Erich Mendelsohn
German-British architect of expressionist and Streamline Moderne buildings.
Erich Mendelsohn (21 March 1887 – 15 September 1953) was a German-British architect. He became known in the 1920s for expressionist architecture and later developed a dynamic functionalism in his department stores and cinemas. His 1921 Mossehaus design helped pioneer Art Deco and Streamline Moderne.
Mendelsohn was born to a Jewish family in Allenstein, East Prussia (now Olsztyn, Poland), at what was then Oberstrasse 21. A plaque on Barbara street marks the spot. He was the fifth of six children; his mother Emma Esther Jaruslawsky made hats, and his father David ran a shop. After a humanist Gymnasium in Allenstein, he did commercial training in Berlin. In 1906 he studied national economics in Munich, then architecture at the Technische Hochschule Charlottenburg in 1908. Two years later he moved to the Technische Hochschule München, graduating cum laude in 1912. There, Theodor Fischer—whose work bridged neoclassicism and Jugendstil—influenced him, and he connected with the expressionist groups Der Blaue Reiter and Die Brücke.
From 1912 to 1914 he worked independently in Munich. In 1915 he married cellist Luise Maas. Their letters (1910–1953) document the life of an artist couple fleeing the Third Reich in 1933. Through Luise, he met astrophysicist Erwin Finlay Freundlich, who wanted an observatory to test Einstein’s relativity. That connection led to the Einstein Tower. A family friendship with hat manufacturers Salomon and Gustav Herrmann in Luckenwalde also boosted his early career. During World War I, Mendelsohn produced many small sketches of factories and large buildings, often sent from the front to his wife. The 2011 documentary *Incessant Visions* animates these letters.
After the war, in late 1918, he set up practice in Berlin. The Einstein Tower and the Luckenwalde hat factory made his name. The factory (commissioned 1921) included four production halls, a boiler house, turbine house, two gatehouses, and a dyeing hall. Its modern ventilation hood expelled toxic fumes and ironically resembled a hat. In 1924, *Wasmuths Monatshefte für Baukunst* published a booklet on his work. That year he co-founded the progressive group Der Ring with Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius. His office employed up to forty people, including trainee Julius Posener, later an architectural historian. Mendelsohn’s work captured Weimar consumerism, especially in sho
- born
- 21 March 1887, Allenstein, East Prussia, Germany (now Olsztyn, Poland)
- died
- 15 September 1953
- field
- Architecture
- nationality
- German-British
- known_for
- Expressionist architecture, dynamic functionalism, Art Deco and Streamline Moderne, Einsteinturm, Schocken Department Stores, Mossehaus
Lore & Background
Mendelsohn was born to a Jewish family in Allenstein, the fifth of six children. He studied national economics in Munich before turning to architecture at the Technische Hochschule Charlottenburg and later the Technische Hochschule München, graduating cum laude in 1912. Influenced by Theodor Fischer and expressionist groups Der Blaue Reiter and Die Brücke, he worked independently in Munich from 1912 to 1914. In 1915, he married cellist Luise Maas, through whom he met astrophysicist Erwin Finlay Freundlich, leading to the design of the Einsteinturm solar observatory. During World War I, he produced sketches of factories and large buildings, often in letters to his wife.
Reader's Guide
Mendelsohn's career spanned Germany, England, Mandatory Palestine, and the United States. After World War I, he settled in Berlin, where the Einsteinturm and a hat factory in Luckenwalde established his reputation. He co-founded the progressive architectural group Der Ring in 1924 with Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius. His work encapsulated Weimar consumerism, especially in Schocken Department Stores, and he also designed the Red Banner Textile Factory in the USSR. Fleeing the Nazis in 1933, he practiced in England with Serge Chermayeff, designing the De La Warr Pavilion. In Mandatory Palestine, he built Weizmann House, Hadassah Hospital, and other landmarks. From 1941, he lived in the United States, teaching at UC Berkeley and advising the U.S. government, including work on a replica German village for firebombing research. His legacy lies in his expressionist and functionalist forms, influencing modern architecture internationally.
Did You Know?
- Mendelsohn was not related to the Mendelssohn family.
- The Einsteinturm is mostly brickwork rendered to look like concrete, due to delivery problems.
- In 1943, he collaborated with the U.S. Army and Standard Oil to build a replica German village for firebombing research.
- His Mossehaus design was created in collaboration with Richard Neutra, who handled interior design.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Erich Mendelsohn?
Erich Mendelsohn (1887–1953) was a German-British architect who became a leading voice in 1920s expressionist design before evolving into a dynamic functionalist approach for commercial buildings.
What is Erich Mendelsohn known for?
He is celebrated for his expressionist architecture, his functionalist department stores and cinemas, and his 1921 Mossehaus design that helped pioneer Art Deco and Streamline Moderne.
Where was Erich Mendelsohn born?
He was born on 21 March 1887 in Allenstein, East Prussia (present-day Olsztyn, Poland), the fifth child in a Jewish family. A commemorative plaque on Barbara Street still marks the site of his childhood home.
What are Erich Mendelsohn's most notable works?
His signature projects include the Einsteinturm, the Schocken Department Stores, and the Mossehaus in Berlin. Together they showcase his range from sculptural expressionism to sleek Streamline Moderne.
Why does Erich Mendelsohn matter in the history of architecture?
He connected the emotional, sculptural language of expressionism with the streamlined, purpose-driven modernism that followed, shaping how commercial and public buildings looked in the interwar period. His influence on Art Deco and Streamline Moderne made him a key transitional figure of the early twentieth century.
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