From pioneering women architects to contemporary visionaries, Germany has produced some of the world's most influential architects whose work spans from the Baroque period to modern times. These eleven architects represent great names and hidden gems who have shaped German architecture across different eras, embodying the present, the past, the Romantic period, and the Baroque era.
While Walter Gropius and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe are household names in 20th-century architecture, nine other German architects deserve equal recognition for their groundbreaking contributions to the built environment.
Emilie Winkelmann (1875-1951) stands as a towering figure whose significance cannot be overstated, despite her buildings not being as well-known as they should be. She holds the historic distinction of being Germany's first female architect. Before opening her office in Berlin in 1907, women were not permitted to study architecture. Even after completing her studies at the Technical University in Hannover, she was denied her diploma. Undeterred by these obstacles, she persevered against all resistance, creating an incredible legacy. Her most important buildings include the Villa on Lindenallee in Berlin (1908), the Leistikow House in Berlin (1909/10), and the Ottilie von Hansemann House in Berlin (1914/15). She launched her career by winning an architectural competition for the Saalbau Blumenstrasse building, which featured a distinctive double-flight staircase before being destroyed in World War II.
Peter Behrens (1868-1940), born in Hamburg, was an architect of superlatives who pioneered industrial design and built breathtakingly contemporary factory halls, particularly for AEG. Beyond architecture, he worked as a painter and typographer, and is credited with inventing corporate design. His office became a breeding ground for architectural legends, employing Walter Gropius, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Le Corbusier, who would later single-handedly create Classical Modernism. His three most important buildings are the AEG Turbine Hall in Berlin-Moabit (1908/09), the Höchst AG Office Building in Frankfurt (1921/25), and the Gutehoffnungshütte Warehouse in Oberhausen (1921/25).
Walter Gropius (1883-1969) came from a family of architects, with his great-uncle Martin Gropius being a student of Karl Friedrich Schinkel. Together with Adolf Meyer, he built the Fagus Works in Alfeld (1911/12), the first almost completely glazed building in architectural history. In 1918, he founded the Bauhaus and gained worldwide recognition through the Master Houses in Dessau. He later emigrated to the United States, where he became a leading representative of the International Style. His three most important works are the Fagus Works in Alfeld (1911/12), the Bauhaus Building in Dessau (1925/26), and the Master Houses in Dessau (1925/26).
The partnership between Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886-1969) and Lilly Reich (1885-1947) created the iconic Barcelona Pavilion, a masterpiece of modern architecture where Mies provided the glass shell and Reich designed the furniture. For ten crucial years, he built while she designed, creating classics like the Barcelona Chair and matching daybed that are largely attributed to Lilly Reich, along with many other steel tube furniture pieces. While Reich remained in Germany, Mies emigrated to the United States, where he helped shape the International Style and designed the New National Gallery in Berlin. He is also credited with coining the phrase "Less is more." Their three most important buildings are the Barcelona Pavilion (1929, reconstructed 1986), Villa Tugendhat in Brno (1930), and the Farnsworth House in Plano, Illinois (1950/51, built without Reich).
Sometimes a single project defines an entire career, as was the case for Günter Behnisch (1922-2010) and Frei Otto (1925-2015) with their Olympic complex for the 1972 Munich Olympics. The stadium featured seating shells in different shades of green to introduce natural elements into functional architecture, while the feather-light tent roof spanning the buildings was Otto's contribution. This innovative design was unprecedented in Germany. Behnisch later developed his own successful deconstructivist style. Their most important works include the Munich Olympic Complex (1967/72), the Research Institute at the University of Stuttgart in Vaihingen (1986/87, without Otto), and the Kindergarten in Stuttgart-Luginsland (1990, without Otto).
Ole Scheeren (1971) represents Germany's contemporary global architectural presence, with his most important buildings located outside Germany. Having worked extensively in Asia, he maintains offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, Bangkok, New York, London, and since 2015, Berlin. He gained recognition managing the spectacular CCTV Tower in Beijing for Rem Koolhaas's OMA office. His time with the Dutch architect shaped his approach, resulting in wild, daring, meticulously planned designs that are not for the faint of heart. His three most important buildings are the Guardian Art Center auction house in Beijing (2011), The Interlace apartment complex in Singapore (2007/13), and the Maha Nakhon high-rise in Bangkok (2011/16).
Born in Cologne, Annabelle Selldorf (1960) built her career in New York, becoming a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and a member of the National Academy of Design. These prestigious appointments demonstrate her recognition in the United States. She gained fame through the careful renovation of the Neue Galerie, Ronald Lauder's private museum, and has since created countless museums, galleries, private homes, and public buildings, most recently expanding the renowned Frick Collection. Her style is characterized by clarity and elegance, and she also designs furniture for her label Vica. Her three most important buildings are the residential building at 10 Bond Street in New York (2016), a house addition in Cologne (2017), and the Skarstedt Residence seaside house.
Andreas Schlüter (1659-1714) was both an architect and one of the most important sculptors of his time, a combination not uncommon in the Baroque era. He gave Berlin the magnificent splendor the city had sorely lacked. His origins remain largely mysterious, though he likely came from Danzig (present-day Gdansk). He died in St. Petersburg, where he had been summoned by Tsar Peter the Great, who presumably wanted to bring some of that magnificent splendor to his own capital. His three most important works are the Berlin Arsenal (1698/99), the Berlin City Palace (from 1698), and the equestrian statue of the Great Elector (from 1698).
Karl Friedrich Schinkel (1781-1841) was not only an architect but also one of the most important painters of his time, another combination typical of the Romantic era. Schinkel ensured that Prussia didn't miss international aesthetic connections. He was an early representative of Neo-Gothic style, which was fashionable in England, the culturally leading nation of the time. He was equally adept at Classicism, also popular in England. It's no wonder his Babelsberg Palace in Potsdam resembles a smaller version of Windsor Castle. His three most important works are Ehrenburg Palace in Coburg (1810), the New Pavilion at Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin (1824/25), and Babelsberg Palace in Potsdam (1834/49, completed with Ludwig Persius).
