Ludwig Erhard Haus

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  Main entrance of the Ludwig Erhard Haus in Hardenbergstraße.

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  Elevators in the Kant Atrium of the Ludwig Erhard Haus in Berlin-Charlottenburg.

The Ludwig Erhard Haus has an animal role model: the steel and glass construction near Berlin Zoo is popularly known as the armadillo.

A steel armadillo lives in Berlin-Charlottenburg: the Ludwig Erhard Haus visually mimics the armored form of the pangolin. The "belt", and thus the basic structure of the building, is formed by 15 elliptical arches, each of which has its own height and width. The building, completed in 1998, was designed by British architects Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners.

New building integrates listed elements

The decisive factor for the construction of the building was a project of the IHK Berlin together with the Verein Berliner Kaufleute und Industrieller e.V. (VBKI). Both organizations owned neighbouring properties with outdated buildings. Some of the old buildings were demolished for the Ludwig-Erhard-Haus. However, the architects cleverly integrated the listed elements of the old stock exchange and the VBKI festival hall into the new building.

Ecological and futuristic

The climate inside the Ludwig-Erhard-Haus can be ecologically regulated all year round thanks to the double glass façade and the sun protection slats. Inside, the steel and glass construction has a futuristic look: as the nine storeys are suspended from the steel arches, the first floor has no supports. The two atriums allow plenty of daylight into the interior of the building. Six panoramic lifts connect the floors with each other. The Ludwig Erhard House is named after the economic politician Ludwig Erhard. The building belongs to the Berlin Chamber of Industry and Commerce and is also used for events of various kinds.

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