Considered a socialist answer to modern architecture, the Rathauspassagen stand here. These passages whisper tales of a divided city and a vision of the future. Let’s delve into the story of this iconic structure.
The Rathauspassagen emerged from the extensive redesign of East Berlin’s historical core. It was built between 1967 and 1972. Architects like Heinz Graffunder envisioned a new urban landscape near Alexanderplatz. The location was once home to individual buildings. Among them was the Gouverneurshaus which was torn down in 1967.
These passages were part of a larger construction project. It stretched along Spandauer Straße and Karl-Liebknecht-Straße. The East Berlin magistrate commissioned a team of architects and urban planners. Heinz Graffunder led them. They included Lothar Köhler, Peter Schweizer, and others. Their goal was to create modern building plans for Rathausstraße.
The Rathauspassagen were designed as a mixed-use complex. Shops and restaurants occupied the ground floor. Doctor’s offices and kindergartens were on the first floor terrace level. Apartments filled the upper floors. The stores were some of the most exclusive in the DDR at the time. They showcased clothing, jewelry, shoes, and cosmetics made in the DDR.
Notable establishments included Haus der Mode. It was a fashion retailer. Schuhhaus Hans Sachs sold shoes. Ostseeschmuck offered jewelry. Other stores included a fur salon, a cosmetics salon, and a winter sports outfitter. There was also a music store, a delicatessen, and a Finnair airline office.
Beyond shopping, the Rathauspassagen offered other services. Post office 2 was located here. There were dining options like Weinrestaurant Morava and Berliner Kaffeehaus. Cafés such as Rendezvous and Espresso were popular. Zum Goldbroiler, later known as Zur Haxe, served grilled food. For quick bites, people visited Ketwurst and B300. A bowling center with 18 lanes was in the basement.
The design encompassed architecture, art, landscaping, interior design, and lighting. This holistic approach was due to the complex’s significance. The Rathauspassagen were intended to be a showcase. They aimed to represent the achievements of the DDR economy. Planners sought to create a harmonious Gesamtkunstwerk or total work of art.
The original building consisted of rear transverse sections and a two-story flat structure. It used a steel-concrete skeleton construction method. Five apartment blocks of the P2 type rose from the flat structure on stilts. The apartment designs were modified. They were larger than typical P2 apartments. The façade was clad in special materials. Red clinker bricks connected the structure to the Rotes Rathaus visually.
The facades of the apartment blocks featured white marble chips and blue glass mosaics. A concrete spiral staircase in the inner courtyard originally led to the terrace level.
Inside, architects designed distinct spaces. The Ostseeschmuck jewelry store featured transparent Piacryl spheres. The Hans Sachs shoe salon displayed shoes in glass cases. Red leather armchairs completed the atmosphere. The Helena cosmetics salon had cylindrical showcases hanging from the ceiling. The Skihütte winter sports shop had a rustic design with pine wood and a fireplace. The Takt and Ton music store presented instruments in glass showcases. The Haus der Mode fashion salon aimed for a spacious atmosphere with wood veneers and leather armchairs.
Artists developed a comprehensive art concept for the Rathauspassagen. The theme was “Socialist Community – Embodiment of Real Humanism”. Many artworks were removed during renovations from 2002 to 2004.
The DEWAG advertising agency developed a unified advertising concept. It included illuminated signs for shops and restaurants using a consistent design.
From 2002 to 2004, the Rathauspassagen underwent extensive renovations. A large parking garage was added to the rear facing Grunerstraße. Parts of the original structure were removed. The shopping center was redeveloped into a modern retail space. Further modifications occurred between 2014 and 2015.
The Rathauspassagen stand as a testament to Berlin’s ever-evolving urban landscape. They are a place where history and modernity intersect.