Kathreiner-Haus, Modernist office high-rise in Schöneberg, Germany
The Kathreiner-Haus is a New Objectivity office tower in Schöneberg, Berlin, made up of two parallel side wings and a taller central section that together form an H-shaped plan. The facade is clad in travertine stone, and the building is currently being converted into an administrative court.
The building was designed by architect Bruno Paul and completed in 1928 as the headquarters of the Kathreiner Malzkaffee company. After World War II it lost its original function and went through several changes of use over the following decades.
The building shows New Objectivity design through its plain forms, straight lines, and stone facade that gives the structure a warm, earthy tone. Walking along the front allows visitors to see how the window rows are evenly spaced and how the travertine surface changes slightly in color depending on the light.
The building stands close to Kleistpark and can be seen from several angles on foot, making it easy to take in the full H-shaped layout from the street. A short walk around the block gives a good view of the different facade sections and the contrast between the wings and the central tower.
The facade uses two different types of travertine: Thuringian stone for the wall surfaces and Roman travertine for the window frames, producing a subtle but real difference in tone between the two. This pairing of two travertine varieties on a single Berlin building from that period is very rare.
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