Fragments of Metropolis – Berlin

The architecture of Expressionism heralded the onset of the roaring twenties. Berlin's remaining Expressionist buildings demonstrate a great creativity of form and a skilful use of light, colour and material. In contrast to the Bauhaus architecture of the same era, they sought complexity, vertical enhancement and drama to create the modern metropolis. Fragments of Metropolis documents 120 buildings in Berlin and its environs with Niels Lehmann's new photographs, drawings, an illustrated index of every building, and maps that divide the locations into areas. In celebrating the birth of the metropolis Berlin, the book is the rediscovery an important part of the city's heritage.

This stunning volume presents the result of a major undertaking by photographer Niels Lehmann and researcher Christoph Rauhut: to document all the remaining Expressionist buildings in Berlin. Expressionism powerfully heralded the onset of the twenties, and nowhere was it more important or powerful than in Berlin. The buildings that remain demonstrate great creativity with form and skillful use of light, color, and material, highlighting verticality and drama—the essence of the modern metropolis. 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. Simultaneously a celebration of a lost period and a reminder of the riches it has left to us, Fragments of Metropolis is a stunning achievement of historical and artistic preservation.