Berlin: Haus Metallarbeiterverband | Vielfalt der Moderne

Deutscher Metallarbeiterverband, 1929–1930. Architects: Erich Mendelsohn, Rudolf Reichel. Photo: Daniela Christmann

1929 – 1930

Architects: Erich Mendelsohn, Rudolf W. Reichel

Alte Jakobstrasse, Lindenstraße 1, 148–149, Berlin

The building, erected as a reinforced concrete skeleton construction according to plans by architects Erich Mendelsohn and Rudolf W. Reichel between 1929 and 1930, consists of two side wings, which open at an acute angle into a much higher concave curved head structure.

The offices are housed in the four-story wings of the building, connected by a single-story transverse building, which originally housed a print shop.

The head building contained the meeting rooms and the rooms of the board of directors. The large meeting room is additionally accentuated by a semicircular glazed bay window with flagpole.

Materials such as bronze and travertine underline the importance of the head building.

Between the entrance hall and the inner courtyard there lies a round staircase, which is glazed on one side over all floors.

The staircase is adorned by a rod-shaped lamp designed by Erich Mendelsohn, a reproduction of the original lighting fixture.

The house almost completely burned down in 1945. It was rebuilt as early as 1952.

From 1994 to 1997 it was renovated according to old construction plans under the advice of Julius Posener, Mendelsohn’s then still living site manager.

Today the building is used by the IG Metall trade union and the Berlin Chamber of Architects.