Transportschiffe once unloaded their cargo here. Imagine them filled with palm kernels. These ships came from German colonies in West Africa. Today, we stand before the Palmkernölspeicher. It is a striking reminder of Berlin’s industrial past and colonial connections.
The Palmkernölspeicher was built in 1881. It was a key part of the palm kernel oil and carbon disulfide factory. The factory belonged to Rengert and Co. Workers extracted plant oils from palm kernels. These oils became margarine for the Kaiserreich’s tables. The company also sold excess carbon disulfide.
Architect Albert Biebendt designed the Palmkernölspeicher. He used the popular Historicism style. The exterior shows a Neorenaissance facade. Inside, a modern steel skeleton supports six floors. Hollow steel pillars cleverly served as conduits.
However, new technologies made the factory unprofitable. Rengert and Co. went bankrupt in 1899. The Palmkernölspeicher changed owners several times. In 1921, it became part of the Viktoria Mill.
The Palmkernölspeicher remarkably survived the Second World War. It was the only building of the factory to do so. In 1945, it went to the Berliner Osthafenmühlen. Until 1989 or 1990, it stored grain and animal feed. After that, the building stood empty for 17 years.
A careful renovation finished in 2016. The Palmkernölspeicher regained its historical look. The waterside facade now features balconies. Today, the Palmkernölspeicher houses exclusive loft apartments. These have modern amenities.
The location is still valuable. It sits on the Stralau Peninsula. The Rummelsburg Bay is nearby. The Palmkernölspeicher stands as one of the last industrial monuments. It shares the peninsula with remnants of the glassworks. The Engelhardt Brewery’s Flaschenturm is also nearby.
Note the red brick facade of the Palmkernölspeicher. Pilasters and cornices divide it vertically and horizontally. The relatively low floor height is typical for a warehouse. Two rows of continuous steel supports hold up the building’s interior. Originally, these hollow supports served as pipelines.
Interestingly, the street nearby is named Palmkernzeile. It marks the path of a former private road. This road connected Am Speicher and Fischzug streets to Bahrfeldtstraße.
From factory to storage to luxury homes. The Palmkernölspeicher has transformed over the years. Yet it remains a testament to Berlin’s industrial heritage. It reminds us of the city’s complex history and global connections. Take a moment to appreciate this unique building and its story. It links the past with the present.