Gardeschützenkaserne, Military barracks in Lichterfelde, Germany.
The Gardeschützenkaserne is a former military complex in the Lichterfelde district of Berlin, made up of several large brick buildings on an extensive site. The buildings are connected by wings and organized around open courtyards, following the layout typical of late 19th-century barracks.
The barracks were built between 1893 and 1896 and served as quarters for the Prussian Guard Rifles. After World War II, the site was taken over by the US military and used as a base until German reunification.
The red brick facades and the rigid symmetry of the buildings reflect the Prussian military style of the late 19th century. Walking past the site, you can clearly read that order in the way the wings and courtyards are arranged, even from the street.
The site is not open to visitors, as it is currently used by a federal agency. The exterior of the buildings can be seen from the surrounding streets, which makes a walk around the perimeter a practical way to take in the architecture.
During the Nazi period, the complex was expanded with buildings designed for specialized military training, which went well beyond its original function. These later additions are still readable in the overall layout, as their style differs noticeably from the original 1890s construction.
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