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GROSSE HALL

ALBERT SPEER

History of Architecture IV

Oscar del Bosque

Begoña Félix

Rodrigo Luna

Arq. Celia Esther Arredondo



Name: Grosse Hall

Location: Berlin, Germany

Architect: Albert Speer

Period: New Government

Architecture / Nazi Architecture

Planning Period: 1937 ² 1940



He was educated in architectural studiesHe was educated in architectural studies

at the Institute of Technology inat the Institute of Technology in

Karlsruhe, and later at the Universities of Karlsruhe, and later at the Universities of

Munich and Berlin.Munich and Berlin.

Inspired by Hitler's oratory prowess, heInspired by Hitler's oratory prowess, he

joined the National Socialist party in joined the National Socialist party in January 1931, where he developed a January 1931, where he developed a

close friendship with Hitler.close friendship with Hitler.

In 1937, Hitler gave Speer theIn 1937, Hitler gave Speer the

opportunity to fulfill his youthfulopportunity to fulfill his youthful

architectural ambitions by appointingarchitectural ambitions by appointing

him Inspector General of the Reich. Hitlerhim Inspector General of the Reich. Hitler

selected Speer, to construct the Reichselected Speer, to construct the ReichChancellery in Berlin and the PartyChancellery in Berlin and the Party

palace in Nuremberg.palace in Nuremberg.

WorkedWorked forfor TESSENOW.TESSENOW. RemodeledRemodeled thethe

NeueNeue WacheWache dede SchinkelSchinkel..



Speer preferred to build his dome in granite, but the Führer ordered that the

skeleton of the dome was conceived in steel.

The inmense hemisphere and it·s massive drum were resting on a square block of

clear granite measuring 300 x 300 meters in plan, and 74 meters of height. It is also

supported with columns which are distributed along the drum·s circunference.

Only the base plate were to be in reinforced concrete and located at sufficient

depth to prevent any movement of contraction or expansion.

176 massive concrete blocks of 20,000 m3 each and 30-meter depth were necessary

to compact the sandy sub-soil.







Promote the Nazi government.

Planned to be Hitler·s Conference Hall.

Key element of the ́ Plan Fur Gross-Berlinµ and

new Berlin·s zoning concept (priority is given to mass transport, and the basic urban functions

were segregated into separate zones ).

The Great Dome is located at the intersection of

the principal avenues and waterways.

This new plan is done in a way the citizens can

see the dome from any point.









Cassete compartments, use of natural light

Tambour is supported bycolumnsStructure determines the plan of the building



The oculus of the dome, 140 feet in diameter, could haveaccommodated the entire rotunda of Hadrian's Pantheon andthe dome of St. Peter's Basilica. The Volkshalle dome, 750feet across, was to rise from a massive granite podium 950by 950 feet and 225 feet high, to a total inclusive height of

870 feet. A large niche at the north end of the Volkshalle wassupposed to be surfaced with gold mosaic, and to enclosean eagle 75 feet high with its dimensions of 150 feet high by60 feet wide. The hall would accommodate an audience of 180,000 persons, some standing in the central round arena,others seated in three concentric tiers of seats crowned by

100 marble pillars 75 feet high, which rose to meet the baseof the coffered ceiling suspended from steel girderssheathed on the exterior with copper. The three concentrictiers of seats enclosing a circular arena 425 feet in diameter

was modeled on Rome·s Colosseum.



There are really two parts to the Pantheon, the circular part or rotunda andthe portico. The portico was originally a part of a temple built by Agrippa,but was not put in its present place until some time after the great rotunda

was built by Hadrian (117 A.D.). It is poorly joined to the main edifice.Notice the sixteen columns which are of red and gray granite. The pitch of the roof of this portico is steeper than that of the Greek temples, and than

other Roman ones. Place your thumb over the apex of the gable so as toproduce the effect of lowering the gable and see if you do not think itimproves the looks of the building. The name of Agrippa still shows on thefront, but the sculptures of bronze, which once filled the pediment, havedisappeared. Twelve superb granite Corinthian columns 50 feet highsupport the portico.The rotunda is splendidly preserved; the interior hasall the appearance of the original paneling of marble. It measures 145 feetin diameter internally, but the walls are 20 feet thick to support the greatdome that rises to a, height of 140 feet. Around the rotunda are sevenniches alternately rectangular and semi-circular, and fronted byCorinthian columns.



Although The Grosse Hall was never

built, it represents one of the greatest

examples of architecture as a symbolismof the the power of the new governments,

in this case the Nazi. It also represents a

comeback to a classical style and purer

forms in order to recall the forms of theroman emporium.



Albert Speer. Jewish virtual library.

Consulted on September 20, 2010.

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/Speer1.html

Speer, Albert. Albert Speer Architecture

1932-1942. Bruxelles : Archives

d'architecture moderne, c1985

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grosse hall-2