Otto Wagner

Around 1900, the drawings from the studio of Otto Wagner (1841–1918) conveyed the image of a future architecture emancipated from history and committed to "modern life." No longer were the styles of the past to be the defining elements, but rather the constructions, materials, and needs of the present. These compositionally sophisticated and technically elaborate drawings served as an effective medium for Wagner's groundbreaking artistic intentions and are now considered masterpieces of architectural drawing.

The exhibition was created in cooperation with the Wien Museum, which holds the majority of Otto Wagner's estate. It is the first time that the work of this pioneer of 20th-century modern architecture has been shown in Berlin, and the first exhibition on the subject in Germany in more than 60 years.

Berlin played a significant role in Wagner's work: During his studies at the Bauakademie (Building Academy), he became acquainted with the work of Karl Friedrich Schinkel, whose collection of architectural designs later served as a model for his own publication. Furthermore, Wagner participated in the competitions for the Berlin Cathedral and the Reichstag building with impressive designs.

The exhibition is divided into six chapters, each dedicated to one of the most important themes in Wagner's work, and presents some of the architect's most significant drawings. It spans from his little-known early historicist works, through spectacular projects from the Vienna Secession, to the radical, ornament-free buildings of his later period, which established Wagner's central position in the history of modern architecture.

Opening: January 30, 2026, 7 p.m.
Speakers: Nadejda Bartels, Sergei Tchoban, Dr. Alexander Marschik, Dr. Andreas Nierhaus