Freienwalder Straße 17, Cultural heritage monument in Alt-Hohenschönhausen, Berlin.
Freienwalder Straße 17 is a five-story residential building featuring exhibition spaces, offices, and living quarters, highlighted by a spacious vestibule with Doric temple design elements. The structure organizes multiple levels with thoughtful spatial planning and detailed surface finishes throughout.
The building was constructed between 1910 and 1911 as a private villa for industrialist Richard Heike. Later it served as a Soviet detention facility and housed Stasi archival materials during the Cold War period.
The building displays design principles from historicism through its raised ground floor, prominent staircases, and living spaces finished with rendered stone surfaces. These elements shape how the structure looks and feels to visitors walking through it today.
The building reopened in 2019 following extensive renovation and now functions as a studio and office space for creative professionals. Visitors should note this is an active workspace, so access may be limited depending on current activities inside.
The building employed innovative reinforced concrete techniques developed by the Vienna-based company Diss & Co, which was advanced for construction practices of that era. These methods contributed to the structure's durability and the comfort of later residents.
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