Mendelsohn House, Art Nouveau tahara house in Olsztyn, Poland.
The Mendelsohn House is an Art Nouveau building in Olsztyn originally constructed as a tahara house for the Jewish community. The structure features two distinct domes, with the inner dome displaying mosaic designs and geometric patterns throughout the central hall.
Erich Mendelsohn designed the building in 1913 as his first architectural project while studying at Munich Technical University and serving the Jewish community. The house now functions as a center for intercultural dialogue after becoming a protected cultural monument.
The building served the Jewish community as a space where members of the Chevra Kadisha society performed ritual washing of the deceased. Visitors today can sense the sacred purpose this place held for religious practice.
The building is open to visitors and hosts exhibitions, concerts, workshops, and educational programs throughout the year. It is advisable to allow time to explore the interior spaces with their decorative details and check in advance what events are currently taking place.
The inner dome construction follows specific Jewish laws that prevent priests from sharing the same roof with deceased bodies during mourning ceremonies. This architectural feature shows how religious requirements directly shaped the building's design.
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