Dare to imagine a futuristic vision. It is the Kugelhaus in Dresden. It stood as the world’s first spherical building. Let me tell you about this architectural marvel.
The Kugelhaus was built in 1928. Peter Birkenholz designed it. It was located on the exhibition grounds in the Großer Garten. This was between the exhibition palace and Hercules Avenue.
The Kugelhaus was part of the annual exhibition. It was called Deutscher Arbeit. This translates to The Technical City. The Kugelhaus had a diameter of 24 meters. Its spherical body was mounted on a neck. This neck was 11.5 meters in diameter and 4 meters in height. The total height of the building reached 26.5 meters. The enclosed space measured 7600 cubic meters. However, the built-up area was only 110 square meters.
Inside the Kugelhaus, you could find six levels. A passenger elevator connected them. A circular opening allowed visitors to gaze upwards or downwards. The top floor housed a restaurant with a closed floor space. The restaurant’s windows offered panoramic views of the exhibition area.
The Kugelhaus featured a steel skeleton construction. The outer skin consisted of aluminum sheets. MAN’s Gustavsburg plant designed and built the Kugelhaus.
From 1928, the Kugelhaus served as a presentation space. It hosted numerous industrial companies. These companies primarily focused on electrical engineering and energy. Its last documented use in an exhibition concept was in 1936. This was during the imperial garden show. The Kugelhaus occupied a central location. It stood between the fountain and tower yard. These were two self-contained hall complexes. Across from it was the concert venue. This venue had a large restaurant area. The Kugelhaus was at the intersection of two major axes. This made it a prominent structure.
Sadly, the Kugelhaus met its end in 1938. No buyer or operator could be found. The National Socialist press had attacked it. They called it a degenerate technique. Some sources claim it was destroyed as un-German.
Today, the main station of the park railway stands here. Opposite it is the round tower. Volkswagen AG uses this to store finished vehicles. In the Transparent Factory’s foyer, a spherical cinema hall commemorates the Kugelhaus.
Imagine a galaxy of these Kugelhaus structures. This was the futuristic vision of the age. The Kugelhaus remains an iconic part of architectural history. Its innovative design continues to inspire.