(12 Apr 2025)
RESTRICTIONS SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Frankfurt, Germany – 3 April 2025
1. Wide of city skyline, boat sailing on river
2. Wide of people gathering at water house, sign reading (German) “Little water houses"
3. People buying beer at water house
4. People gathering at water house
5. People drinking
6. Hubert Gloss, water house tour guide, arriving at water house
7. Close of imprint vest, reading (German) “Little water house guide"
8. SOUNDBITE (German) Hubert Gloss, water house tour guide:
“Water houses are social meeting points. They are accessible; everyone is welcome here. It’s a democratic place and one can spend your time here in a relaxed way. These are very important communication points. Without these meeting points, the city would lose something in human terms.”
9. People socialising at water house
10. Wide of water house
11. Close of sign reading (German) “Gudes. Your little water house"
12. People gathered at water house
13. SOUNDBITE (German) Stefan Hoening, 42, photographer:
“It’s rather that water houses are a place where everyone, no matter where they come from and no matter what their pay grade, can come together and feel at ease without being judged. That’s the good thing about water houses. With kiosks, you usually go there, buy something and go back home. Here, people from all the different classes meet.”
14. Wide of photographer Stefan Hoening sitting in front of "Gudes" water house
15. Woman ordering at "Fein" water house
16. Close of pastries on display
17. Women sitting at water house socialising
18. Wide of people sitting in park area near "Fein" water house
19. SOUNDBITE (German) Johanna Neidel, 66, pensioner:
"It’s a meeting place for a cozy get-together. It’s not so expensive that even people who don’t have that much money can afford it."
20. Close of sign reading (German) “Drinking hall"
21. SOUNDBITE (German) Laura Poellath, 27, water house worker:
“(The special thing is) That one creates a place in the city that feels so close to nature and like a living room in the city. A place for everyone.”
22. People sitting in park area near "Fein" water house
23. Gloss carrying out tour
24. SOUNDBITE (German) Hubert Gloss, water house tour guide:
“The first mineral water stall opened in the city centre in the middle of the 19th century. This was later followed by a chain of stalls. There used to be no alcohol in the stalls, that only came later. They were very important supply stations, especially after the Second World War. And in Frankfurt there were once 800 of the freestanding kiosks, these drinking halls.”
25. Various of people at "Fein" water house
26. Wide of people gathered at "Gudes" water house
STORYLINE:
Frankfurt has become Germany’s financial capital, known for the country’s only high-rise skyline.
But look closer to the ground and you’ll find a tradition that brings rich and poor, bankers and punks together.
The humble “Wasserhäuschen,” or little water houses, have been a distinctive feature of the city since they started springing up in the second half of the 19th century.
Back when drinking unboiled tap water wasn’t advisable, the little kiosks offered bottles of mineral water.
They encouraged workers, with the city’s approval, to drink affordable water rather than beer and schnapps.
They thrived as they weren’t subject to the official closing hours imposed on shops.
And they were useful supply stations again in the immediate aftermath of the destruction of World War II.
AP video shot by: Daniel Niemann
===========================================================
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/e9e6d5f74b8c43948be53afe1dc185c9
Author: AP Archive
Go to Source
News post in April 17, 2025, 3:05 am.
Visit Our Sponsor’s:
News Post In – News
