Berlin: Reichsknappschaftshaus

1929 – 1930

Architects: Max Taut, Franz Hoffmann

Breitenbachplatz 2, Rüdesheimer Strasse 54–56, Binger Strasse 50, Berlin, Germany

Building

The listed adminis­tration building was erected between 1929 and 1930 by Max Taut and Franz Hoffmann for the Reichsknappschaft (now Deutsche Rentenversicherung Knappschaft Bahn) in Berlin in the New Objectivity style as a three-story steel skeleton structure.

The steel skeleton construction is visibly designed with ceramic panels on the façade, both horizon­tally and verti­cally. The spaces between them are filled with clinker bricks and window elements.

While his brother Bruno Taut concen­trated on social housing in Berlin and experi­mented with the effect of color, Max Taut took on commis­sions for adminis­tration and office buildings together with Franz Hoffmann.

Materials

Taut was parti­cu­larly interested in new material combi­na­tions and the effect of surface struc­tures in exterior and interior spaces.

The main strength of all buildings by the Taut brothers lies in the high quality standards of function­ality and design.

The interior of the building is dominated by daylight, which enters the rooms through large window areas, glazed parti­tions and doors as well as skylights.

Skirting boards, door frames and stair railings and stringers set accents in black, red and blue, which are additio­nally under­lined by various materials.

Today the building is used by the Free University of Berlin as the Latin America Institute.