Austere and self-contained, monumental and magical. The postwar Brutalist buildings, defined by the material concrete,
possess a powerful
charisma.
possess a powerful
charisma.
Image gallery
Kirche Regine Martyrum Berlin: Brutalistische Kirche
Why does this harsh and raw material fascinate us? And is this what defines the Brutalism of the 1960s in Berlin?
The tour begins at the TU’s architecture building on Ernst-Reuter-Platz, with expressive forms and a clear grid structure.
The nearby Deutsche Oper was designed by Fritz Bornemann. From the street, it appears as a hermetic and introverted box—inside, with its open foyers and flat auditorium, it reflects a modest and non-hierarchical understanding of culture.
Heading north, the tour continues to a moving sacred building: The Catholic memorial church Regina Martyrum combines a strict, orthogonal order and a courtyard enclosed by man-high walls with a delicate church interior and visually striking art.
In the debate over preservation or demolition, the three buildings shed light on the question of Brutalism’s significance in Berlin.
Project Selection
Architecture Building, TU Berlin, Bernhard Hermkes
Deutsche Oper by Fritz Bornemann
Maria Regina Martyrum Memorial Church Hans Schädel and Friedrich Ebert
