460 | Stavagna | The Herpich Affair 1924 Triest (Italy). Design attheUniversitàdegliStudiof taught TheoryandHistoryofIndustrial of architectureandurbandesign,has architectural designandaPhDinhistory IUAV ofVenice (Italy),holdsadegreein - BDA”. HewaseducatedattheUniversità from Italyforthemagazine“derarchitekt works inBerlin,andisthecorrespondent architectural historian,wholivesand Michele Stavagnaisanarchitectand Michele Stavagna ment ofthemodernsociety. of themasspublicandeconomicdevelop of Modernismwithinthebroadercontext themes focusonthebirthandaffirmation neuesten Zeit”byG.A.Platz.Hisresearch Italian editionof“DieBaukunstder Stavagnatranslatedandeditedthefirst Berlin/Triest - DAS ERBE DER MODERNE | 461 - - - - Studi (Munich: Tuduv, 1992), (Munich: Tuduv,

The first known date regarding this project The first known date regarding this project 1

82. –

Unfortunately, the official documentation about the Herpich store, including the official documentation about the Herpich store, Unfortunately, For a detailed description of the building and the construction phases, see Stephan R., a detailed description of the building and the construction phases, see Stephan For 1 und Geschäftshäuser Erich Mendelsohns in Deutschland en zu Waren pp. 73 the end of 1923 or the beginning of 1924. These temporal terms are significant the end of 1923 or the beginning of 1924. These temporal terms are significant building authority, which had to verify compliance of the project with the new building authority, communal act against townscape damage, approved the plan by a wide majority, thirteen votes against three. That dates the project commission back towards even the building itself, has been lost. to his wife on 7 April 1924. is revealed in Mendelsohn’s private correspondence the Berlin the Sachverständigenausschuss, an advisory board within On this day, modern architecture. pansion of the building for the Herpich Furriers on Leipziger Strasse, which was pansion of the building for the Herpich in Berlin. The entangled history of the proj the most important commercial street a crucial moment for the affirmation of ect approval and realization testifies to man architects, having already realized many important buildings: the Einstein man architects, having already realized renewal of the Mosse Publisher the Hat Factory, the Steinberg-Herrmann tower, the plan for the renewal and ex Building. Between 1923 and 1924 he developed In 1923, Erich Mendelsohn was by far the most successful among the young Ger In 1923, Erich Mendelsohn was by far Establishment Challenging the Economic the Economic Challenging AFFAIR OF 1924 Architecture Modern THE HERPICH 462 | Stavagna | The Herpich Affair 1924 authority head,whowastheBerlinmayorhimself,GustavBöß,returned buildings andatwo-storeyadditiontoobtainmoreusefulcommercialspace. residential buildings.Theprojectconsistedofanewunifiedfacadeforthetwo acterized byhistoricfacadeswithtraditionalbowwindows,asintypicalBerlin 11 beinganannex. Theexisting buildings werenineteenth-centuryhouses,char Herpich&Sons(LeipzigerStrasse9/10),withthelatteronLeipziger A. building unitsontheLeipzigerStrasse,ofwhichonewashistoricalseatC. of thecompanybuilding.Theplanconsistedunificationtwoexisting of anewgenerationthatenlistsMendelsohntoplantheexpansion andrenewal ily, Paul Herpich,hadjustdiedinthesummerof1923:thus,itwasadvocates Marks. AnotherimportantfactoristhefactthatoldheadofHerpichFam 1923, nearlyontheeveofnewmonetarycourse,ithadrisenupto831million million MarksbytheStatistischesReichsamt.After sevenweeks,by19November of September1923,forexample, thecostoflivingindex hadbeencalculatedat28 reform, whichendedthehyperinflationperiodinNovember1923.Still,atend history, i.e.thebeginningofeconomicrecoveryasaresultmonetary because theydatethestartofplanbypatronstoanewphaseGerman Stephan (Ostfildern-Ruit: HatjeCantz,1998),pp.69 vembergruppe undimRing,”in wo dieReaktionMeterbesetzthat.’ MendelsohnsMitwirken imArbeitsratfürKunst, inderNo About Mendelsohnandthe“Ring,”, seealsoStephanR.:“‘Mankämpft mühsamumCentimeter, 3 156 baufrage: ErichMendelsohnsHerpich-UmbauinderLeipzigerStrasse,” the controversyovernewfaçade.SeeW[erner]H[egemann]:“Eine wichtigeBerlinerStadt 2 ernist architectscurrentlyinBerlin. this committeeoftwelvearchitects,theaimwhichwas torepresentthemod applications. After afewmonths,the“Zehnerring”(CircleofTen) developedfrom activity ofthecommunalbuildingauthorityregarding procedureforbuilding tomonitorthecorrectnessof the “Zwölfer-Ausschuss” (CommitteeofTwelve), member. Hemanagedtocreateaninternalcommitteeof12BDA members,called most renownedGermanarchitecturalassociation,ofwhichhewasalreadya ing hisprogressivecolleaguesinsidetheBDA, UnionofGermanArchitects,the blocked, afactthatpushedMendelsohntoorchestratepresscampaign,involv conclusive release.After theensuingapproval, theplanstillcontinuedtoremain plan backtotheboardforanewexamination oftheentirematter, refusingthe The foundationofthisarchitectscommittee willbediscussedlaterinthispaper (seenote19). A pictureoftheexisting buildingswaspublished byWerner Hegemanninsideanarticleabout – Despite theapprovalbyadvisoryboard,thentemporarybuilding 157. Erich Mendelsohn.Architekt1887–1953. GebauteWelten 3 – 71. Städtebau 20(1925),pp. , ed.R. 2 ------DAS ERBE DER MODERNE | 463 ------(Walter (Walter Der Neubau (Willy Ganske), (Willy Ganske), (Friedrich Paulsen) dur (Friedrich Paulsen) Bauwelt

4 Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung Berliner Lokal-Anzeiger (Fritz Stahl), (Paul Westheim) and Westheim) (Paul (Max Osborn), - - - Das Kunstblatt Berliner Tageblatt (see also note 2). Vossische Zeitung Vossische (Fritz Hellwag). The press campaign was reported also on the magazines Städtebau What could have been the interest in hindering these plans? What could have been the interest in hindering connects the Herpich case to the later One curious coincidence of protagonists From the press campaign emerges the image of a rather personal style of From the press campaign emerges The practical result of this public protest was the permission to start the of this public protest was the permission The practical result On 8 May 1924, the following newspapers (with the respective columnist in brackets) reported the following newspapers (with the respective columnist in brackets) On 8 May 1924, Walter Curt Behrendt), Walter ( Hegemann’s contribu ing May 1924. These articles were followed some months later by Werner tion in Mendelsohn’s request: Curt Behrendt), Vorwärts 4 upon on the controversy surrounding the Herpich building and the protest promoted by the BDA plan of the Galeries Lafayette at Potsdamer Platz in 1928, as the Herpich building Platz in 1928, as the Herpich plan of the Galeries Lafayette at Potsdamer later created by Mendelsohn as a simple of was finished. The Galeries Lafayette, have been located on a prominent site as fice building, the Columbushaus, would to give building permissions, the BDA architects’ protest points to—beyond Men to give building permissions, the BDA near the Friedrichstrasse railway sta delsohn’s project—the high-rise building Rolandufer. tion and a new department store on the for a press-campaign, it seemed like a city planning management problem of the for a press-campaign, it seemed like forms, relat in particular regarding the economic development of new trade city, of unjustified refusals As examples ing to the transformations of the cityscape. recently retired Stadtbaurat Ludwig Hoffmann, who then was appointed as head recently retired Stadtbaurat Ludwig issue of architectonic taste, an easy target of the advisory board. But behind the carried out in 1928 (fig. 1). Böß, aided by the former and very building management of the city by mayor remained incomplete. The business activity was thus operating perfectly by 1926, The business activity was thus operating remained incomplete. to the modernist archi close of Berlin, Martin Wagner, when the new Stadtbaurat completion, which was eventually tects, removed all obstacles to the building’s building, although only the interior remodelling and the addition of the storey of the interior remodelling and the addition building, although only the building exterior were allowed, with the result that the older Herpich store ment, 1926. ers, Berlin, view of the old ers, Berlin, view of the store with storey addition before facade refurbish the old store after facade the old store 1927. refurbishment, Mendelsohn, Right: Erich Sons, Furri C. A. Herpich Fig. 1: Left: Erich Mendel Left: Erich Fig. 1: Sons, C. A. Herpich sohn, view of Furriers, Berlin, 464 | Stavagna | The Herpich Affair 1924 heim storeonLeipzigerPlatzwasbeingplannedandrealizedbetween1924 issues atthetime.Secondly, inthosesameyearsthelastexpansion oftheWert role intheaffair, wasGeorg Wertheim’s personalconsultantforarchitectural stop thenewbuilding.Firstly, Ludwig Hoffmannhimself,whoplayedanimportant proof) thatWertheim tookaninterestinfosteringmayorBöß’scommitmentto the newHerpichbuilding,therearestrongindications(thoughnodocumentary the architect. Wertheim, althoughthelatterdidnotyetknowthatMendelsohnwouldhavebeen Mendelsohn himselfwrotetohiswifethathewasnotafraidofthepresence planning tochangetheestablishmentofadepartmentstoreintoanofficeblock, store. WhenshortlylaterthesameWertheim becameinvolvedintheLafayette acquisition oftheplotlandbycompetingcompanynearhisowndepartment store chainprotestedagainstthecitygovernmentforitwouldhavefavoured political careerafter 1929,itturnsoutthatGeorg Wertheim, theheadofWertheim mony ofmayorBößwithrespecttotheSklarekscandal,whichabruptlyendedhis Wertheim departmentstoreonLeipzigerStrasse/LeipzigerPlatz. a directanddangerouscompetitortothelargest departmentstoreofBerlin,the Rowohlt Verlag, 2004),p.182 7 been cutoutfromthepublishedversion. tect Mendelsohn Archiv, Briefe 44,translatedandpublishedinMendelsohnE.: 6 (Münster: LITVerlag, 1997),pp.83 5 ized inthebranchoffurclothes—hadalarger businessvolumethanthefirst Herpich&Sons,whichhasspecial facturing andretailcompanies—like theC.A. rather thanthedimensionofbusinessvolume.Moreover, manytextile manu for thetaxationofdepartmentstoresconsidered varietyofwareclasses tail store)anda distinction betweena Sons couldbeastrongcompetitortothegigantic sion ofanearbycompetitorinfluencedBöß’sattempttostopthebuilding. 1925. ItwasquiteobviousthatWertheim’s desiretohinderthedangerousexpan See FischerE.and Ladwig-Winters S.: Letter fromErichMendelsohntoLuise Mendelsohn,22July 22,1928,Kunstbibliothek Berlin, See Ladwig-Winters S.: , ed.O. Beyer(London:Abelard-Schumann,1967),p.100.Thementionof Georg Wertheim has As fortheabovementionedLafayetteplanandcontroversysurrounding In Germaneconomichistory, fromtheGründerzeit (1870 Herpich& Thus, itisplausiblethatasimplespecializedretailstoresuchC.A. 6 Warenhaus Kaufhaus Wertheim –EinWarenhausunternehmen undseineEigentümer ff. (adepartmentstore)sanctionedinthePrussianact – 84. (aretailstore,butoften amanufacturingandre Die Wertheims. GeschichteeinerFamilie Wertheim storechain. –1885) onwards,the Letters ofanArchi 5 Fromthetesti (Berlin: 7

------DAS ERBE DER MODERNE | 465 ------, 1992/1, Jahrbuch für Wirtschaftsgeschichte (fig. 2). From the data of the 1909 study on the (fig. 2). From the data 8 219. – The Wertheim department store on Leipziger Strasse built in 1893/95 by Al department store The Wertheim Contrary to the other great department store chains like Karstadt, Hermann great department store chains like Contrary to the other See Homburg H.: “Warenhausunternehmen und ihre Gründer in Frankreich und Deutschland und ihre Gründer in Frankreich und H.: “Warenhausunternehmen See Homburg 8 oder: eine diskrete Elite und mancherlei Mythen,” pp. 183 tained a more “popular” character as retail department stores. This development tained a more “popular” character as retail department stores. This development Wertheim warehouse on Leipziger Strasse was the fact that it was the only de warehouse on Leipziger Strasse was the fact that it was the Wertheim share among high-class partment store which had gained a significant market main consumers, whereas the other chain stores and even the competing chains fred Messel had gained almost immediately the business volume of all the previ fred Messel had gained almost immediately Strasse and Oranienstrasse/Moritzplatz, stores on Rosenthaler ous Wertheim Another interesting point regarding the and shortly later doubled their income. ous parts of the German state. distances through a mail-order selling system, thus reflecting the absolute su distances through a mail-order selling within the had reproduced somehow Wertheim premacy of the French capital city. competing chains had developed in vari city limits of Berlin the process that its net system that reflected the German administrative situation after the unifica administrative situation after net system that reflected the German department store grew on the principle of tion of 1870. In contrast, in France the that operated over long premises in Paris the centralization in only one company many, which, with a time delay of approximately 25 to 30 years compared to the which, with a time delay of approximately many, also asserted itself primarily through a corresponding French phenomenon, had by centralizing its presence in the German capital city, after an initial foundation after capital city, by centralizing its presence in the German of the chain distinguished Wertheim phase in the provinces. This centralization phenomenon of the department store growth in Ger within the as an exception this new retail system. this new retail system. chain had structured its own business Tietz and Leonhard Tietz, the Wertheim department stores phenomenon by Julius Hirsch, it appears clearly that the busi phenomenon by Julius Hirsch, it appears department stores half of the income of to this ware class created more than ness volume related Strasse. chains pioneering warehouses nearest black point to nearest black point to the the Leipziger Platz on south side of the Leipziger Fig. 2: Survey of textile Fig. 2: Survey & retail manufacturing in Berlin, 1923. companies Sons is the C. A. Herpich 466 | Stavagna | The Herpich Affair 1924 theoretical lecture on retail store design that recalled his aims in commercial ar serve to appreciate it,” was the leading concept later used by the architect in a extremely innovative. “The merchandise comes first. Every architectonic means changing justlike anarrativesequenceinthedifferentnewspaperissues. the standardizedbrandsignanddescriptionofwarestobeadvertised, to attracttheconsumerpublicwithadynamicsystemofvignetteswhichmatched modernization equaltothatofthegreatchains,butlinked toagreaterversatility ably aggressive.For example, itsadvertisingin newspapersshowsagraphical appearsrathermodernandremark Herpich businesspolicyduringtheTwenties Lacking specificdocumentationsandstudies,itcanhoweverbeobservedthatthe the retailstores,like thedepartmentstoreschains,issuingemergency money. Herpich&Sonswasamong and reputationisthefactthatinwarperiodC.A. greatest dressmanufacturingcompaniesinBerlin. Sons waspartofthismarket fieldandalreadyaround1880figuredamongthe Herpich& most valuablemarket, thatoftextile anddressmanufacturing.C.A. in Berlinfromtheendofnineteenthcenturyonwards,butalsocentre resulted fromlocalization:LeipzigerStrassewasnotonlythemainmarket street University Press,1997). Erich MendelsohnandtheArchitecture ofGermanModernism 11 ed. I.Heinze-Greenberg, andR.Stephan(Ostfildern-Ruit: Hatje Cantz,2000). sohn E.: 1926 10 1870 9 realize in his projects for the Schocken department stores. the future developments of commercial architecture that Mendelsohn would later of the already established department stores. This feature prefigured already in design had an “objective” treatment, abandoning the typical dreamland character to the ceiling to allow a light to diffuse to the benches for the wares. The interior floor as a big shop-window and the upper storey, where the glass windows went up The facade treatment distinguished clearly between the completely open ground that underlined the building lines, thus becoming a strong advertising element. his horizontal emphasized design, which hosted a functional night lighting system Sons. The building’s exterior appearance suggested an image of dynamic through chitecture.

For abroaderinterpretationofMendelsohn’sdepartmentstorearchitecture, seeJamesK.: Mendelsohn E.:“DasneuzeitlicheGeschäftshaus,”, unpublishedlecturems.,undated(ca. See BiggelebenC.: Moreover the architectonic aspects of Mendelsohn’s plan for Herpich were – –1920 1929), Kunstbibliothek Berlin,MendelsohnArchiv, M. V32.ExcerptspublishedinMendel Gedankenwelten. UnbekannteTexte zuArchitektur, Kulturgeschichte undPolitik (Munich:C.H.Beck,2006). 10 These aims are already recognizable in the design for Herpich C. A. & Das “Bollwerk des Bürgertums”: die BerlinerKaufmannschaftDas “BollwerkdesBürgertums”:die 9 Atestamenttoitssolidity (Cambridge,Mass.:Cambridge 11 Thus, these innova - - , - - DAS ERBE DER MODERNE | 467

- - - - - Die Bauwelt 15 (1924), p. 456. The article is the quotation of the 12 Bauwelt The dealings in the Herpich affair were even political—because of the leg If the troublesome history of the Herpich project appears therefore to be influ If the troublesome history of the Herpich “Die hemmenden Kunstbeiräte,” “Die hemmenden Kunstbeiräte,”

counter reply that the B.D.A. made in response to the official reply to the BDA letter of protest counter reply that the B.D.A. made in response to the official reply to the BDA short against the activity of the Sachverständigenausschuss (see also note 4). It is followed by a about similar cases occurred in Hamburg. er note (“Bauhemmungen auch in Hamburg”) 12 islative changes and their influence on the building industry—as shown by the islative changes and their influence on the building industry—as shown by Welfare meeting called by Mendelsohn at the Prussian Ministry for the People’s above all for the building industry.” The same issue of the magazine The same issue of the magazine above all for the building industry.” 22 May 1924 added the report of a similar that carried this second protest note on protest movement in Hamburg. closed with the consideration that such a situation “meant that also that year the closed with the consideration that such would be finished with serious damage for the architects but building exercise tried to justify his unlawful misleading of the building authority as a result of the tried to justify his unlawful misleading building regulation, before allowing a new necessity to wait for a new communal weak justification was response to that the BDA’s kind of building. Significantly, shows how the young modernists attempted to assert their role as agents of shows how the young modernists attempted potentiality of modernist architecture economic growth, thus showing the actual Böß had Mayor in the new mass society. within the city as an economic booster enced, by means of politics, by the combative strategies of the commercial com enced, by means of politics, by the combative post-war crisis, the protest orchestrated by Mendelsohn the panies in Berlin after Wilhelmstrasse the block was occupied by the Wertheim department store: it was was it store: department Wertheim the by occupied was block the Wilhelmstrasse territories. adversary the of heart the at attack commercial a metaphorically strategic meaning. The store was placed at the corner of the block on the opposite opposite the on block the of corner the at placed was store The meaning. strategic Strasse Leipziger between crossing the marking thus Strasse, Leipziger of side of side opposite the on Moreover, corner”. “Herpich’s a as Wilhelmstrasse and From the architectural point of view, the elements discussed above are by now now by are above discussed elements the view, of point architectural the From a had location the all above but design, coherent whole a in matured definitely the already established department stores. More evidence of this commercial of commercial this of evidence More stores. department established already the Sons, & A. C. Herpich for undertook Mendelsohn that project second the is fensive retail. dress male luxury for shop a of renewal the was That 1928. in realized establishment in Berlin, which at the time was being shockingly undermined by the the by undermined shockingly being was time the at which Berlin, in establishment commercial leading a as now itself presented stores, wholesale the of force new commerce, of cathedrals the to opposition in look modernist a through enterprise field that was expressly oriented to the upper-middle class consumer public. public. consumer class upper-middle the to oriented expressly was that field economic the of part already was 1880 around which company a Paradoxically, tions presented C. A. Herpich & Sons as a modern company in the commercial commercial the in company modern a as Sons & A. C. Herpich presented tions 468 | Stavagna | The Herpich Affair 1924 drawn withthistalkinmind,toillustrateandcontestsomeaspectsusedjustify the moreinterestingMendelsohnsketches relatedtotheHerpichbuildingwere proving theHerpichproject,althoughwithmoredelay. Itispossiblethatsomeof which hadaclearinfluenceonarchitecture.Theencounterwasdecisiveforap fessionals wasdecisiveforthedefinitionofmanytechnicalpassageslaw, that Mendelsohn’sHerpichprojecttypicallyaddressed.Theopinionofthepro tion ofthePrussianurbanplanningact,whosecontentsaffectedallthemes Minister HeinrichHirtsiefer. councillor FriedrichandministrydirectorConze,thehighest-rankingaideto (Ministerium fürVolkswohlfahrt). Hemettwohighpublicservants,ministry 1925), plate76. 14 13 the assurancethatministry“hadparagraphabout themodificationof life inthemetropolis.InJanuary1925,Mendelsohnobtained directlyfromConze sory stimulation,borrowedprobablyfromGeorg Simmel’sstudiesonspiritual which Mendelsohnjustifiedwithconsiderationsaboutvisual perceptionandsen this sketch delsohn’s ideas—aviewofManhattanresemblingtheurban developmentideaof published beforethecompletionofHerpichbuilding as propagandaforMen later inhisphotobook points ofthePrussianurbanplanningact.Moreover, Mendelsohninsertedshortly theoretical levelandthatwouldhavebeenoneoftheinnovativecontroversial a systemofbuildingalignmentandontheapplicationzoning,thendebatedto After Hoffmann’sDeath.”Hereareillustrated thebuildingpossibilitiesbasedon ing developmentofanurbanblockwiththeHerpichprojectasdrawn“100Years the blockingofapproval.Inparticular, onesketch showstheutopianbuild

See MendelsohnE.: See StephanR.(asonnote1),p.75. The secondcontroversialissueconcernedthehorizontal facadecomposition, 14 (fig.3). Amerika. Bilderbuch einesArchitekten Amerika. Bilderbuch Amerika: BilderbucheinesArchitekten 13 Conzeguidedthewholeprocedureforprepara (Berlin:Rudolf MosseVerlag, Hotel, NewYork, 1924. race ofthePennsylvania- Bottom: View fromater 1925). Hoffmann’s Death,”(ca. Berlin “100Years after ment onWilhelmstrasse, futuristic urbandevelop delsohn, sketchfora Fig. 3:Top: ErichMen —which was ------DAS ERBE DER MODERNE | 469 - - -

- - 18 - This clause 15 , 17 July 1926, n. 333 1927“,” Geheimes Staatsar – Berliner Tageblatt published a curious article about a legal published a curious article about a legal as a perfect example of this architectural is of this as a perfect example Amerika - Berliner Tageblatt It is not possible to recognize with absolute certainty C. A. It is not possible to recognize with absolute Herpich & 17 (fig. 4). 16 In July 1926 the See Mendelsohn E. (as on note 15), plate 25. besteuert werden,” darf nicht Luft Marcus J.: “Die Dr. See “Städtebaugesetz: Sammlung von Zeitungsausschnitten 1926 Letter from Erich Mendelsohn to Luise Mendelsohn, 10 February 10, 1925, Kunstbibliothek 10, 1925, Kunstbibliothek Mendelsohn, 10 February Letter from Erich Mendelsohn to Luise �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

(Morgenausgabe). 18 chiv Berlin, I. HA Rep. 191 VWM, 100. Berlin, Mendelsohn Archiv, Briefe 41. See also note 13. Berlin, Mendelsohn Archiv, 16 17 the note that it was to be directly acknowledged by minister Hirtsiefer himself. 15 the finished building and perhaps was used in the same manner. At any rate, this At used in the same manner. the finished building and perhaps was among Welfare the Ministry for the People’s article appears in the press survey of for the urban planning act drawing, with the materials for the inquiry revision rangement, maintaining the original eclectic design of the old house, also showed rangement, maintaining the original eclectic the later night-lighting system of a cantilevered structure that strictly resembled ticular light advertisement on the public street: the company eventually won the ticular light advertisement on the public civil suit. at that time the provisional facade ar Sons as the opponent in this trial; however controversy between the city government of Berlin and a private company, re of Berlin and a private company, controversy between the city government The trial was about the taxation of a par ferred to only by the capital letter “H.” showed in the photo book sue the basis of his travel experiences, in particular for the solution of the advertising the basis of his travel experiences, of Ely Jacques resembled the example lighting system of the facade that strictly & Zimmermann Ass. Building, which Mendelsohn also Kahn’s Zimmermann, Saxe this architectural theme during his study journey in America between October during his study journey in America this architectural theme of the long and repeated It is possible that, taking advantage and November 1924. introduced some facade modifications on course of building approval, Mendelsohn was obviously related to the possibility of integrating advertising in the architec to the possibility of integrating advertising was obviously related confirmations about building. Mendelsohn had found dramatic tonic design of the ca. 1927. file.” eliminated from the building permission light on the facade, Right: Erich Mendelsohn, Right: Erich Mendelsohn, C. A. Herpich Sons, Furri ers, Berlin, view by night, Zimmermann Saxe and Zimmermann Associated, Zimmerman 1919), (built New York 1924. Fig. 4: Left: Ely J. Kahn, Ely J. Kahn, Fig. 4: Left: 470 | Stavagna | The Herpich Affair 1924 following day, 14May1924: rightist conservativepartiesinThüringen,ashepromptlyinformedGropiusthe mously proposedtoalsosupporttheBauhauspositioninstruggleagainst bly ofthenewlybornZwölfer–Ausschuss withintheBDA, Mendelsohnautono side oftheGermanprogressiveforcesinpost-waryears.Insamefirstassem rows ofthemodernistarchitectsandtheiraimstorepresentarchitectural cal weightwithintheBDA, theculturalissuewasequallydecisiveindefining Mendelsohn’s professionalsuccesshadbeenthemaininstrumenttogainpoliti founded asindependentnationalassociationoutoftheZehnerringinlate1925.If public interventionsbytheBDA andbythe“Ring,”whichhadmeanwhilebeen ones wonanincreasingweight,asfarregardsthesamepresssurvey, other importance duringthelegislativeprocess.Amongarchitects,modernist of viewthearchitects,throughtheircategoryassociation,assumeddecisive feature affectedbythenewgeneralbuildingregulationsandindeedthatpoint This showsthatthenewadvertisingmethodswereaneconomicandarchitectonic also note 3. note also See Zehnerring. the of formation the to months, later the in lead, that Bauhaus the for action supportive this of result positive the probably was It (552)]. II Papers 1/160 GN Berlin, Archiv [Bauhaus Zwölfer-Ausschuss the of members not were Brothers) Luckhardt the and Ahrens, Nachtlicht, Schilbach, Rohe, der van (Mies mentioned architects The association. the of council main the was which Vorstand, BDA the of members six other to matter the about reported have to mentioned Mendelsohn but yet, established been not was Zehnerring the that clear appears It 1924. June 30 on Gropius from reply thanksgiving a to up on went Bauhaus the to support the about Gropius and Mendelsohn between correspondence The (552). II Papers 1/162 19 survival. in bothcauses,thuscombininghisownprofessionalone withthatofBauhaus’s shop experiments. Mendelsohn succeededeveningainingthesupportofBDA a moresolidconnectionwithindustrytomanufacturethe productsofitswork foundation ofaprivatecompany, whichwouldhaveallowedtheBauhaustoform economic basis,becauseatthispointtheattackonschoolundermined Notably, eventheattackagainstBauhaushadamixed culturalpoliticaland

Letter from Erich Mendelsohn to Walter Gropius, 15 May 1924, Bauhaus Archiv Berlin, GN GN Berlin, Archiv Bauhaus 1924, May 15 Walter Gropius, to Mendelsohn Erich from Letter that theentireBDA shouldsupportyou.Please,forwardtheofficial re of theZwölfer–Ausschuss, whichcreationyoumay havealreadyheardof, Regarding yourstruggle,Ihaveyesterdayproposedduringthemeeting ter. We allwillcometothesame opinionandsupportyourprotest. you participatedirectlyatthenextmeetinginordertoexplainmat quest perlettertotheBDA, andacopyoftherequesttome.Isuggest that 19

------DAS ERBE DER MODERNE | 471 ------Fries had per Fries had 20 The moment was critical, The moment was 21 , the official magazine of the BDA. magazine of the , the official 79. – Die Baugilde 7 (1925), pp. 77 22 The reply of the Zehnerring was not immediately finalized, as the Bau The reply of the Zehnerring was not position and activity did not remain without problems for all of us, even position and activity did not remain against on the Bauhaus’s behalf, if we will always naturally intervene fought. I am writing this to you as which the opposing side has so much sure that the opinion of the other my personal opinion, although I am substantially from it. Zehnerring members does not deviate Finally, it will not be unknown to you that the Bauhaus in its past com it will not be Finally, This allegiance continued. In January 1925, Gropius made a friendly re made a friendly In January 1925, Gropius continued. This allegiance Letter from Erich Mendelsohn to László Moholy-Nagy, 23 March 1925, Bauhaus Archiv Berlin, 23 March 1925, Bauhaus Archiv Berlin, Moholy-Nagy, Letter from Erich Mendelsohn to László de Fries H.: “Die Auflösung des staatlichen Bauhauses in Weimar und seine zukünftige Form,”, Form,”, zukünftige seine und Weimar in Bauhauses staatlichen des Auflösung “Die H.: Fries de 5, 1925, Bauhaus Archiv Berlin, 5 February Feininger, Letter from Erich Mendelsohn to Lyonel

GN 1/135 Papers II (552). In this letter Mendelsohn quotes also the support telegram from the II (552). In this letter Mendelsohn quotes GN 1/135 Papers Mies Zehnerring architects. There are only reported nine signatures (Behrens, Bartning, Häring, and Mendelsohn). Poelzig, Max Taut, van der Rohe, Schilbach, Bruno Taut, 21 II (552). GN 1/144 Papers 22 20 Baugilde haus Meister themselves replied to Fries, receiving in return a harsher at haus Meister themselves replied to Fries, letter already prepared by Bruno Taut. tack, which made unsuitable a protest There have been smaller matters here, for which we have already had to fight There have been smaller matters here, longer.” Adding a remark, which compared his personal battle in Berlin to that of a remark, which compared his personal Adding let yourself be distracted; you must act. the Bauhaus, he concluded: “Do not tional programs carried out at the school in Weimar. He wrote about this to in Weimar. tional programs carried out at the school had regularly contacted Mendelsohn on Gropius’s behalf who Moholy-Nagy, until March of 1925: from February vent the establishment of the Bauhaus in a new political environment, which of the Bauhaus in a new political vent the establishment industrial produc the Bauhaus success in reforming the could have lead to personal questions about the educa tion, although Mendelsohn himself had public image, presenting Fries’s judgements as representative of opinion Fries’s judgements as representative public image, presenting forces was to pre Once again, the aim of the reactionary overall at the BDA. it was “mostly a matter of men than of things.” it was “mostly a matter to Dessau and the was then in the midst of its transfer because the Bauhaus to hurt the Bauhaus were using this new controversy school’s adversaries who edited who edited the Bauhaus school, cultural reasons for his attack against sonal rather than Feininger, to Lyonel Gropius. As Mendelsohn wrote and particularly against quest to Mendelsohn again to help the Bauhaus, this time through the newly this time through to help the Bauhaus, again quest to Mendelsohn de Fries, attack by Heinrich the recent press against founded Zehnerring, 472 | Stavagna | The Herpich Affair 1924 crisis attheendof1920s. and theneweconomydidnotsurviveconsequencesofworldeconomic was nottolast.Theallegianceofmodernarchitecture,progressiveculture, such unityisagainproven.” “If theZehnerringshouldhavecontributedalittletoit,thennecessityfor a kindofpocket battleship tobeoperatedamongthepublicopinionmakers: clearly explains hisideaof unifyingthepositionsofmodernistarchitectsin Mendelsohn’s replyon31March1925toGropius’sletterofthanksforhisaid porting thedecisionofCityCounciltoestablishBauhausinDessau. tion byGropiusoverthetelephone.Thismessagecamejustintimeforsup by theZehnerringarchitectstoDessaumayorFritzHesseafter asolicita However, Mendelsohnfinallymanagedtosendasupporttelegramsigned GN 1/134Papers II(552). �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� LetterfromErichMendelsohnto Walter Gropius,31March31,1925,Bauhaus ArchivBerlin, The initialsuccessofmodernistarchitectsinovercomingsuchchallenges 23 - -