Ernst-Reuter-Haus, Office building and architectural heritage monument in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Berlin.
Ernst-Reuter-Haus is an office building and architectural monument in Berlin's Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf district featuring a neoclassical three-wing design with distinctive interior details. The spaces contain ornate stucco ceilings, wooden parquet floors, and traditional materials that reflect the building's formal character and careful craftsmanship.
Construction began in 1940 as part of Albert Speer's ambitious Germania project and it remains the only finished building along the planned East-West axis. The building was renamed in 1953 to honor Ernst Reuter, a prominent mayor of West Berlin during the post-war period.
The building serves as the headquarters for the German Association of Cities and hosts regular meetings where municipal leaders discuss urban policy and development. It functions as an important meeting point for city administrators and planners from across the country.
The building underwent comprehensive restoration and modernization in 2012 that preserved its historical structure while updating the office spaces for contemporary use. Most areas require prior arrangement or invitation to visit, though the exterior architecture can be observed from the surrounding streets.
Although designed by Albert Speer, the building was not completed until 1947 under Soviet occupation, meaning Speer never saw his design finished in this form. This late completion and the subsequent renaming in 1953 transformed it from a Nazi-era project into a symbol of post-war democratic governance.
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