#Administration building #Dessau-Roßlau #1928
Reichsanstalt für Arbeitsvermittlung und Arbeitslosenunterstützung , Stadt Dessau
August-Bebel-Platz 16
06842
Dessau-Roßlau,
Germany
Public transport: August-Bebel-Platz
Today's use: Administration
Description
The functions of the building, according to which it is divided, can be described on the outside of the building. The higher, rectangular building housed the administrative offices, which were not intended for the public. The angular building contrasts with the semi-circular low building, which was erected as a public building for unemployed people. This building once had no windows. Only the glass skylights illuminated the space inside. But they did so in an impressively bright and effective way. If you imagine the situation of unemployed people, the room should be bright and friendly and not oppressive with dark corners. The shed roof windows could be opened to ventilate the space. Some sources believe that there was no model for this building. Others, on the other hand, note that the Dresden labour office with its room layout could be a model for Dessau.The building is a steel skeleton construction clad with yellow local bricks.
Description
The functions of the building, according to which it is divided, can be described on the outside of the building. The higher, rectangular building housed the administrative offices, which were not intended for the public. The angular building contrasts with the semi-circular low building, which was erected as a public building for unemployed people. This building once had no windows. Only the glass skylights illuminated the space inside. But they did so in an impressively bright and effective way. If you imagine the situation of unemployed people, the room should be bright and friendly and not oppressive with dark corners. The shed roof windows could be opened to ventilate the space. Some sources believe that there was no model for this building. Others, on the other hand, note that the Dresden labour office with its room layout could be a model for Dessau.The building is a steel skeleton construction clad with yellow local bricks.
History
The job centre in Dessau was built in 1928. The task was to construct a new building project. Only a year earlier, a state-wide office had been created to support the unemployed in Germany. The search for a suitable type of building began.The plans were drawn up by Walter Gropius. Before construction began, however, he resigned as director of the Bauhaus School in Dessau.Nevertheless, the idea of a social building was realised in many different ways until 1929. Several entrances led to the office. In this way, long queues in front of the building were to be avoided so that people did not feel exposed. Unemployment is definitely associated with shame. After a waiting area inside, separated by profession and gender, people entered individually offices to protect their personal rights. Afterwards, the jobseekers either went straight outside after successful job placement or continued inside to the cash desk, where they received their next unemployment benefit. This building project, and this building in particular, can be described as a thoroughly functionalist building in terms of its design.
The National Socialists wanted to demolish the building because they held the architecture of the Bauhaus in utter contempt. Due to the beginning of World War II and the resulting priorities of the terror regime, the demolition plans were cancelled.
After the end of World War II, the Soviet military administration used the building until 1957.The follwing years it housed again various offices. Today, it is home to the regulatory agency, among others.
History
The job centre in Dessau was built in 1928. The task was to construct a new building project. Only a year earlier, a state-wide office had been created to support the unemployed in Germany. The search for a suitable type of building began.The plans were drawn up by Walter Gropius. Before construction began, however, he resigned as director of the Bauhaus School in Dessau.Nevertheless, the idea of a social building was realised in many different ways until 1929. Several entrances led to the office. In this way, long queues in front of the building were to be avoided so that people did not feel exposed. Unemployment is definitely associated with shame. After a waiting area inside, separated by profession and gender, people entered individually offices to protect their personal rights. Afterwards, the jobseekers either went straight outside after successful job placement or continued inside to the cash desk, where they received their next unemployment benefit. This building project, and this building in particular, can be described as a thoroughly functionalist building in terms of its design.
The National Socialists wanted to demolish the building because they held the architecture of the Bauhaus in utter contempt. Due to the beginning of World War II and the resulting priorities of the terror regime, the demolition plans were cancelled.
After the end of World War II, the Soviet military administration used the building until 1957.The follwing years it housed again various offices. Today, it is home to the regulatory agency, among others.
Sources
Sources
