Beige Bravoure Part I: Allianz-Hochhaus

The Allianz-Hochhaus on Joachimsthaler Strasse, near Kurfürstendamm, Berlin. Designed in 1955 by Alfred Gunzenhausen and Paul Schwebes.

One of my favourite buildings, and one of the finest examples of German mid-century modernism. At first, the strict geometric travertine façade is reminiscent of the nazi-klassizismus of the 30's and 40's, but in the end, this is something different. The wriggled long wing, the organic shaped staircase and storefront, as well as the pillars that look like the work of Stig Lindberg. It is no wonder this was one of the most appreciated buildings of the Nachkriegzeit.
 

first two photos by BEROLINO

ÅHLÉNS

In both these pictures one also sees a skyscraper by Backström & Reinius, Hötorgsskrapan nummer 5, back when the facade still had a brownish hue.

Åhléns City (1964), Klarabergsvägen, Stockholm, by Sven Backström & Leif Reinius. Winner of the Kasper Salin prize 1966. 9 floors. 130 metres long, 40 metres wide. Buildt with the largest and most advanced climate control system in Sweden at the time. The influences from USA are obvious - the long wall is without windows. The ceilings are high, and the well lit "hangar"-spaces are made for effective shopping.

No advertisement was deemed needed on the facade - the building would be striking enough.

As would the plastic bags.

Hooper House II

"Modern architecture is not a style, but a way of life."
-Marcel Breuer

This is the second house built by Marcel Breuer for art collector Edith Hooper and her husband Arthur. Located outside of Bodymore, Murdaland (Baltimore, Maryland for those of you who don't watch the Wire) Two materials have been used to build this house, basically: fieldstone, and glass. Can you come any closer to nature than this? In my native Skåne, nature looks very much like this, and ancient walls of stone (sometimes dating back to the bronze age!) mark properties of generations of farmers. Fieldstone are also often used on traditional farm houses and barns, the so called skånelänga, but I have yet to see a modern swedish house make interesting use of this very living material.

Anyway, this is what Marcel Breuer did with it in 1959. One of the reasons why I put him on top of my list of favourite architects. It is a typical bi-nuclear house, shaped like a rectangular O: one wing containing bedrooms and a playroom for the children, and an 'adult' wing with kitchen, dining room and a large livingroom - separated by a courtyard in the middle, with a view of a nearby lake.It also has an underground garage and storage.

Many original details survive, such as the built-in desk and the bathroom, which is all-original.

some pictures from dwell

Two New Houses for sale by Henry Nielsen

For sale at Residence. 200 m², for sale at 22 000 000 SEK (!).

And a slightly smaller, for a not-so-much-smaller-price: 70 m² for 12 000 000 SEK (!!). From Bjurfors

It is expensive to live in the archipelago.

Unorthodox planning of single-family homes seems to have been the mark of this mysterious architect. Henry Nielsen, or Henry Haubro-Nielsen, as he is sometimes reffered to, caught my attention when this house went up for sale. This is another house I found by him.

Old Bricks

The Buck House by Rudolf Schindler

LA, 1934
From RADKAT

Apartment by Claesson Koivisto Rune

This apartment was made by renowned swedish architecture-trio Claesson Koivisto Rune for an unnamed art dealer, and furnished by Sven Skarstedt of Galerie Scandinavian Classics.

Henry Haubro-Nielsen's Family Home and Office

House of architect Henry Haubro-Nielsen (unknown to me) was recently sold to swedish actor Mikael Persbrandt, I found out while googling the architect's name. These pictures were taken from Skeppsholmen real estate agent's site.

This is a true gem of Scandinavian 60's architecture - down to every detail - and I hope the Persbrandt family will keep the original details wherever possible. It's what honesty in materials is all about. Gotta love that jute-rug too.

DN, SvD