European Expressionism in architecture has, until now, suffered from neglect. Following a successful campaign for the first volume in a planned seven-part series which focused on Berlin, a new version of the Fragments of Metropolis series—which covers with the Rhein-Ruhr region of Europe—will document 155 buildings from Bochum, Bottrop, Dortmund, Duisburg to Düsseldorf, Cologne, Münster and Oberhausen. This latest volume is currently being crowdfunded.
Map of Europe. Image Courtesy of Christoph Rauhut, Niels Lehmann
Courtesy of Christoph Rauhut, Niels Lehmann
“The enthusiasm for the expressionist metropolis—an architecture of complexity, verticality and theatricality—in the 1920s also included the urban landscape of Rhine-Ruhr. More than the familiar view of the industrial heritage of that time, these surviving fragments bear witness to an unconditional will to form of and a rich, skilful handling of form, colour, material and light.” According to the creators, the Fragments of Metropolis series is “the first complete compilation of the expressionist architecture movement.” It is the cumulative work of twenty-five architects and designers who have gathered information, drawings and contemporary photographs of more than 1,200 buildings.
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Gelsenkirchen, Hans-Sachs-Haus, Alfred Fischer, 1924–27. Image © Niels Lehmann
© Niels Lehmann
Düsseldorf, Wilhelm-Marx-Haus, Wilhelm Kreis, 1921–24. Image © Niels Lehmann
Düsseldorf, Wilhelm-Marx-Haus, Wilhelm Kreis, 1921–24. Image © Niels Lehmann
Köln, St. Engelbert, Dominikus Böhm, 1930–32. Image © Niels Lehmann
Köln, St. Engelbert, Dominikus Böhm, 1930–32. Image © Niels Lehmann
Düsseldorf Rheinhalle, 1925-26, Wilhelm Kreis. Image © Niels Lehmann
Düsseldorf Rheinhalle, 1925-26, Wilhelm Kreis. Image © Niels Lehmann
Oberhausen, Kaufhaus Tietz Bert-Brecht-Haus, Otto Scheib, 1925–28. Image © Niels Lehmann
Oberhausen, Kaufhaus Tietz Bert-Brecht-Haus, Otto Scheib, 1925–28. Image © Niels Lehmann
Sig Nordal 