Paul Kahlfeldt

The Berlin construction projects by BEWAG's head architect Hans Heinrich Müller, the Kunsthaus Dahlem, the Villa Kampfmeyer in Potsdam, and the Berlin Philharmonie: they are all emblematic of the Berlin architecture firm Petra und Paul Kahlfeldt's high planning quality in the remodeling and conversion of existing (listed) buildings. Transformationen focuses on twenty outstanding projects by the firm, explores the stories of their creation, and documents the reinterpretations with plans, sketches, and photographs. Additionally, an illustrated catalogue of works presents all of the architecture office's approximately one hundred renovation projects together for the first time.

Expressionism powerfully heralded the onset of the twenties. Today, the buildings that remain demonstrate great creativity with form and skillfull use of light, colour, and material, highlighting verticality and drama--the essence of the modern metropolis. With Fragments of Metropolis: Berlin, researcher Christoph Rauhut and photographer Niels Lehmann set out to document all the remaining expressionist buildings in Berlin. With Fragments of Metropolis--Rhein Ruhr, Rauhut and Lehmann present the results of the next phase of this major undertaking, showing that the Rhine-Ruhr region had a similarly rich expressionist heritage. Lehmann's new photographs are here set alongside drawings, an illustrated index of buildings, and maps that help the reader group the buildings by area, including Bochum, Bottrop, Dortmund, Duisburg, Dusseldorf, Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Hagen, Cologne, Munster, Oberhausen, and more. Simultaneously a celebration of a lost period and a reminder of the riches it has left to us, Fragments of Metropolis--Rhein Ruhr is a stunning achievement of historical and artistic preservation.