Gazing up at the Rotes Rathaus, can you believe this red brick building is not just a pretty facade? It is the heart of Berlin’s government. Known as the Rotes Rathaus, or Red City Hall, it is the seat of the governing mayor and the Senate of Berlin.
The Rotes Rathaus got its name simply from the red clinker bricks used for its facade. Construction took place between 1861 and 1869. Hermann Friedrich Waesemann designed it in the style of the Northern Italy High Renaissance. Waesemann took inspiration from the Old Town Hall of Thorn, which is now Toruń in Poland. The tower’s architecture reminds people of the cathedral tower of Notre-Dame de Laon in France. The Rotes Rathaus replaced several individual buildings dating back to the Middle Ages. Now, it occupies an entire city block.
Sadly, the Rotes Rathaus suffered heavy damage during World War II due to Allied bombing. However, it was rebuilt according to the original plans between 1951 and 1956. The Neues Stadthaus survived the bombing. It served as the temporary city hall for all sectors of Berlin until September 1948. After that, it only housed the Soviet sector’s government.
Located in the Soviet sector, the reconstructed Rotes Rathaus became the town hall of East Berlin. Meanwhile, the Rathaus Schöneberg served as the town hall of West Berlin. “Rotes Rathaus” also became a figurative term. It designated the socialist government of East Berlin.
After German reunification, the administration of reunified Berlin officially moved into the Rotes Rathaus on October 1, 1991. The Rotes Rathaus is more than just a pretty building.
Inside the Rotes Rathaus, you will find many impressive rooms. The heraldic hall displays the coats of arms of all Berlin’s boroughs. State visitors are often received here. The great banqueting hall hosts official receptions and ceremonies. The pillared hall stands nine meters high. It boasts an orange rib-vaulted ceiling and busts of prominent people. Once a library, it now hosts exhibitions. The corridors on the third floor feature portraits of Berlin’s honorary citizens, drawn by Rolf Dübner.
The Rotes Rathaus represents Berlin’s ever-changing nature. Even as late as 2010, modifications were made to bring it into the 21st century. The building stands in contrast to Berlin’s seemingly uniform parliament buildings.
Directly outside the Rotes Rathaus is the Neptune Fountain. Reinhold Begas created this neo-baroque fountain between 1889 and 1891. The fountain features Neptune and four women symbolizing Prussia’s significant rivers: the Rhine, the Elbe, the Oder, and the Vistula.
So, as you stand here, remember the Rotes Rathaus is a symbol of Berlin itself. It has a colourful exterior, and it stands tall. The Rotes Rathaus represents the many faces of Berlin.