Context
Since the Middle Ages Potsdam's Alte Markt has had a town hall, probably standing in the centre of the Markt, which then extended further east. However, its position is comparable to that of the current Altes Rathaus. Its structure was completely rebuilt several times, both due to damage and to increase the city's prestige. The first town hall dated to 1524 but was burned down completely on 24 June 1536 during one of the worst fires in the city's history. Another town hall was built on the same site.
In 1720-1722, under Frederick William I of Prussia, the third town hall was built on the same site as the second to designs by Peter de Gayette. This was a timber-framed building with a solid facade and a wooden tower. Two east-facing wings housed stalls rented to merchants and the scales for checking goods arriving in the city before they could be offered for sale in the Alte Markt. It proved too small right from the outset and - though renovations in 1736 and at other times slightly alleviated this - damage to the building's structure became apparent over time. It was then demolished under Frederick the Great to build the fourth town hall.
