Ordenspalais

The Ordenspalais is a government building in Berlin-Mitte with neoclassical facade details, located at the corner of Wilhelmplatz and Wilhelmstrasse. Today it serves as offices for the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and combines architectural features from multiple building periods.

It was built in 1737 under King Frederick William I of Prussia and first served as a residence for a Prussian general. Later it housed the Order of Saint John and underwent significant changes during the war years.

The building shows how Prussian administration shaped its architecture, mixing baroque and neoclassical styles in its design. Walking around it, you notice how different architectural periods have left their mark on Berlin's cityscape.

The building is in a central location and visible from the street, though it now functions as a government office. Public access is typically limited since it remains an active administrative building.

In the 1930s, the building was repurposed as the headquarters for a propaganda ministry and played a key role in shaping media of that era. It survived wartime destruction and was reconstructed afterward, retaining its historical importance.