Michaelsen Palace

Look here, on the corner of the street, and you can see the beautiful Art Nouveau-style (or ‘New Art’) facade of the Michaelsen Palais. This hotel was designed by Otto Michaelsen—hence its name—for a wealthy German merchant named Emil Vogt, at the beginning of the 20th century. It’s considered one of the buildings that best represents the Jugendstil style in Berlin, which is the German branch of the Art Nouveau movement. The floral ornaments and intricate details highlight the elegance of the architecture of that time, but the decor is also highly patriotic. If you look carefully at the pediment above the entrance, you will see two statues standing on each side of the German coat of arms. On one side stands Charlemagne, and on the other, Emperor Wilhelm II. These two major historical figures of the Holy Roman Empire illustrate the continuity of imperial power and how different periods of German history have been unified. In the recesses at each end, you’ll see on the left, the bust of Karl August von Stein, known for modernising Prussia, and on the right, that of Otto von Bismarck, famous for his diplomacy and his role in the unification of Germany. These men represent the great reforms that have made Germany what it is today. The rest of the facade is adorned with typical Art Nouveau floral patterns, medieval decorations, and ornaments from the Romanesque period. Unfortunately, this display of wealth did not secure success for its owner, who quickly went bankrupt and had to leave the premises. A Swiss insurance company branch then moved into the building. Over time, the building was also used as the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Criminal Senate of the Higher Court, and as a hotel. During the war, a bomb blew off the entire corner of the building. It was hastily patched up by the GDR government, which installed its public works and road services there. Finally, in the 2000s, the insurance company that had occupied the site at the beginning of the century decided to buy it back and renovate it at a great cost. Today, this emblematic Berlin building houses 5,000 square meters of offices and apartments.