Ossip Klarwein: An Architect’s Journey from Berlin to Jerusalem

Ossip Klarwein’s work shaped the architectural image of cities like Berlin or Jerusalem. This publication is intended as an overview of Klarwein’s entire oeuvre, making available for the first time extensive sources from his scattered estate.

The Church on Hohenzollernplatz in Berlin, commonly known as ’Powerhouse of God’, is considered a masterpiece of German brick Expressionism. It is based on a design by Ossip Klarwein (1893-1970) who, despite the importance of his building, is hardly recognized as an architect to this day. Even in Israel, where Klarwein’s construction of the Knesset in Jerusalem and numerous other projects significantly shaped the architectural image of the newly founded state, his legacy has yet to be comprehensively analyzed.

This monograph fills this gap and presents the first comprehensive study of his work, that still resonate today. It is intended as an overview of Klarwein’s entire oeuvre, making available for the first time extensive sources from his scattered estate and thus providing an impetus for further research.

Born in West-Berlin, Jacqueline Hénard grew up in an international environment. After attending university in France and volunteering for an NGO in rural Indonesia, she became a journalist, writing for FAZ, DIE ZEIT, Le Monde, and others, as well as an academic, with stints at Sciences Po Paris, London School of Economics, the European Council on Foreign Relations, and the Wissenschaftskolleg. With contributions by authors in Germany, Great Britain, Israel and the United States.