The chancellery in Berlin

The chancellery in Berlin  

The most enduring and endearing memory of the old chancellery in Bonn is that of Henry Moore’s sculpture "Two Large Forms". The building itself had all the charm of an "oversized high-street" according to federal chancellor of the time, Helmut Schmidt.

However, in April this year, the centre of power moved into its new domicile in Berlin. Or to put it another way, the power behind the German executive has a new centre. And what a centre it is: Not a trace of intimidating totalitarian architecture, instead indications of a desire - unencumbered and unmistakably confident - to show a bit of pride. Gone are the days of the old identity problems. With their amazing design, the architects Axel Schultes and Charlotte Frank wanted to ring in a new era of German "powerbase aesthetics".

Prominent Features

Unrelenting, even in the detail

Contrasting with the variety of shapes around the building exterior, the interior design strictly follows the architects’ guidelines which allow almost no exceptions. Slat doors, desks, shelves and cupboards of beech are vapour-stained red. Window frames, handrails  and some walls are metallic green. The door hardware from DORMA was adapted to the door colours. Carpets in turquoise complete the colour scheme. But also lamps, toilet roll holders and other fixtures and fittings have been similarly specified.

Classic repro

• The lever handles favoured by Axel Schultes are a Bauhaus classic from 1928. The design was previously only available in brass from the company P. Bisschop. But within a very short time, designer Gottfried Heinz had turned it into a project fitting. Working with OGRO, he developed a series in stainless steel, mirror-polished including the roses and backplates. Around 3,000 of these sets were produced exclusively for the new chancellery. So let’s hope that the new building enables the presiding chancellor and all those destined to follow him to keep a good grip on all matters of state.