Bundesschule des Allgemeinen Deutschen Gewerkschaftsbundes, Bernau, Hannes Meyer, 1928-30

September 2014 (Tag des offenen Denkmals)

Maybe the most stripped-down functionalist building from the heroic times of the late 1920s. A recent restoration excellently conserves the almost provisional spirit that can be felt especially in certain parts. The complex of the schools has grown further. While the 1950s additions just lack the lightness of the first phase, a part of the latter restored in the 1990 is downright ugly, and it takes a serious effort to avoid it in the views. I confess I did that when taking the photos, driven by a bias towards beauty. Hannes Meyer didn’t care about beauty, I know.