Witzleben Garage - Tankstelle, Berlin, Germany, c1930 - architect Rudolf Maté
From a 1930 article on electric lighting in architecture and advertising a wonderful night view of the now destroyed Witzleben Garage in Berlin, designed by German Jewish architect Rudolf Maté. The building in Berlin Charlottenburg, formed the Georg Keller Auto Werkstatt, Rognitzstraße, Witzleben Garage & Tankstelle.
It is very much in a contemporary 'Bauhaus' style and the illuminated tower, comprising of internally illuminated opaque glass panels, along with Witzleben Garage in coloured globes and Tankstelle in neon tube lighting, must have truly been a night time landmark.
Maté designed a number of buildings in Berlin around this date and many, including what appears to have been his own residence, and many have survived to become 'Listed' structures. Sadly after 1933/37 Maté, as Nazi persecution of Jews escalated, no mention nor trace of him appears and his fate is unknown. Interestingly, c1929/30 saw the London Underground architect Charles Holden, along with Frank Pick, visited Germany and northern European countries on an architectural fact-finding mission. As is well known, several of the famous and iconic 1930's tube stations echo Continental idioms and I have to say, looking at the tower at Osterley and, in particular, Boston Manor station, there are aspects of designs such as this.
Witzleben Garage - Tankstelle, Berlin, Germany, c1930 - architect Rudolf Maté
From a 1930 article on electric lighting in architecture and advertising a wonderful night view of the now destroyed Witzleben Garage in Berlin, designed by German Jewish architect Rudolf Maté. The building in Berlin Charlottenburg, formed the Georg Keller Auto Werkstatt, Rognitzstraße, Witzleben Garage & Tankstelle.
It is very much in a contemporary 'Bauhaus' style and the illuminated tower, comprising of internally illuminated opaque glass panels, along with Witzleben Garage in coloured globes and Tankstelle in neon tube lighting, must have truly been a night time landmark.
Maté designed a number of buildings in Berlin around this date and many, including what appears to have been his own residence, and many have survived to become 'Listed' structures. Sadly after 1933/37 Maté, as Nazi persecution of Jews escalated, no mention nor trace of him appears and his fate is unknown. Interestingly, c1929/30 saw the London Underground architect Charles Holden, along with Frank Pick, visited Germany and northern European countries on an architectural fact-finding mission. As is well known, several of the famous and iconic 1930's tube stations echo Continental idioms and I have to say, looking at the tower at Osterley and, in particular, Boston Manor station, there are aspects of designs such as this.