It’s a small world

On Monday 30^th April I had another presentation to give on the factory work of Peter Behrens (1868 - 1940). Starting out as a painter and then graphic designer, Behrens had no formal training in architecture, but became a very prominent and influential architectural figure in Germany. His protégés, amongst them Walter Gropius, Mies van der Rohe, and Le Corbusier, subsequently spread his ideas throughout the world. My chosen topic focused on his work with the Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft (AEG – General Electricity Company), arguably his most celebrated achievements are from this collaboration.

Behrens became the first to apply the principles of the ‘Deutscher Werkbund’ of 1907; an alliance between industry and the decorative arts (inspired by the British Arts and Crafts movement), with the aim to produce high quality goods for mass consumption. He initially started by designing marking graphics and domestic products, but later designed AEG factory buildings and workers housing. His co-ordination and consistency within this work generated a unified appearance, establishing a visual identity for the AEG which is now known as ‘corporate identity’.

By far his most celebrated architectural project for the AEG, was his Turbinenfabrik (Turbine Factory, 1910) on the Moabit factory site, which was the principal focus of my presentation. Of interest is the structural system (triple-hinged girder construction) which is articulated on the façade. The building was Behrens’ first industrial building project. It should be noted however that, with Behrens’ inadequate knowledge of engineering for such an undertaking, the design was a collaborative endeavour with engineer Karl Bernhard. Today, due to his work with the AEG, Behrens is often recognised as the father of German industrial design and the founder of corporate identity.

Study of the AEG Turbinenfabrik

That evening I had just got off the U-Bahn at Karlsplatz station and was heading to a design meeting when I spotted a familiar face. Adrian, my housemate during my year in professional practice, was visiting Vienna for a few days. Unfortunately I had caught him on his last day in Vienna, so after chatting for a short while I said farewell and promised to meet up again when back in England. I’m still amazed that I would bump into an old friend so far away from home.