Kant-Garage

The 1929-1930 Kant built garage ( Kant garages Palace or Serlin ramp House ) in Kant street 126/127 in the Berlin district of Charlottenburg is the only preserved in Berlin Hochgarage the interwar period. It is also the oldest surviving Hochgarage Europe with common double spiral ramp and is since 1991 under monument protection.

History

The building was built by Hermann branch valley in collaboration with Bruno Lohmüller, Oskar Korschelt and Jacob Renker and Richard Paulick for the entrepreneur Louis Serlin the first Hochgaragenbau Berlin in the New Objectivity style or the new style. The building, which cost could only be built because Serlin had won as the main tenant of the German auto club.

When completed, the garage construction caused an international sensation, at the International Building Exhibition 1932 even guided tours were offered. The building is included in numerous Berlin- books as an architectural feature.

In a recommendation of the country Monument Council, the architectural-historical significance of the building is described as follows:

" The high street garage in Kant (1929 /30) is the last remaining building of the architect Hermann unchanged branch Thal aka Herman Herrey, in Germany and at the same time an early work of his later famous partner Richard Paulick. Above all, it is a singular traffic monument of national importance, namely, the most significant large garage of the interwar modernism in Germany. The past seventy years withstood the highly significant Garage in stage of construction and authentic with original use. His garage building is not only the only surviving Berlin Hochgarage the interwar period, it is also the only example of this construction project in Germany, which can boast a double -pitch helix ramp. The Casa dell'Automobile Da ' in Rome (1928 /29) already demolished, also exists in Europe no older and just another high garage with this type of transport height: the resulting later, Autorimessa ' in Venice ( 1934-35 ). And also to the architectural facade design of high Garage is unprecedented in Europe. The Kant garages are not only an outstanding monument of modern architecture, but also a unique - and here is the expression really take literally - architectural monument of motoring in Germany and Europe. The State Monument recommends that you do everything that this unusual testimony can be obtained. "

In spite of knowing about the historical significance of Kant garage for the architect branch valley, the city of Berlin and the history of motoring in Germany, considering the owner, the head Garages Land mbH ( Pepper Real Estate ), currently (as of 2013) for economic reasons, the demolition of the building in need of renovation. The application for demolition was provided to the competent building authority Charlottenburg -Wilmersdorf. The reason a report commissioned by the owner's opinion is given, after which the entire " design on duration was not viable, the ramps were ailing. Any other use did not arise. For economic reasons, the repair of the property is therefore no longer reasonable. "

Architecture

The garage building is constructed of reinforced concrete and provides parking for approximately 300 vehicles. The façade facing the square street was lined with sandy gray bricks and floor cross illuminated by wired glass windows in dark gray iron framework in the field of boxing streets and the front staircase. The side facing away from the road, rear part of the S- Bahn tracks is fully glazed with a curtain wall preserved in their original state and has a side an open fire escape. Also inside the Kant contemporary garage parking stalls are ( boxes ) with its unique sliding gates construction of the Berlin firm of Henry Paul Henry ( Tempelhof ) still in its original. The garage building with gas station and repair shop is used as a residents garage.

The building design was based on an eight -storey building, so that the stability of the first five storeys realized ( in the year 1936 as the sixth floor of a light concrete frame construction fitted ) still should be quite sufficient. The conclusion has to be mentioned that - as well as the continued use shows taking place - at least no serious construction defects are present.

Spiral ramp driveway, 2007

Spiral ramp departure, 2007

Garage floor with boxes, 2010

Curtain wall, 1930

Curtain wall, 2007

Curtain wall detail, 2012

Curtain wall back in 2012