Knowra Erich Mendelsohn Erich Mendelsohn Erich Mendelsohn (1887–1953) was a German-Jewish architect whose expressive modernist designs joined sculptural forms with functional planning. His best-known work is the Einstein Tower in Potsdam.
Expressionist architecture : An architectural movement that used dramatic forms and symbolism to express emotion and social ideals. Mendelsohn’s early work gave architectural expressionism some of its most influential built forms.
Einstein Tower : An observatory in Potsdam designed by Mendelsohn and built between 1919 and 1924. Its flowing, sculptural exterior became the clearest emblem of his early architecture.
Munich Academy of Fine Arts : An art academy in Munich where Mendelsohn studied architecture before the First World War. His training there preceded his independent practice and the emergence of his expressive style.
Albert Einstein : A German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theories of special and general relativity. The observatory bearing Einstein’s name was built to support research into his theory of relativity.
International Style : A modern architectural style characterized by volume, regularity, and an absence of applied ornament. Mendelsohn’s work intersected with the movement while retaining a more sculptural, expressive character.
Modern architecture : Architecture shaped by new materials, technologies, and approaches to function, form, and ornament. His career helped define modern architecture beyond the early expressionist phase.
Mossehaus : A Berlin newspaper building remodeled by Mendelsohn and Richard Neutra in the 1920s. Its streamlined facade shows his response to a dense urban commercial site.
First World War : A global war fought from 1914 to 1918, chiefly in Europe and the Middle East. Mendelsohn’s wartime sketches helped crystallize the dynamic forms later realized in buildings.
Erwin Finlay-Freundlich : A German astronomer who proposed an observatory for testing predictions of general relativity. His scientific program prompted the commission for the Einstein Tower.
Bauhaus : A German school of art, design, and architecture founded by Walter Gropius in 1919. Its emphasis on standardization and integrated design offers a useful comparison with Mendelsohn’s individual forms.
Show all 25