Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church - Breitscheidplatz, Berlin, Germany



Architect
Egon Eirmann
Date Built
1963
Location
On the Kurfürstendamm in the centre of the Breitscheidplatz
Description
The original Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church was commissioned by Kaiser Wilhelm II in honor of his grandfather Kaiser Wilhelm I.  Designed by Franz Schwechten, it was a large neo-romanesque church decorated with wall mosaics.  The foundation stone of this church was laid on March 22, 1891, Wilhelm I's birthday.   On November 23, 1943, the church was irreparably damaged during an air raid leaving only a portion of the entrance and part of the spire standing.  The shattered spire led to it being known as the "hollow tooth"  For the last few years that spire has been wrapped in scaffolding but in June of 2014 it was possible to get a glimpse of it.



As in Coventry, a new church was built beside the ruins of the old.  The entrance portion of the old church remains and is used as a visitors centre for the site.  It features the spectacular wall mosaics or what is left of them.  Beside it sits the new church designed by Egon Eirmann and built between 1959 and 1963.  The church was actually consecrated on 17 December 1961, the same day that Coventry Cathedral was consecrated.

The church is octagonal in shape whilst the tower, that sits beside it, is hexagonal.  Apparently Berliners refer to the building as the powder box and the lipstick.  Over 20,000 panels of stained glass make up the walls of the church.