Hirsch Pharmacy, which required renovation after a fire and resulting water damage, is furnished in a modern, airy and welcoming style. Light filters through high windows into the sales room with inviting wooden counters. The centre of the room features a seating area for customers to take a rest, creating a natural, colourful highlight with its light green upholstery. The space impresses with an overall open and inviting mood and offers the perfect background for a chat with the popular pharmacist.

A highlight and core element on the ceiling is a golden ornament in Biedermeier style, which is framed by a light band integrated into the ceiling. The white Troldtekt acoustic ceiling panels, with their natural surface and light tonality, perfectly complement the floor covering and create a warm and cosy ambience in the room. In addition, the ceiling panels effectively enhance the acoustics, satisfy fire protection requirements and are entirely made of the natural material wood and cement.