Luftgaukommando Dresden, Military administration building in Dresden, Germany
The Luftgaukommando Dresden is an architectural complex at August-Bebel-Strasse 19 featuring a central axis with two identical wing structures. The facades are decorated with twelve zodiac relief sculptures above the ground floor windows and additional sculptural ornaments throughout the composition.
Built between 1936 and 1938, the structure served the Luftgaukommando IV as the central command for air defense operations during World War II. Its construction survived the conflicts largely undamaged through the war years.
Architect Wilhelm Kreis designed the structure with neoclassical elements, while sculptor Karl Albiker created the Flying Genius frieze above the main portal. These artistic details still shape the building's appearance and show how architecture and sculpture worked together during this period.
The building now houses federal military administration offices and has restricted public access. The garden grounds with mature trees can be partially viewed from outside, giving an impression of the overall complex.
The main facade relief depicts a falling Icarus that appears to descend backward when viewed from left to right. This unusual perspective was deliberately placed in an uncommonly low frieze space, creating an optical effect most visitors miss.
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