Josef Paul Kleihues
Encyclopedia
Josef Paul Kleihues was a German architect
, most notable for his decades long contributions to the "critical reconstruction" of Berlin
. His design approach has been described as "poetic rationalist".
, he studied architecture at the University of Stuttgart
(1955-57) and Berlin Institute of Technology (1957-59). After graduation, he spent one year at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts
in Paris. After having worked in the architectural practice of Peter Poelzig in West Berlin
, in 1962 he founded his own practice with Hans Heinrich Moldenschardt.
In 1971 he designed "Block 270", a residential building in Berlin-Wedding
. This became a seminal work which re-established the Berlin block plan, a traditional typology, which stood in opposition to contemporary urban planning. As professor at the Dortmund University of Technology from 1973 and director of the International Building Exhibition Berlin
(IBA) between 1979-1987, Kleihues propagated the concept of urban "critical reconstruction".
Kleihues received international recognition for several museum projects, including for the Sprengel Museum in Hanover (1972) and the Museum of Prehistory in Frankfurt (1980-86). He continued designing museums, including the Civic Gallery and Lütze Museum in Sindelfingen (1987-90), the Berlin Museum of Contemporary Art, an adaptive reuse of the Hamburger Bahnhof
, a 19th-century railway station, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago
.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, most notable for his decades long contributions to the "critical reconstruction" of Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. His design approach has been described as "poetic rationalist".
Early life and career
Born in 1933 in RheineRheine
Rheine is a city in the district of Steinfurt in Westphalia, Germany. It is the largest city in the district and the location of Rheine Air Base.-Geography:Rheine is located on the river Ems, approx. north of Münster, approx...
, he studied architecture at the University of Stuttgart
University of Stuttgart
The University of Stuttgart is a university located in Stuttgart, Germany. It was founded in 1829 and is organized in 10 faculties....
(1955-57) and Berlin Institute of Technology (1957-59). After graduation, he spent one year at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts
École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts
The École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-arts is the distinguished National School of Fine Arts in Paris, France.The École des Beaux-arts is made up of a vast complex of buildings located at 14 rue Bonaparte, between the quai Malaquais and the rue Bonaparte, in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Près,...
in Paris. After having worked in the architectural practice of Peter Poelzig in West Berlin
West Berlin
West Berlin was a political exclave that existed between 1949 and 1990. It comprised the western regions of Berlin, which were bordered by East Berlin and parts of East Germany. West Berlin consisted of the American, British, and French occupation sectors, which had been established in 1945...
, in 1962 he founded his own practice with Hans Heinrich Moldenschardt.
In 1971 he designed "Block 270", a residential building in Berlin-Wedding
Wedding (Berlin)
Wedding is a locality in the borough of Mitte, Berlin, Germany and was a separate borough in the north-western inner city until it was fused with Tiergarten and Mitte in Berlin's 2001 administrative reform...
. This became a seminal work which re-established the Berlin block plan, a traditional typology, which stood in opposition to contemporary urban planning. As professor at the Dortmund University of Technology from 1973 and director of the International Building Exhibition Berlin
International Building Exhibition Berlin
The International Building Exhibition Berlin was an urban renewal project in Berlin, Germany. Initiated in 1979, it was completed in 1987, matching the 750th anniversary of the founding of Berlin. The IBA followed two distinct strategies: "careful urban renewal" and "critical...
(IBA) between 1979-1987, Kleihues propagated the concept of urban "critical reconstruction".
Kleihues received international recognition for several museum projects, including for the Sprengel Museum in Hanover (1972) and the Museum of Prehistory in Frankfurt (1980-86). He continued designing museums, including the Civic Gallery and Lütze Museum in Sindelfingen (1987-90), the Berlin Museum of Contemporary Art, an adaptive reuse of the Hamburger Bahnhof
Hamburger Bahnhof
Hamburger Bahnhof is a former railway station in Berlin, Germany, on Invalidenstraße in the Moabit district opposite the Charité hospital. Today it serves as the Museum für Gegenwart , a contemporary art museum....
, a 19th-century railway station, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago
Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago
The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago is a contemporary art museum near Water Tower Place in downtown Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The museum, which was established in 1967, is one of the world's largest contemporary art venues...
.