Shell-Haus, Modernist office building in Tiergarten, Germany.
The Shell-Haus is an office building with a distinctive wave-shaped facade made of six rhythmic sections and clad in Roman travertine stone. The ten-story structure uses steel frame construction and sits on a foundation with ventilation slots designed to reduce vibrations from surrounding traffic.
The building was completed in 1932 as headquarters for the Shell oil company and represented an early example of modern office design in Berlin. During World War II, it served as a naval command center with a basement hospital operation.
The building's wave-like form has become a recognizable symbol of the Berlin skyline in the Tiergarten area. Its design shows how early modern architects approached the challenge of creating functional office environments with visual strength.
The building sits directly on Tiergartenstraße and is easily visible and approachable from the street. Visitors should note that it functions as an active office building, so interior access is limited, though the distinctive facade can be admired from outside.
The foundation extends nine meters below street level and contains air slots that absorb vibrations from passing trains and traffic. This sophisticated engineering system protected the steel structure and has maintained the building's stability over many decades.
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