In order to ensure that the bulky building of the Centennial Hall does not look like a solitary big mound-building termites in the flat landscape of the exhibition grounds, further buildings and recreational spaces had been planned in its vicinity.
This had been also required by the momentum this impressive "Historical Exhibition" was organised, having to include military, economic and cultural achievements of Prussia and – what possibly more importantly – Silesia.
opening of the Centennial Hall, Exhibition Grounds (1913)Centennial Hall
Four Domes Pavilion
Its superintendent and the director of the Museum of Artistic and Ancient Crafts, Karl Masner, suggested creating a facility which would incorporate the “Frederician” architecture of the previous century. And here, on the stage appears Hans Poelzig.
His Four Domes Pavilion is a regular quadrilateral building with an extensive courtyard filled with greenery in its symmetrical centre. Just like the Centennial Hall, it was erected from reinforced concrete.
view of the complex (1913)Centennial Hall
The four domes, from which the facility took its name, crowned each of the wings – in the west and east on a circle plan, in the north and south on an ellipse plan. Visitors to the Exhibition admired the expositions dedicated to Prussian rulers, commanders and soldiers.
opening of the Centennial Hall, Exhibition Grounds (1913)Centennial Hall
Pergola
Forms. Shapes. Figures. The entire complex is highly geometrical. For example, a half-ellipse. Poelzig bent in this characteristic arch the Pergola surrounding the artificial pond (also half-elliptic) on the north-eastern side of the Centennial Hall.
view of the complex (1913)Centennial Hall
Two rows of poles made of rough, raw concrete are crowned with a grating, on which a vine will gracefully lay down, giving salutary shade in summer.
Terrace Restaurant (1920)Centennial Hall
We counted – there are 750 poles and the length of the whole structure is as much as 640 meters.
