Federal Chancellery, Berlin
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The Federal Chancellery (, ) in Berlin is the official seat and residence of the
chancellor of Germany The chancellor of Germany, officially the federal chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, is the head of the federal Cabinet of Germany, government of Germany. The chancellor is the chief executive of the Federal Government of Germany, ...
as well as their executive office, the
German Chancellery The Federal Chancellery (, ) is a Germany, German Federal agency (Germany), federal agency serving the executive office of the chancellor of Germany, the head of the Government of Germany, federal government, currently Friedrich Merz. The Chancel ...
. As part of the move of the
German Federal Government The Federal Government (, ; abbr. BReg) is the chief Executive (government), executive body of the Germany, Federal Republic of Germany and exercises executive power at the Federal level (Germany), federal level. It consists of the Chancellor ...
from
Bonn Bonn () is a federal city in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, located on the banks of the Rhine. With a population exceeding 300,000, it lies about south-southeast of Cologne, in the southernmost part of the Rhine-Ruhr region. This ...
to
Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...
, the office moved into the new building planned by the architects and Charlotte Frank. The building is part of the " Federal Ribbon" () in the . Its address is Willy-Brandt-Straße 1, located in the Tiergarten area of Berlin.


History

When the
North German Confederation The North German Confederation () was initially a German military alliance established in August 1866 under the leadership of the Kingdom of Prussia, which was transformed in the subsequent year into a confederated state (a ''de facto'' feder ...
became the
German Empire The German Empire (),; ; World Book, Inc. ''The World Book dictionary, Volume 1''. World Book, Inc., 2003. p. 572. States that Deutsches Reich translates as "German Realm" and was a former official name of Germany. also referred to as Imperia ...
in 1871, the Confederation's ''Bundeskanzleramt'' (Federal Chancellery) was renamed to ''Reichskanzleramt'' (
Reich Chancellery The Reich Chancellery () was the traditional name of the office of the Chancellor of Germany (then called ''Reichskanzler'') in the period of the German Reich from 1878 to 1945. The Chancellery's seat, selected and prepared since 1875, was the fo ...
or Imperial Chancellery). It originally had its seat in the Radziwiłł Palace (also known as ''Reichskanzlerpalais''), built by Prince
Antoni Radziwiłł Prince Antoni Henryk Radziwiłł (; 13 June 1775 – 7 April 1833) was a Polish and Kingdom of Prussia, Prussian szlachta, noble, magnate, aristocrat, musician, and politician. Initially a hereditary Duke of Nesvizh, Nieśwież and Olyka, Oł ...
on
Wilhelmstraße Wilhelmstraße, or Wilhelmstrasse (see ß; ; ) is a major thoroughfare in the central Mitte and Kreuzberg districts of Berlin, Germany. Until 1945, it was recognised as the centre of the government, first of the Kingdom of Prussia, and lat ...
77 in Berlin. More and more imperial offices were separated from the Reichskanzleramt, e.g. the ''Reichsjustizamt'' (Office for National Justice) in 1877. What remained of the Reichskanzleramt became in 1879 the ''Reichsamt des Innern'' (the home office). In 1878, Imperial Chancellor Bismarck created a new office for the chancellor's affairs, the ''Reichskanzlei''. It kept its name over the years, also in the
republic A republic, based on the Latin phrase ''res publica'' ('public affair' or 'people's affair'), is a State (polity), state in which Power (social and political), political power rests with the public (people), typically through their Representat ...
since 1919. In 1938–39, the building '' Neue Reichskanzlei'' (New Reich Chancellery), designed by
Albert Speer Berthold Konrad Hermann Albert Speer (; ; 19 March 1905 – 1 September 1981) was a German architect who served as Reich Ministry of Armaments and War Production, Minister of Armaments and War Production in Nazi Germany during most of W ...
, was built; its main entrance was located at
Voßstraße (also sometimes: ''Voss Strasse'' or ''Vossstrasse'' (see also ß); ) is a street in central Berlin, the capital of Germany. It runs east–west from Ebertstraße to Wilhelmstraße in the borough of Mitte, one street north of Leipziger Stra ...
6, while the building occupied the entire northern side of the street. It was damaged during
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
and later demolished by
Soviet The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
occupation forces. In 1949, the Federal Republic was created.
Bonn Bonn () is a federal city in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, located on the banks of the Rhine. With a population exceeding 300,000, it lies about south-southeast of Cologne, in the southernmost part of the Rhine-Ruhr region. This ...
was made the provisional capital. Federal Chancellor
Konrad Adenauer Konrad Hermann Joseph Adenauer (5 January 1876 – 19 April 1967) was a German statesman and politician who served as the first Chancellor of Germany, chancellor of West Germany from 1949 to 1963. From 1946 to 1966, he was the first leader of th ...
used the
Museum Koenig The Museum Koenig Bonn, formerly Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig (German: ''Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig'', abbreviated ZFMK), is a natural history museum and zoological research institution in Bonn, Germany. The mus ...
for the first two months and then moved the ''Bundeskanzleramt'' into ''
Palais Schaumburg Palais Schaumburg is a neoclassical-style building in Bonn, Germany, which served as the primary official seat of the German Federal Chancellery and the primary official residence of the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany from ...
'' until a new
Chancellery building The Federal Chancellery building in Bonn was used from 1976 to 1999 as the seat of the Federal Chancellery of the Federal Republic of Germany, and since 2006 as the seat of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. It is l ...
was completed in 1976. Nearly ten years after the
German reunification German reunification () was the process of re-establishing Germany as a single sovereign state, which began on 9 November 1989 and culminated on 3 October 1990 with the dissolution of the East Germany, German Democratic Republic and the int ...
in 1990, in the summer of 1999, most of the German government moved back to Berlin. The Chancellery was temporarily housed in the former
GDR East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a country in Central Europe from its formation on 7 October 1949 until its reunification with West Germany (FRG) on 3 October 1990. Until 1989, it was generally vie ...
State Council Building The State Council Building () is a building in the former East Berlin that hosted the State Council of East Germany, State Council (), the collective head of state of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany or GDR), from 1964 to 1990. Histo ...
''(Staatsratsgebäude)'' as the new Chancellery building was not yet finished at the time.


Overview

The spectacular and controversial monumental building ensemble of the new Federal Chancellery was designed by the Berlin architects Axel Schultes and Charlotte Frank in a joint venture with
Royal BAM Group Royal BAM Group nv () is a Dutch construction-services business with headquarters in Bunnik, Netherlands. Based on revenue it is the largest construction company in the Netherlands. History The company was founded by Adam van der Wal as a joiner ...
's subsidiary Wayss & Freytag and the Spanish firm
Acciona Acciona, S.A. () is a Spanish multinational conglomerate dedicated to the development and management of infrastructure (construction, water, industrial and services) and renewable energy. The company, via subsidiary Acciona Energía, produces 21 ...
, during the term of Chancellor
Helmut Kohl Helmut Josef Michael Kohl (; 3 April 1930 – 16 June 2017) was a German politician who served as chancellor of Germany and governed the ''Federal Republic'' from 1982 to 1998. He was leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) from 1973 to ...
. After the groundbreaking ceremony on February 4, 1997, and four years of construction, the building was opened on 2 May 2001 by Chancellor
Gerhard Schröder Gerhard Fritz Kurt Schröder (; born 7 April 1944) is a German former politician and Lobbying, lobbyist who served as Chancellor of Germany from 1998 to 2005. From 1999 to 2004, he was also the Leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (S ...
, completing the German government's move from Bonn to Berlin following
reunification A political union is a type of political entity which is composed of, or created from, smaller politics or the process which achieves this. These smaller polities are usually called federated states and federal territories in a federal govern ...
. The building features a modern, largely glazed exterior and was constructed in an essentially
postmodern Postmodernism encompasses a variety of artistic, cultural, and philosophical movements that claim to mark a break from modernism. They have in common the conviction that it is no longer possible to rely upon previous ways of depicting the wo ...
style, though some elements of
modernist Modernism was an early 20th-century movement in literature, visual arts, and music that emphasized experimentation, abstraction, and Subjectivity and objectivity (philosophy), subjective experience. Philosophy, politics, architecture, and soc ...
style are evident. The design went through three versions between 1995 and 1997. Extensively used colors have their own, precisely defined symbolic effects. On the honorary court, which is formed by the line construction and the two office wings, there is the oxidized rust-red ''Berlin'' sculpture of the Basque artist
Eduardo Chillida Eduardo Chillida Juantegui (Basque: ''Eduardo Txillida Juantegi''; 10 January 1924 – 19 August 2002) was a Spanish Basque sculptor notable for his abstract works. Early life and career Born in San Sebastián (Donostia) to Pedro Chillida an ...
, consisting of two abstract crossing hands as a symbol of
German reunification German reunification () was the process of re-establishing Germany as a single sovereign state, which began on 9 November 1989 and culminated on 3 October 1990 with the dissolution of the East Germany, German Democratic Republic and the int ...
, remotely reminding of
Henry Moore Henry Spencer Moore (30 July 1898 – 31 August 1986) was an English artist. He is best known for his semi-abstract art, abstract monumental Bronze sculpture, bronze sculptures which are located around the world as public works of art. Moore ...
's ''Large Two Forms'' in front of the old
Federal Chancellery (Bonn) The Federal Chancellery (Germany), Federal Chancellery building in Bonn was used from 1976 to 1999 as the seat of the Federal Chancellery (Germany), Federal Chancellery of the Germany, Federal Republic of Germany, and since 2006 as the seat of t ...
. The central wing of the building itself is structured with four columns each with tree planting, in front of the main entrance is a spanning tent roof. Flagpoles are lined up in front of the building, where state guests are received with military honors. It is considered the world's largest government headquarters, being around eight times the size of the
White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest (Washington, D.C.), NW in Washington, D.C., it has served as the residence of every U.S. president ...
in Washington DC. With a height of 36 meters, the building is higher than Berlin's "Traufhöhe" eof 22 meters. The most important physical characteristics of the building complex include: *Gross floor area 64,413 m2 *Gross volume 283,646 m³˝ *Usable area 25,347 m2 *Main usable area approx. 19,000 m2 *Land, helipad, and chancellery park approx. 73,000 m2 In the line construction, flanked by two office wings, there are nine levels: *Ground floor: Foyer with a large staircase for photo sessions with guests. *1st floor: International conference room with 32 seats, interpreter booths and control rooms. Press briefing room with stage, seating for 200 journalists. *2nd and 3rd floor: technical and functional rooms (kitchen, wine cellar, flower fridge, etc.) *4th floor: "secret floor" with tap-proof room for the crisis staff, planning center and archive. *5th floor: Large banquet hall for receptions and banquets. Loggias to the east and west. Office of the Minister of State. *6th floor: Small Cabinet Hall with interpreter booths and Large Cabinet Hall. Office of the Minister of State. *7th floor: Office of the Federal Chancellor with windows towards the Reichstag building and
Brandenburg Gate The Brandenburg Gate ( ) is an 18th-century Neoclassical architecture, neoclassical monument in Berlin. One of the best-known landmarks of Germany, it was erected on the site of a former city gate that marked the start of the road from Berlin t ...
, and Office of the chancellery chief. *''Between 7th and 8th floor: "Skylobby".'' *8th floor: A semi-official Chancellor apartment, integrated kitchen and bedroom in the south. The 200 square meter two-room flat has thus far only been occupied by
Gerhard Schröder Gerhard Fritz Kurt Schröder (; born 7 April 1944) is a German former politician and Lobbying, lobbyist who served as Chancellor of Germany from 1998 to 2005. From 1999 to 2004, he was also the Leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (S ...
. Office of the Minister of Culture in the north. In the wings there are 300 offices of 20 m2 each and 13 winter gardens. In the southern office wing there is a canteen. In the northern office wing is the press and staff entrance next to the separate main police station. Beyond the Spree in the Chancellery Park to the west there is a helipad. The park is accessible via the ''Kanzleramtssteg'', a double-storey bridge, for pedestrians and vehicles. In addition to the possibility of electronic communication, there is also a pneumatic tube system for filing documents. The two line system has a length of 1,3km and 36 stations. Around 1000 messages a month are transferred via the tube system. The shipments are usually urgent transactions that cannot be forwarded electronically or via courier service, for example because they are classified or must be signed in the original. In 2024 it was decided to keep the system in operation because it still provides the best protection against espionage. Visitor groups are allowed, albeit under extremely high security standards, with entrance control similar to an international airport, with passport control, previously prepared and approved lists of names, and attendance of each group of visitors by BKA officials.


Art in the Chancellery

The Chancellery complex is not only home to important works of classical modernism, but also works by contemporary German and international artists. The main work in the chancellery is the monumental iron sculpture ''Berlin'' by the Spanish sculptor Eduardo Chillida. The 5.5-metre-high and 87.5-ton sculpture, with its two almost touching arms, evokes associations such as rapprochement, division and unification, which can be understood as intended political symbolism. The sculpture occupies a similar position as Henry Moore's Large Two Forms at the Bonn Chancellery, and is of similar symbolism. The inner entrance area was artistically shaped by the painter
Markus Lüpertz Markus Lüpertz (born 25 April 1941) is a German painter, sculptor, graphic artist, and writer. He also publishes a magazine, and plays jazz piano. He is one of the best-known German contemporary artists. His subjects are characterized by suggest ...
, who transformed the central staircase into six different "colour spaces" whose colours are to symbolise certain classical virtues: blue (wisdom), umbra (as a lion's colour for power and strength), red (valour), ochre-gold (justice) and green/white (wisdom). In addition, Lüpertz created the sculpture The Philosopher as the epitome of thoughtful people, which is also located in the entrance area. Another large sculpture in the interior can be called the Great White Heading by the artist Rainer Kriester. On the first floor is the gallery of the former federal chancellors.
Helmut Schmidt Helmut Heinrich Waldemar Schmidt (; 23 December 1918 – 10 November 2015) was a German politician and member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), who served as the chancellor of West Germany from 1974 to 1982. He was the longest ...
had the idea of a portrait series in 1976. The former chancellors then chose a portrait, which was then purchased by the Chancellery: Konrad Adenauer was painted by
Hans Jürgen Kallmann Hans Jürgen Kallmann (20 May 1908 – 6 March 1991) was a German artist. He was born in Wollstein, Posen. Kallmann was the son of a dermatologist.Ernst Klee: ''Das Kulturlexikon zum Dritten Reich. Wer war was vor und nach 1945''. S. Fischer, ...
in 1963. Another portrait of Adenauer by
Oskar Kokoschka Oskar Kokoschka (1 March 1886 – 22 February 1980) was an Austrian artist, poet, playwright and teacher, best known for his intense expressionistic portraits and landscapes, as well as his theories on vision that influenced the Viennese Expre ...
is in the office of the Chancellor.
Ludwig Erhard Ludwig Wilhelm Erhard (; 4 February 1897 – 5 May 1977) was a German politician and economist affiliated with the Christian Democratic Union of Germany, Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and Chancellor of Germany (1949–), chancellor of West Ge ...
and
Kurt Georg Kiesinger Kurt Georg Kiesinger (; 6 April 1904 – 9 March 1988) was a German politician who served as the chancellor of West Germany from 1 December 1966 to 21 October 1969. Before he became Chancellor he served as Minister-President of Baden-Württembe ...
were portrayed by Günter Rittner in the years 1974 and 1976.
Willy Brandt Willy Brandt (; born Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm; 18 December 1913 – 8 October 1992) was a German politician and statesman who was leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) from 1964 to 1987 and concurrently served as the Chancellor ...
was originally portrayed by Georg Meistermann. Meistermann's picture represents a 'critical form' of the representative portrait, but reveals virtually no visible relation to the person and meaning of Brandt. The later Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, therefore, had the image removed from the Chancellery gallery, and his successor (from another party)
Helmut Kohl Helmut Josef Michael Kohl (; 3 April 1930 – 16 June 2017) was a German politician who served as chancellor of Germany and governed the ''Federal Republic'' from 1982 to 1998. He was leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) from 1973 to ...
replaced it with a realistically-painted Brandt portrait by the Düsseldorf painter Oswald Petersen. Helmut Schmidt decided to let former East German artist
Bernhard Heisig Bernhard Heisig (31 March 1925 – 10 June 2011) was a German painter and graphic artist. Long-time director of the Leipzig Academy (Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst; 1961–64, 1976–87) and a leading figure in East Germany's Leipzig School ...
paint him in 1986. Helmut Kohl had himself painted by a student of Bernhard Heisig, Albrecht Gehse. Gerhard Schröder opted for a painting by
Jörg Immendorff Jörg Immendorff (14 June 1945 – 28 May 2007) was a German painter, sculptor, stage designer and art professor. He was a member of the art movement ''Neue Wilde''. Early life and education Immendorff was born in Bleckede, Lower Saxony, nea ...
.


Vernacular

Mainly by journalists and tourist guides, the building is being nicknamed "elephant loo", "Kohlosseum" (referring to former Chancellor
Helmut Kohl Helmut Josef Michael Kohl (; 3 April 1930 – 16 June 2017) was a German politician who served as chancellor of Germany and governed the ''Federal Republic'' from 1982 to 1998. He was leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) from 1973 to ...
) or ''Waschmaschine'' ("washing machine" or "laundry machine"). Sometimes "federal" or "Chancellor's laundry machine" are used also.


See also

*
Reichstag building The Reichstag (; ) is a historic legislative government building on Platz der Republik in Berlin that is the seat of the German Bundestag. It is also the meeting place of the Federal Convention, which elects the President of Germany. The Ne ...
*
Federal Chancellery (Bonn) The Federal Chancellery (Germany), Federal Chancellery building in Bonn was used from 1976 to 1999 as the seat of the Federal Chancellery (Germany), Federal Chancellery of the Germany, Federal Republic of Germany, and since 2006 as the seat of t ...


References

{{Authority control Prime ministerial residences Official residences in Germany Buildings and structures in Mitte Government buildings completed in 2001