Afrikahaus (Berlin)

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Berliner Afrikahaus , Am Karlsbad 10: formerly the seat of the DKG, photo 2012

The Africa House is the former seat of the German Colonial Society (DKG) in the district of Tiergarten in the district Berlin-Mitte , Am Karlsbad 10, was from 1910 to 1911 by the architect built Franz Hildebrandt and stands as a monument under monument protection .

The builder

The DKG, founded in 1885, was one of the most influential organizations of the German Empire and had numerous well-known personalities among its tens of thousands of members at the time of construction. On the initiative of the company's long-time vice-president, Admiral Franz Strauch , the Afrikahaus was created as the company's own headquarters, where all activities could be combined. The operator was the Afrikahaus G. m. b. H.

The building

The plans for the Africa House come from Franz Hildebrandt, co-owner of the construction company Gustav Clemens. In the monument database of the State of Berlin it says: “The neoclassical commercial building with side wing and transverse building received a reserved, elegant touch, based on the French classic. One of the attractive features of the facade is the colossal order of the upper floors with Ionic pilasters between the windows. The basement was set off with a rustique and basket arched windows. Two of the six ornamental reliefs under the eaves, each showing an African with earrings, refer to the former purpose of the house, which is reminiscent of Germany's colonial expansion policy on the African continent . "

The Africa House after 1945

With the dissolution of the successor organization of the DKG in 1943, the offices in the Afrikahaus were also closed. Conversions took place in 1955, 1987 and in the more recent past. The architectural decorations on the first floor were also removed. After it was used by the Senate Department for Family and Youth, the house was sold to a private investor and now mainly houses offices.

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Entry in the Berlin State Monument List
  2. ^ Afrikahaus G. mb H .: Obituary notice for Kontreadmiral z. D. Franz Strauch. In: The Colonial German . Born 1928, No. 16, August 15, 1928, p. 280.

Coordinates: 52 ° 30 ′ 13.1 ″  N , 13 ° 22 ′ 14.8 ″  E