Trinkhalle, Dessau

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, 1932

The Trinkhalle (Drinking Hall) was built at the Sieben Säulen crossing in Dessau, directly at the Masters’ House settlement, in 1932.

Stiftung Bauhaus Dessau (I 19005 F) / © (Schreiber, Fritz) Schreiber, Irmela
Trinkhalle in Dessau, Entwurf: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe / Foto: Fritz Schreiber, 1932.

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The white structure with the distinctive roof projected from the wall that bordered the Bauhaus masters’ residential sector to the east. The idea came from Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, but it was drawn by his student Eduard Ludwig. The kiosk served as a “refreshment hall” and probably just offered non-alcoholic beverages – there have been references to fruit and vegetable juices. Due to the world economic crisis, public building activity came to a standstill for the most part and the Drinking Hall remained the only structure built by Mies van der Rohe in Dessau as a result.

Even though the Drinking Hall initially survived the war without any damage, it was torn down around 1970 when the GDR required space for the new design of the streets. With the repair of the urban planning environment of the Masters’ Houses completed in 2014 by Berlin-based architects BFM the kiosk also returned to the junction, reduced to its pure form in a contemporary interpretation. It opened again in June 2016 after having been closed for over 70 years. It has now regained its former function and supplies refreshing drinks and coffee at weekends throughout the summer months.

[AG 2015]

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