Paul Mebes

Paul Mebes ( born January 23, 1872 in Magdeburg, † April 9, 1938 in Berlin; Complete name: Paul Louis Adolf Mebes ) was a German architect, architectural theorist and professor.

Life

Mebes completed a practical training as a carpenter and then studied at the Technical University of Braunschweig and the Institute of Technology ( Berlin ) Charlottenburg. After the 2nd state examination, he worked as a government architect ( Assessor ) in the public works department.

In 1906 (according to other sources as early as 1902) Mebes worked for the Civil Service Housing Association to Berlin eG, from 1909 to 1919, he served as a part time whose building construction technical board member.

From 1911, he led, together with his brother Paul Emmerich, the architectural firm Mebes and Emmerich, which is mainly devoted to the settlements. For this office also originate designs for other buildings, including schools and administrative buildings.

1931 Mebes was a member of the Prussian Academy of Arts, on 15 May 1933, he resigned their membership. On November 19, 1920 it ( hc Dr. -Ing. ) Was developed by the Technical University of Braunschweig on a proposal from the Department of Architecture awarded an honorary doctorate.

His grave is in the cemetery in Berlin -Zehlendorf. In his honor, the " Paul- Mebes Park " at the Potsdamer street corner Fischer- Dieskau Lane in Berlin -Zehlendorf was named.

Work

Buildings and designs

Mebes ' designs found at the beginning of the 20th century in European Housing and Urban attention. He was one of the pioneers of the open housing estates before the First World War. The hitherto dominant perimeter block with rear buildings he refused vehemently. One particularly striking were his designs in apartment buildings for officials Dwellings club in Berlin and the Kroch village in Leipzig.

The activity Mebes ' can be divided into three periods: the early phase (1909-1918), an expressive phase (1918-1924) and until his death in ongoing substantive phase ( 1925-1938 ).

The early phase was characterized by efforts of the traditional Berlin architecture of the period, ie from overloaded stucco facades, get away exuberant splendor and indiscriminate eclecticism. Here, Mebes served well to existing styles: in abundance, there are neo-classical details, including various forms of North German or Dutch ( simple ) Baroque occur; even early Gothic forms are found.

In the expressive phase resulted primarily residential with expressive, but sparingly used elements, such strong color contrasts ( of alternating brick and plaster), jagged protruding stairways, pointed windows and partly also borrowed from the Burgenarchitekur Machikulis.

From the second half of the 1920s created buildings that are influenced by the architecture of classical modernism and which have a clear objectivity. Mebes concerned less about the details than before, but the systems still work aesthetically closed. He continues to work with color effects ( plastered surfaces versus brick masonry) to eg Stairwells and window hinges emphasized. Good thought about floor plans, brightness of the apartments and good ventilation features of these buildings.

Writings

• Paul Mebes (ed.): In 1800 (2 volumes) 1908..
• Paul Mebes (ed. ), Walter Curt Behrendt (Ed. ): In 1800, architecture and craftsmanship in the last century its traditional development.. F. Bruckmann, Munich 1918. (Referred to as 2nd edition)