Archaeology of Blankenstein's Leichenhalle (Technical Report)

ARCHAEOLOGY OF BLANKENSTEIN’S LEICHENHALLE BUILDING TECHNICAL REPORT Submitted to: Masterstudium Denkmalpflege, T.U. (Heise) Klostergraben 57 39120 Magdeburg, Germany Prepared by: Glenn Arthur Ricci Marienburgerstrasse 6 10405 Berlin, Germany E-mail: [email protected] February 2009 Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 1 Abstract During the industrial revolution and expansion of Berlin there was a tremendous amount of building and expansion taking place. During the late 19th century, Prenzlauer Berg was on the outskirts of Berlin amongst the breweries and farming fields. This peripheral location was deemed suitable for the construction of a hospital by the government. Hermann Blankenstein was chosen as the architect of the hospital on Fröbelstrasse. Since the construction of the hospital complex in 1889, the facilities have survived two world wars and a multitude of governments and just as many various purposes. In July-December 2008, the Leichenhalle of the Fröbelstrasse Hospital complex was chosen as part of a Masterstudium Denkmalpflege with the Technische Universität (TU) of Berlin. The purpose of the TU project was to record, assess and proposes preservation plans, and recommendations for future uses to preserve the architecture. The archaeological goal was to assist in the overall project by fulfilling the following goals: 1) 2) 3) 4) Establishing the various building phases of the Leichenhalle. Determine room function and time of use. Develop maps and layouts of various building phases. Establishing these findings within a greater historical paradigm. The archaeological goals were completed successfully and were incorporated into the report Die Leichenhalle des ehemaligen Städtischen Hospital- und Siechenhauses von Hermann Blankenstein (1886-1889): Bauuntersuchung- denkmalpflegerischer Bindungsplan- Nutzungskonzept presented to the Technischen Universität, Berlin. Analysis of the construction phases and historical records suggest five separate building phases and purposes, which varied from government to government. While its earlier function is well known and documented, the succeeding phases of its use cannot be fully understood through the historical record. The 11-year phase during Nazi rule was virtually erased by the Soviets who wished to rid Berlin of the former political power. Following the Soviet occupation, the secretive MfS controlled the Leichenhalle and surrounding structures. This infamously secretive government branch left only clues in the historical record as to the function of the Leichenhalle for the next 35 years. On a map of the complex, the Leichenhalle is simply labeled as: Wachmannschaften (security guards) and that is all that is known of its use and modifications. Due to the undocumented MfS time and the Soviet erasure of all Nazi elements, 51 years (19341985) of the Leichenhalle has been lost from the written record, save Wachmannschaften. The original construction was created to deal with the vast amount of corpses brought about by poor living conditions during the industrial revolution. Following this phase the public section, the former chapel, was modified to serve as a memorial, incorporating relatively expensive materials into the flooring of the former chapel creating the symbol of the state across the floor. The functional rooms where corpses were autopsied were likely converted into offices at this time, while the cellar was modified to make an air-raid shelter for the government officials occupying the building. At the end of World War Two, Berlin Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 2 was divided amongst the Allied forces. Prenzlauer Berg was now part of the Soviet Sector and was removed of all evidence of the former Nazi government. This included the removal of a monument in the chapel, but the flooring of the monument room was spared. It is not known why this may have been the case. The building was converted into a security guard house for the MfS, which continued the Soviet precedent of using the entire building as a functional structure off limits to the public. In addition to changing the function of the building, an addition was made, changing the appearance of the Leichenhalle. Economic GDR architecture was added to the Leichenhalle, contrasting with the relatively expensive multicolored and designed brickwork of the original façade. Due to the historical significance of the building, it is recommended that preservation measures be taken to maintain the building. Specific preservation techniques have been outlined by Heise (2009). Archaeologically, the building represents a rare standing structure from the Third Reich that has managed to avoid being demolished and more importantly it demonstrates the Third Reich’s attempt to modify existing structures for their new empire and desperate modifications that were taken when their new empire was collapsing. For this reason, it is recommended that further archaeological investigations be carried out in the Leichenhalle to determine a more precise building chronology. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 3 Project Personnel Project Director: Ms. Marianne Heise Architectural Historians: Ms. Marianne Heise Ms. Wiebke Hansen Building Archaeologist: Glenn Arthur Ricci Report Preparation: Glenn Arthur Ricci Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 4 Table of Contents ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................................................ 1 PROJECT PERSONNEL................................................................................................................................. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................................................. 4 LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................................................... 4 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 7 1.01 1.02 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE LEICHENHALLE .................................................................................... 10 2.01 2.02 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 3. FAÇADE (MAP 1) DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................ 10 FAÇADE (MAP 1) IMAGES ................................................................................................................. 11 CELLAR FLOOR (MAP 1) INTRODUCTION IMAGES ........................................................................... 15 CELLAR FLOOR (MAP 2) ROOM DESCRIPTIONS ............................................................................... 20 CELLAR FLOOR (MAP 2) ROOM IMAGES .......................................................................................... 22 GROUND FLOOR (MAP 3) D ESCRIPTION INTRODUCTION ................................................................ 29 GROUND FLOOR (MAP 3) INTRODUCTION I MAGES ......................................................................... 31 GROUND FLOOR (MAP 3) ROOM DESCRIPTIONS ............................................................................. 35 GROUND FLOOR ROOM I MAGES ....................................................................................................... 37 ATTIC FLOOR (MAP 4) DESCRIPTION INTRODUCTION ..................................................................... 40 ATTIC FLOOR (MAP 4) INTRODUCTION IMAGES .............................................................................. 41 ATTIC FLOOR (MAP 4) DESCRIPTION ............................................................................................... 43 ATTIC FLOOR (MAP 4) DESCRIPTION IMAGES ................................................................................. 44 HISTORY AND DOCUMENTARY RESEARCH ............................................................................ 45 3.01 4. RESEARCH AIMS .................................................................................................................................. 7 METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................................................. 7 HISTORY AND DOCUMENTARY IMAGES ........................................................................................... 47 DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS ........................................................................................................... 55 4.02 4.03 4.04 GROUND FLOOR (MAP 2) ANALYSIS ................................................................................................ 57 ATTIC FLOOR (MAP 3) ANALYSIS .................................................................................................... 61 FAÇADE (MAP 4) ANALYSIS ............................................................................................................. 61 5. EVALUATION OF RESEARCH AND RECOMMENDATIONS.................................................. 64 5. CONCLUSIONS ...................................................................................................................................... 65 6. BIBLIOGRAPHY.................................................................................................................................... 67 APPENDIX 1: MAPS ...................................................................................................................................... 69 APPENDIX 2: CURRICULUM VITA OF THE ARCHAEOLOGIST.................................................. 85 List of Figures FIGURE 1: ( LEFT) THE EXTERIOR OF THE LEICHENHALLE WAS OBSCURED BY THE LOCAL FLORA WHILE THE INTERIOR (RIGHT) WAS OBSCURED BECAUSE OF ITS USE AS A MEDICAL RECORDS ARCHIVE. ................. 8 FIGURE 2: THE BACK OF THE LEICHENHALLE. FROM THIS ANGLE THE HORIZONTAL SECTION OF THE FAÇADE CAN BE SEEN RUNNING AROUND THE BUILDING . THE LIGHTER BRICKS UNDER THE “8” SIGN ARE REPAIRS AND NOT THE ORIGINAL COLOR ................................................................................................. 11 FIGURE 3: THE FAÇADE PATTERN OF THE RECTANGULAR SECTION OF THE BUILDING. THE LIGHTER BRICKS ARE NOT THE ORIGINAL. ........................................................................................................................... 11 Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 5 FIGURE 4: UNDERNEATH EVERY GROUND FLOOR WINDOW IS A UNIQUE BLUE BRICK DESIGN. ..................... 12 FIGURE 5: SIII, SIV, NI, AND NII ALL APPEAR WITH THIS FAÇADE. ............................................................... 12 FIGURE 6: WP FAÇADE OF THE PRENZLAUER A LLEE ENTRANCE. ................................................................... 13 FIGURE 7: CELLAR ARCHIVE ............................................................................................................................. 15 FIGURE 8: STAIR AND RAMP ACCESS TO THE CELLAR. ..................................................................................... 15 FIGURE 9: ORIGINAL VILLEROY & BOCH FLOOR TILES FOUND THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE CELLAR. .......... 16 FIGURE 10: VENTILATION .................................................................................................................................. 16 FIGURE 11: R.0.01 TROUGH VAULT CEILING ................................................................................................... 17 FIGURE 12: R.0.01 CEILING MODIFICATIONS .................................................................................................... 18 FIGURE 13: TUNNEL FOR THE HEATING CHANNELS FROM R.0.03 .................................................................... 19 FIGURE 14: SIV CELLAR WINDOW BRICKED UP. ............................................................................................... 19 FIGURE 15: R.0.01 PHOTOGRAPH FROM 1994 BEFORE USE AS A MEDICAL RECORDS ARCHIVE (LEISERING, 1994)......................................................................................................................................................... 22 FIGURE 16: R.0.01 F/F1 WITH VERTICAL BARS ACROSS IT. ............................................................................... 22 FIGURE 17: TWO OF THE FOUR CELLAR WINDOWS ARE BRICKED OFF ON WALLS SIII (LEFT) AND SIV (RIGHT). ..................................................................................................................................................... 23 FIGURE 18: R.0.02 HEATING SYSTEM WITH ORIGINAL TILE POINTED OUT (8 AND 9)...................................... 23 FIGURE 19: R.0.02 YELLOW COLORED FLOOR TILE.......................................................................................... 24 FIGURE 20: R.0.03. ON THE RIGHT IS THE HEATING TUNNEL, THE DOOR IN THE CENTER LEADS TO R.0.02, AND ON THE LEFT BEHIND THE METAL NUMBER 4 DOORS IS WHERE THE ORIGINAL CORPSE LIFT WOULD HAVE BEEN ACCESSED. FROM THIS ANGLE, IT CAN BE SEEN THAT DOOR 5 IS NOT THE ORIGINAL DOOR, BUT PART OF A WALL THAT FILLED IN A LOW ARCHWAY (OBSCURED BY PIPES). .................................. 24 FIGURE 21: CELLAR WINDOW, R.0.03A/F1, ABOVE THE HEATING TUNNEL. ................................................... 25 FIGURE 22: R.0.04. THE FORMER CORPSE LIFT IS NOW A FILE ARCHIVE.......................................................... 26 FIGURE 23: THE CEILING OF R.0.04 IS VAULTED BRICKWORK SUPPORTED BY A STEEL BEAM (18). .............. 27 FIGURE 24: DAMAGE TO R.0.04 IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE STATE OF CONDITION MANY OF THE WALLS ARE IN DUE TO UP GRADES AND LACK OF STRUCTURAL CONCERNS............................................................... 27 FIGURE 25: THE ORIGINAL ENTRY WAY TO THE CELLAR FACING THE HOSPITAL FOR EASE OF MOVING THE CORPSES. ................................................................................................................................................... 28 FIGURE 26: THE CELLAR ENTRYWAY IS LOCATED BENEATH THE BACK STAIRCASE TO THE GROUND FLOOR.28 FIGURE 27: R.0.09, IS THE ONLY ROOM TO FEATURE WOOD AS PART OF THE CEILING CONSTRUCTION......... 29 FIGURE 28: ORIGINAL MOSAIC IN THE R.1.07, THE FORMER APSE. THE VILLEROY & BOCH TILES OF R.1.03 ARE NEAR THE TOP OF THE PICTURE ILLUSTRATING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PUBLIC ACCESS AREA AND FUNCTIONAL AREA.................................................................................................................. 31 FIGURE 29: WATER DAMAGE COMING FROM THE ATTIC. ................................................................................. 32 FIGURE 30: 1.53/3.02M ( LEFT) WINDOWS FOUND ON THE GROUND FLOOR EXCEPT FOR ONE 2.30/3.41M WINDOW (RIGHT) FOUND IN ROOM R.1.02............................................................................................... 32 FIGURE 31: THE STELLAR VAULT OF THE OCTAGONAL AREA........................................................................... 33 FIGURE 32: TWO OF THE EIGHT COLUMNS IN THE CORNERS OF THE OCTAGONAL AREA, R.1.01.................... 33 FIGURE 33: (LEFT) THE CIRCULAR WINDOWS LOCATED ABOVE THE DOORWAY AND FOUR WINDOWS. AN EXTERNAL VIEW OF R.1.01C/F1, ONE OF THE FOUR R.1.01 WINDOWS (RIGHT). ................................... 34 FIGURE 34: IN THE BOXES ARE PAINTED OVER AREAS WHERE THE SUSPENDED CEILING WAS. ...................... 34 FIGURE 35: THE ELEVATION DIFFERENCE BETWEEN R.1.07 AND R.1.01 CAN BE SEEN, AS WELL AS THE ORIGINAL ARCHWAY TO R.1.07 BETWEEN THE TWO COLUMNS AND T.1.01/1.07. ................................ 37 FIGURE 36: (ABOVE) A VIEW FROM R.1.03 LOOKING DOWN CORRIDOR R.1.06 TO THE SEALED OFF SOUTHWEST WALL OF R.1.04. (BELOW) O BTAINING THE FORMER OPEN ARCHWAY (23) HEIGHT........ 37 FIGURE 37: THE OPEN DOORWAY OF R.1.05 LEADING INTO R.1.07 AT AN ELEVATION OF 18CM HIGHER. .... 38 FIGURE 38: ORIGINAL V ILLEROY AND BOCH FLOOR TILES.............................................................................. 39 FIGURE 39: R.1.08 ACCESS LADDER TO THE ATTIC. NOTICE THE SINGLE HANGING LIGHT BULB, A COMMON FEATURE IN MANY AREAS......................................................................................................................... 39 FIGURE 40: THE MOSAIC FLOOR PATTERN FROM R.1.09. THE ACCESS HATCH IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PICTURE WHILE CEMENT RUBBLE CAN BE SEEN TO THE LEFT FROM THE BRICK WALL TO R.1.01. ........ 40 FIGURE 41: CUSHIONS ON THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT OF THE PICTURE IS A BROWN FEDORA AMONGST DISCARDED ROOFING SHEETS. THE WOODEN BEAM BEING MEASURED IS NOW SUPPORTED BY A STEEL I-BEAM (6)................................................................................................................................................. 41 FIGURE 42: ONE OF TWO SKYLIGHT WINDOWS PROVIDING THE ONLY LIGHT TO THE ATTIC........................... 42 Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 6 FIGURE 43: THE RAFTERS INDICATE THE SLOPE OF THE ROOF.......................................................................... 43 FIGURE 44: THE SOUTHWEST BRICK WALL SUPPORTING THE WOODEN ROOF. ................................................ 44 FIGURE 45: THE LEICHENHALLE FACING PRENZLAUER A LLEE, CA. 1889. (JAKOBY, 2006). ........................ 47 FIGURE 46: THE HOSPITAL AND SANITARIUM COMPLEX, 1889. (BERLIN UND SEINE BAUTEN, 1896). ........ 48 FIGURE 47: THE ORIGINAL FLOOR LAYOUT OF THE LEICHENHALLE (K LINKOTT, 1987). ............................... 49 FIGURE 48: ENHANCED VIEW OF THE LEICHENHALLE FROM FIGURE 38. NOTICE THE EXTERNAL STAIRCASE IN THE REAR FACING THE SANITARIA FOR EASY AND DIRECT ACCESS (BERLIN UND SEINE BAUTEN , 1896)......................................................................................................................................................... 49 FIGURE 49: THE LEICHENHALLE DURING THE 1930S (JAKOBY, 2006). THE FLORA BEGINS TO DEVELOP IN FRONT OF THE LEICHENHALLE................................................................................................................. 50 FIGURE 50: THIS SOURCE LABELS THE PHOTOGRAPH AS HOUSE 8, THE LEICHENHALLE, BUT IN REALITY THIS IS THE EXTERIOR OF NEAR BY HOUSE 9 (JAKOBY AND KUFEKE, 2006)................................................. 50 FIGURE 51: A SOVIET “WORK” PAPER FOUND IN R.1.09 WITH THE DATE 31.12.1946................................... 51 FIGURE 52: MATCHES AND A PAPYROS CIGARETTE FILTER FOUND INSIDE THE SEALED R.1.09. ................... 51 FIGURE 53: THE MAN BEING SALUTED IS THE MFS STASI CHIEF ERICH MIELKE. IN THE BACKGROUND A GARAGE CAN BE SEEN NEAR THE LEICHENHALLE, SEEN ON THE RIGHT (KUFEKE, 2006)..................... 52 FIGURE 54: THIS MFS MAP OF THE COMPLEX SHOWS THE ADDITIONS MADE TO THE LEICHENHALLE AND THE NEAR BY GARAGE SHOWN IN FIGURE 43 (GUHR, 1991). ........................................................................ 52 FIGURE 55: AN EXHIBIT DURING THE MUSEUM PHASE OF THE LEICHENHALLE (LEISERING, 1994)............... 53 FIGURE 56: THE FORMER DISSECTION ROOM, R.1.02 DURING THE MUSEUM PHASE. NOTICE THE CONCH DOOR REMAINS OPENED, BUT SEALED TO R.1.01. (L EISERING , 1994)................................................... 53 FIGURE 57: R.1.01 DURING THE DAY OF THE O PEN MONUMENTS, CLEARED OF THE SHELVES. .................... 54 FIGURE 58: A WARNING TO MOTORCYCLIST GUARDS IN R.0.01 IS STILL POSTED ON THE DOOR. .................. 56 FIGURE 59: R.0.01G/F1 METAL HINGES AND BOLTS STILL REMAINS IN THE WINDOWS BRICKWORK. ............ 56 FIGURE 60: SWASTIKA FLOOR PATTERNING OF R.1.01. TO THE RIGHT THE MEMORIAL BASE CAN BE SEEN AS WELL AS THE SPECIALLY CUT AND DESIGNED BRICKS TO SURROUND THE MEMORIAL.......................... 58 FIGURE 61: NIII WHERE AN AUTO GARAGE WAS ADDED.................................................................................. 60 FIGURE 62: THE HEADLINE OF THE INTACT “MORNING PAPER” FROM FEBRUARY 14TH, 1945. EVIDENCE THAT THE BUILDING WAS STILL OCCUPIED OR IN USE TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE BATTLE OF BERLIN.61 FIGURE 63: THE GARAGE ADDITION TO NIII COULD HAVE APPEARED SIMILAR TO THE OTHER GARAGE ADDITIONS. THE BRICKWORK LACKS DESIGN INDICATING A FUNCTIONAL AND ECONOMIC DECISION, OVER VISUAL APPEAL (KUFEKE 2006)..................................................................................................... 62 Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 7 1. Introduction During the industrial revolution and expansion of Berlin there was a tremendous amount of building and expansion taking place. During the late 19th century, Prenzlauer Berg was on the outskirts of Berlin amongst the breweries and farming fields. This peripheral location was deemed suitable for the construction of a hospital by the government. Hermann Blankenstein was chosen as the architect of the hospital on Fröbelstrasse. Since the construction of the hospital complex in 1889, the facilities have survived two world wars and a multitude of governments and just as many various purposes. In July-December 2008, the Leichenhalle of the Fröbelstrasse Hospital complex was chosen as part of a Masterstudium Denkmalpflege with the Technische Universität (TU) of Berlin. The purpose of the TU project was to record, assess and proposes preservation plans, and recommendations for future uses to preserve the architecture. The archaeological goal was to assist in the overall project by fulfilling the following goals: 1) 2) 3) 4) Establishing the various building phases of the Leichenhalle. Determine room function and time of use. Develop maps and layouts of various building phases. Establishing these findings within a greater historical paradigm. Since the structure is currently in use as an archive for medical records, special permission was needed to enter the structure. Heise arranged appointments with the caretaker of the facility for regular weekly appointments in the structure. Clearance was given for non-destructive analytical techniques to be carried out. 1.01 Research Aims As of the time of writing, we are not aware of any archaeological work carried out on a building of this type in Berlin, or Germany because of the relatively recent history of the building and the fact that it is still in use by the government. The building is part of the first government run hospital and sanitaria complex in the 19th century and as such, the government has always controlled it. For this reason, the Leichenhalle can contribute to our understanding of how the various governments of Germany from 1886-present day modified or utilize the structures they occupied. The Leichenhalle is ideally suited for this purpose because of its relatively short history in regards to functions and modifications made by succeeding governments related to these functions. Questions that will be asked of the building are: what were the construction phases of the building during each government; what material was used during these construction phases; and how the use of the building by different governments affected the different construction phases. 1.02 Methodology A recording of the exterior and interior of the structure was carried out using a five meter measuring rod, a laser measuring device, steel measuring tapes, 10m and 20m long tapes, a Kodak color chart for color reference, a chalk board to indicate room Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 8 designation, a digital camera per person, 2m folding rulers, and AutoCAD for mapping. The three-person team was able to record and measure the exterior and interior of the building with some difficulty that will be discussed later. Trouble areas while recording the facade were the surrounding flora (Fig. 1), which obscured recording accurate wall measurements as well as the surrounding buildings and road, Prenzlauer Allee that prevented adequate distance from the structure to take photographs without slightly tilting the camera and therefore obscuring the picture. The interior of the building was also obscured photographically due to the use of every room, except the WC, as an archive. As a result, the octagonal area was an organically flowing maze of approximately 1.75 meter high filing cabinets blocking view from one end to another (Fig. 1). The laser pointer provided accurate measurements, however a clear picture of the Leichenhalle could not be fully realized (e.g. shelves blocking entire walls could not be inspected for damages or minor modifications). Figure 1: (left) The exterior of the Leichenhalle was obscured by the local flora while the interior (right) was obscured because of its use as a medical records archive. Two other areas of difficulty were R.1.09 and the attic. Conditions in R.1.09, accessible only via a hatch from the cellar, were pitch black and lacked sufficient oxygen for long periods of time and space for multiple people. The Attic Floor, R.2.01, required adequate face covering for long-term exposure because of toxic wood preservatives that had been used. Area NIII of the building was recorded in detail using a brick by brick analysis because there is evidence of a previously standing structure added to the Leichenhalle. The NIII façade was recorded in detail using a long tape (10m), a steel spring tape, string for a datum line, 2m folding rulers, and a digital camera. Heise and Ricci alternated recording the façade brick by brick until the height was too great. At this point detailed photographs were taken and the bricks counted and measured. The results were then crosschecked with other photographs and measurements for accuracy. In addition to the evidence of a previously standing structure at NIII, there was sufficient structural damage that could be recorded in the brickwork for future preservation Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 9 concerns (Heise 2009). Using the data recorded, 3-D models of the first level were made of how the structure would have appeared during each phase in order to understand better how the space was used. The following analysis is divided into specific sections, each of which is followed by images for the respective areas. Accompanying this analysis is the separate Map Book containing the maps of the floors, rooms, facades, reconstructions, and matrices referenced throughout this analysis. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 10 2. Description of the Leichenhalle 2.01 Façade (Map 1) Description The façade is composed of six walls for the rectangle area and five for the octagonal area. The whole façade itself is then composed of horizontal and vertical elements. The horizontal section visually separates the façade and remains a constant around the entire building (Fig. 2 & 3). The lower area has darker bricks, creating a visual base, with lighter bricks on top. These together form the horizontal element of the facade. Under the windows of the ground floor and above the cellar windows are unique sections with the blue brick frame designs (Fig. 4). A vertical section complements the horizontal facade section. Elements of the vertical sections making up the octagonal area are the windows with vaulted and capped tops (Fig. 5) that are in line with the ground and cellar floor windows. Above the vaulted windows runs horizontally around the entire building an Antemian frieze composed of yellow and red brick. This two colored frieze ties together the vertical and the horizontal sections around the building. Unique to the octagonal area are the circular windows situated above the large vaulted windows and entrance T1. This creates an elevation of façade only found in this area. Separating only the circular windows at the corners of the octagon are vertical blue and yellow façade decorations, while below this, separating the large vaulted windows, is only jutting brickwork. Just below the roofline of the octagonal area is a blue and yellow frieze running horizontally containing a similar leaf design as the blue and yellow vertical frieze. The elements making up the vertical façade section of the rectangular area are much the same as the octagonal, with the exception of the large vaulted windows and additional elevation. Instead of the stone window frames there are steel functional windows that are all the same size, with the exception of R.1.02d/F1 on the wall NIII. The façade is designed with different color bricks and decorated terracotta bricks that can be seen from the Prenzlauer Allee entrance. There are also preformed designer bricks that decorate the roof. The original colors of the façade are still present and the brickwork is more or less intact. There are patches of discolored brick that indicate repairs that have been made. There is some structural damage that is most evident on the NIII façade section. This same section contains evidence of an addition that once joined this side. Covering the façade facing Prenzlauer Allee is graffiti, which, in combination with the flora, has obscured a full appreciation of the designer’s coloring choices (Fig. 6). Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 11 2.02 Façade (Map 1) Images Figure 2: The back of the Leichenhalle. From this angle the horizontal section of the façade can be seen running around the building. The lighter bricks under the “8” sign are repairs and not the original color. Figure 3: The façade pattern of the rectangular section of the building. The lighter bricks are not the original. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 12 Figure 4: Underneath every Ground Floor window is a unique blue brick design. Figure 5: SIII, SIV, NI, and NII all appear with this façade. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 13 Figure 6: WP façade of the Prenzlauer Allee entrance. 2.03 Cellar Floor (Map 2) Description Introduction Today, as in the rest of the building, the cellar is used for the storage of the medical records by the Public Health Department (Fig. 7). The cellar also serves as the boiler room for two other structures. The cellar maintains the same dimensions as the ground floor above, composed of a rectangular structure and an octagonal structure combined. Access to the cellar floor is by a ramp and small staircase in the back (Fig. 8). These lead down to the cellar’s wooden door located beneath the rear staircase landing (T.2) for the ground floor. This is the only intentional entrance to the cellar (there are two heating tunnels that could be used as entry points). Presumably there was at one time an internal flight of stairs made of sandstone in R.0.09 that will be discussed later. The floor varies in some areas, but for the most part the floor is made up of the same corrugated white floor tiles from Villeroy and Boch found on the ground floor. This is likely because the pavement slabs were easy to clean (Fig. 9). Some tiles have surface damage. Set into the window niches are small vents, which indicate that it is a double-skin Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 14 masonry air-layer (Fig. 10). These were the ventilation of the structure and are an early form of insulation. There is a problem with dampness and water infiltration on the walls and their base areas. The plaster and mortar joints are worn down and there is efflorescence visible on the walls. There is also a significant amount of rust found on the iron pipes. The paint is flaking off in several layers so that several paint layers can be recognized. Each room has a greenish coating similar to that of R.1.09, but the current color is now sand colored. All of the wall corners are reinforced with corner braces in the form of metal angles or tubes. These are visible in some cases due to lack of plaster. Attempts to prevent moisture can be found on the walls of the cellar in the form of a black tar or bituminous paint. This tar is only present on the brickwork, leaving the inside of the bricks saturated with moisture. The ceiling of the cellar is primarily a barrel vault. Only in R.0.01 is there a cross vault; in R.0.04 and R.0.09 a flat ceiling; and in R.0.10 a capped ceiling. The cross vault in R.0.01 is a “trough vault” (Fig. 11) and is built of porous stone, which can be seen in the apex of the central cross vault where there is an off-center missing section due to electrical modifications (Fig. 12). In each of the basement rooms are heating pipes and aqueducts suspended either from the ceiling or near the base of the floor. The pipes are able to pass through large openings in the walls. These pipes are made of either cast iron or plastic. The existing cast iron pipes are no longer used. In R.0.02, there are remnants of original tiles on the walls. This room now functions as the boiler room with a modern heating system that heats three structures including the Leichenhalle. These buildings have access to heating channels led originally by lead pipes, but have since been upgraded. These heating channels are bounded by walls of brick and finished with a reinforced concrete ceiling (156/77cm) forming a tunnel (Fig. 13). Most of the windows in the cellar are of original construction, i.e. double-wing wooden windows with single glazing and original fittings. These windows have a high rate of heat loss. All windows are approximately 33cm deep. Some windows are bricked up or blocked (Fig. 14). In R.0.02 and in R.0.01, the windows were upgraded to doubleglazed. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 15 2.04 Cellar Floor (Map 1) Introduction Images Figure 7: Cellar Archive Figure 8: Stair and Ramp access to the cellar. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 16 Figure 9: Original Villeroy & Boch floor tiles found throughout most of the cellar. Figure 10: Ventilation Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 17 Figure 11: R.0.01 Trough Vault Ceiling Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 18 Figure 12: R.0.01 Ceiling modifications Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 19 Figure 13: Tunnel for the heating channels from R.0.03 Figure 14: SIV cellar window bricked up. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 20 2.05 Cellar Floor (Map 2) Room Descriptions R.0.01 (area: 68.65sqm) This octagonal area is the largest room in the cellar and is located directly beneath R.1.01. This was possibly used for the laying out of corpses. Today, the area is filled with shelves and files as an archive. This area has a layout differing from R.1.01 above. There are four columns of sandstone with a cushion capital together with the cross vault ceiling (Fig. 15). All of the walls are plastered and fitted with a yellow coat of paint. In some areas it can be seen that there were at least three coats. There are two windows available. R.0.01g/F1 is from the original construction phase, while the other, R.0.01f/F1, has bars on the outside of them (Fig. 16). The other two are bricked up and only visible from the outside (Fig. 17). Pipes and wires are running along the ceiling and walls, penetrating through other walls. R.0.02 (area: 27.14sqm) On one wall a few of the original tiles have been preserved. These may have covered the entire wall in the original phase. Today, this room is the boiler room. The heating system is not located in the middle of the room but along the walls (Fig. 18). The majority of the floor space is therefore free. The floor is paved with yellow bricks (Fig. 19). The windows in this area have the standard 9.5/9.5cm ventilation system in the walls making them ventilated. Since this space is heated, the plaster and paint are relatively well preserved. R.0.03 (area: 10sqm) This room makes up a hall that you enter when entering the cellar. This was also the original access point for the lift (Fig. 20). The floor is dirty and damaged in areas, but otherwise well intact. Here there is located a special heating tunnel walkway (Fig. 21). The plastic sheathed heating pipes run through this corridor to an adjacent building. There are even still some cast-iron pipes running through the corridor. On the walls are improperly secured electrical guide ways. There is an original window (R.0.03a/F1) located above the tunnel and is therefore smaller (Fig. 22). R.0.04 (area: 3.54sqm; h: 2.64m) This is the location of the original corpse lift according to historical maps. There was originally a shaft extending from the basement to the ground floor. Here the bodies were moved from storage to the autopsy chamber. No trace of the original construction is visible. Today the space is used as archive storage (Fig. 23). The floor is made of screed reinforcement and the ceiling is made of vaulted brick (Fig. 24). Heating pipes and wires also run across the room and through the walls (Fig. 25). The walls are plastered and have a yellow coat. Greenish paint is found where the plaster is broken away. R.0.05 (area: 3.17sqm) This room is the entrance to the cellar. A wooden arched double door with original fittings makes up the entrance (Fig. 26). The original granite threshold construction still exists. The floor is dirty, but otherwise intact. The floor consists of the Villeroy and Boch grooved tiles (same as Fig. 9). Above this entry is the staircase leading to entrance T.2 of the Ground Floor (Fig. 27). R.0.06 (area: 3.88sqm) This room is a passageway connecting R.0.03 and R.0.01. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 21 Today, the corridor also serves as a storage archive. The entire wall is taken up by a shelf and cannot be viewed. R.0.07 (area: approximately 7.12sqm) This area was originally connected with R.0.03 and served as a corridor. It has since been converted into a document archive. The entire wall is taken up with a shelf and can therefore not be seen. It has a barrel vaulted ceiling and an intact floor. R.0.08 (area: approximately 3.54sqm) This was likely originally a coffin warehouse or a room where bodies were laid out individually after disinfection. The space was originally accessible from two sides, but a wall between this room and R.0.06 has since blocked off one entrance. The floor consists of the non-slip tiles from Villeroy and Boch (same as Fig. 9) and a barrel-vaulted ceiling. R.0.09 (area: 6.97sqm; h: 2.51m) This area was originally not a separate room, but would have formed part of the staircase leading to the ground floor indicated in the preliminary design of 1886. In this room there is a wall of d: 10cm, h: 1.4m, likely constructed as part of the original staircase. Today it is a document archive with no stairs. The floor consists of the Villeroy and Boch ribbed tile (same as Fig. 9). A flat wood ceiling covers the opening where the staircase once stood (Fig. 28). R.0.10 (area: approximately 18.15sqm) This room is completely blocked with shelves and used as a document archive. The room is in two parts, separated by an arch. Here, there is a niche with original shelves and two windows. The ceiling is a capped ceiling. The floor exhibits a specific Villeroy and Boch layout pattern. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 22 2.06 Cellar Floor (Map 2) Room Images Figure 15: R.0.01 photograph from 1994 before use as a medical records archive (Leisering, 1994). Figure 16: R.0.01f/F1 with vertical bars across it. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 23 Figure 17: Two of the four cellar windows are bricked off on walls SIII (left) and SIV (right). Figure 18: R.0.02 heating system with original tile pointed out (8 and 9). Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 24 Figure 19: R.0.02 Yellow colored floor tile. Figure 20: R.0.03. On the right is the heating tunnel, the door in the center leads to R.0.02, and on the left behind the metal number 4 doors is where the original corpse lift would have been accessed. Door 5 is not the original door, but part of a wall that filled in a low archway (obscured by pipes). Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 25 Figure 21: Cellar window, R.0.03a/F1, above the heating tunnel. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 26 Figure 22: R.0.04. The former corpse lift is now a file archive. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 27 Figure 23: The ceiling of R.0.04 is vaulted brickwork supported by a steel beam (18). Figure 24: Damage to R.0.04 is a good example of the state of condition many of the walls are in due to up grades and lack of structural concerns. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 28 Figure 25: The original entry way to the cellar facing the hospital for ease of moving the corpses. Figure 26: The cellar entryway is located beneath the back staircase to the ground floor. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 29 Figure 27: R.0.09, is the only room to feature wood as part of the ceiling construction. 2.07 Ground Floor (Map 3) Description Introduction The ground floor of the Leichenhalle, like the cellar floor, is made up of two parts functioning together. One is an octagon (7.45/10.29m) section with a red brick floor and a stellar vault in the interior and the other is a rectangular (7.28/21.7m) semidetached section. Today, the ground floor, like the cellar, is used as a medical records archive for the Public Health Department. As such, every room except the WC is utilized and blocked with shelves and storage cabinets. This also means that the walls and the floors are no longer fully accessible. The ground floor is 1.5m (West) and 2m (East) elevated from the surrounding ground level. There are two entrances to the ground floor. T.1, the main entrance, where originally mourners could access the chapel directly, is located on Prenzlauer Allee and the back entrance, T.2, is located on the southeastern side, above the entrance to the cellar. The flooring material of the ground floor is partly identical to that of the cellar. In corridor R.1.06, are the original tiles from the Villeroy and Boch. These tiles were Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 30 manufactured from 1879 until the mid-1930s in Merzig, and run as paving slabs. The type used here are the Schrägrippe with dimensions of 17/17cm with a depth of 20mm in an off white color. These plates are grooved so that they would be slip resistant and worked particularly well in hospital settings. In R.1.07, is the original black and white mosaic floor (Fig. 28). This type of mosaic is also found in R.1.09. These mosaics are also from the Villeroy and Boch and are an imitation of Roman mosaic. The octagon section has a red brick pavement, which had been subsequently introduced around 1934 when the complex was controlled by the Nazi government as the Bezirksamt (District Office). In the brickwork holes are arranged in a circular form, which served as holders for a Pankow Museum exhibition. During this time the Leichenhalle was used as a museum of local history from 1987-2001. The floors of the other rooms were reshaped between the years 1951-1986 with PVC in different variants in order to dissipate the heat of the floor within required limits. The wall brickwork has a thickness of about 51cm and is like the basement area, being made of double-skin brick walls. These measurements were taken from the walls in which the original air vents are still present, indicating the original thickness during construction. Some moisture damage can be seen on the ground floor, mostly on the ceilings and walls where there is a brownish discoloration probably caused by leaks in the roof (Fig. 29). The mixture of water and wood preservatives used in the attic likely causes the brownish coloring. Only in R.1.02 is salt efflorescence visible. All walls are plastered and painted white and while some are papered with ingrain. In almost every room there are arched wooden windows approximately 92cm high with single sheets of glass except for R.1.06a/F1 in which a second set is present. The dimensions are always 1.53/3.02m, except for R.1.02d/F1, which is 2.30/3.41m (Figure 30). R.1.01, has a stellar vault (Fig. 31) with a height of 10.34m. Here there are eight walls with eight pilasters in the corners of the eight walls (Fig. 32). There are four arched windows (R.1.01c/F1, R.1.01d/F1, R.1.01f/F1, R.1.01g/F1) with two-lane window tracery (Fig. 33). The frame is made of steel. Two wings of each window can be opened. These windows are probably still intact from the original construction. A window seat with a gap sticking out over the masonry has a gutter. Above the arched windows are four circular windows with quatrefoils (Fig. 33). Two conches were subsequently bricked up creating walls in R.1.01. These conches are rounded indentations, or recesses, which are topped with a spherical cap (cupola). One of the conches is accessible from the cellar. In this conch the original paintwork can be seen, which is presumably how the chapel area would have been painted as well. In almost every room, a green coloring is found and in R.1.01 grey is found on the repainted pilasters. There was no detailed analysis of the paint, but it is recommended in future analysis. In each of the rooms, including R.1.01, between 1951-1986 was a suspended ceiling height Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 31 of 3m for heat insulation and noise purposes. The imprints of these ceilings are still clearly visible in the rooms (Fig. 34). In the 1990s the Leichenhalle was used as a more or less temporary museum, which explains some of the holes and damages to the walls. Only in R.1.01, R.1.02 and R.104 are lights on the walls or ceiling, while scattered light bulbs are found in the other rooms. The ceiling height in almost every room is approximately 4.5m. Most rooms have a flat ceiling. R.1.05 has a Prussian cap ceiling and R.1.07 has a barrel vault. R.1.05 was closed and eventually turned into a passage creating the present opening to R.1.01. A circumferential ledge around R.1.05 at a height of 3m painted over in white is the same form found in the conch. In R.1.03 there was a partition wall and an interior staircase that led into the basement according to historical sources discussed later. Today there are some indications still present. 2.08 Ground Floor (Map 3) Introduction Images Figure 28: Original mosaic in the R.1.07, the former apse. The Villeroy and Boch tiles of R.1.03 are near the top of the picture illustrating the difference between the public access area and functional area. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 32 Figure 29: Water damage coming from the attic. Figure 30: 1.53/3.02m (left) windows found on the Ground Floor except for one 2.30/3.41m window (right) found in room R.1.02. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 33 Figure 31: The stellar vault of the octagonal area. Figure 32: Two of the eight columns in the corners of the octagonal area, R.1.01. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 34 Figure 33: (left) The circular windows located above the doorway and four windows. An external view of R.1.01c/F1, one of the four R.1.01 windows (right). Figure 34: In the boxes are painted over areas where the suspended ceiling was. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 35 2.09 Ground Floor (Map 3) Room Descriptions R.1.01 (area: 66.42sqm). In this octagonal area there are eight half columns on which the straps of the vault ceiling are still well preserved. The floor is at a lower elevation than that of the original mosaic floor in R.1.06. The original mosaic can also be found in R.1.09, which was bricked up in 1946 while R.1.07 was walled up sometime between 1934 and 1945 and opened again between 1945 and 1951 (Fig. 35). Originally the two conches allowed passage to R1.02 and R.1.03. There are gutters beneath the arched windows for the reception and collection of condensation, while an exit groove is located in the window frame. The frames of the windows are of steel with two opening wings. The glass probably dates from the time 1951-1986. It is pressed single sheet glazed glass. R.1.02 (area: 32.2sqm; h: 4.46m). R.1.02 is utilized as an office and storage of the archive files since 2005. Because of this, the walls and ground are not fully accessible. All windows in R.1.02 are box windows with original construction fittings. From the inside there are newer wing superiors for heating reasons. As thus, the windowsills are reduced. The northeast wall, NIII, has a larger window (Fig. 30). A former suspended ceiling height of 3m can still be seen as well as the illumination ports which were used across the room by the museum (Leisering 1994). R.1.03 (area: 3.24sqm; h: 4.5m). This room was divided into two rooms originally. One was a slightly smaller room with a double-barreled sandstone staircase leading to the basement. From here one could enter the next room that was used as a space for the clergy. Today the space is used for archive storage allowing only poor visibility. The room also contains three equally large arched windows. These windows are the same as all windows from the original construction period. On the walls are many aluminum tracks that were likely placed using cement in the walls for shelf mounting during the museum phase. T.1.03/1.06 is the entrance to this room. A door is no longer present, but because there is a doorway, there is likely to have been a door at some point. The doorframe has at least seven layers of paintwork. R.1.04 (area: 5.52sqm; h: 4.43m) This room is part of the former corridor of the rectangular structure. Today, both the arch passage to R.1.02 and the archway to R.1.06 are walled up with a thick stone (Fig. 36). T.1.04/1.06 has been added through this brick addition. The space is used as an archive, filled with shelves and files. At a height of 3m the former connection of a suspended ceiling can be seen. Notably there is moisture damage that can be seen indicating a leaky roof. R.1.05 (area: 4.1sqm; h: 4.47m) This room is the former shaft for the body lift. The shaft dimensions were 1.5/2.75m and went from the ground floor to the cellar. The lift construction is no longer visible and there are no visible traces. This space now acts as a passage from R.1.07 to R.1.02. There is also a noticeable gap from the floor to the elevation of R.1.07 (Fig. 37). Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 36 R.1.06 (area: 11.14 sqm; h: 4.49) This room is the corridor for the double door (T.2) is. The corridor was originally composed of three parts connected by arched openings. This space has access to three areas: R.1.03, R.1.04, and R.1.07. Some of the walls are blocked by filing cabinets. The flooring consists of the still intact ripped tiles from Villeroy and Boch (Fig. 38). Beside T.2 is an original construction of a single glazed glass window without an additional inner wing. R.1.07 (area: 4.58sqm; h1: 3m; h2: 4.58m) This area is the former apse of the chapel, R.1.01. Its elevation is 18cm higher that the surroundings. According to historic plans, the apse was completely closed except for access from the chapel, R.1.01. Today it is exposed on all four sides and is only used as a transit corridor. It was likely opened between 1945 and 1986. On the floor of the apse lies the original black and white mosaic floor (Fig. 28). The ceiling is a single barrel vault. At a height of 3m is a comice that is also present in the conch. The archway between R.1.07 and R.1.01 was walled up and in the course of later alterations opened again creating a passage, T.1.01/1.07, with no door (1.94/2m) (Fig. 39). R.1.08 (area: 4.05sqm; h: 4.49m) This room has been described on the original plans as the “closet” and even today this area is used as a WC. Here there is a toilet, a sink and two wooden wardrobe cabinets. There is also a ladder leading to the attic and a skylight for a ceiling (Fig. 40). The ground is composed of similar PVC material like the other rooms. At the height of the ceiling a lower grid is present to catch old falling plaster. The ladder attached to the wall leads to a 48.5/74cm steel hatch in the ceiling. R.1.09 (area: 3.11sqm; h: approximately 3m) This is one of two sealed conches. The space is accessed via a steep stepladder from the cellar area, R.0.01. The floor shows the same mosaic pattern as the floor in R.1.07 (Fig. 41). The hatch was likely constructed in 1934 in the wake of making the red brick floor. The paint job of the conch is likely how R.1.01 would have appeared originally. The arch to R.1.07 has been blocked up and can be seen through the plaster from R.1.01. Also present is a base molding that extends throughout the conch and throughout R.1.01. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 37 2.10 Ground Floor Room Images Figure 35: The elevation difference between R.1.07 and R.1.01 can be seen, as well as the original archway to R.1.07 between the two columns and T.1.01/1.07. Figure 36: (top) A view from R.1.03 looking down corridor R.1.06 to the sealed off southwest wall of R.1.04. (bottom) Obtaining the former open archway (23) height. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 38 Figure 37: The open doorway of R.1.05 leading into R.1.07 at an elevation of 18cm higher. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 39 Figure 38: Original Villeroy and Boch floor tiles. Figure 39: R.1.08 access ladder to the attic. Notice the single hanging light bulb, a common feature in many areas. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 40 Figure 40: The mosaic floor pattern from R.1.09. The access hatch is at the bottom of the picture while cement rubble can be seen to the left from the brick wall to R.1.01. 2.11 Attic Floor (Map 4) Description Introduction During recording of the Attic Floor, located above the rectangular section, it was found that all the wood had been treated with preservatives (HSM according to the regulation of wood preservatives 10/11/1983 (SED District Leadership Cladding 178)). This prevented long term exposure to this area without protection. The attic floor above the octagonal section was not accessible and was likely also treated with the same wood preservatives. Access to that space is likely only from the roof because there is a short ladder leading on to the roof present in the attic. On the octagonal roof is likely an area for access. The roof space above the rectangular structure has the same external dimensions as the ground floor: 21.2/7.28m and an area of approximately 112sqm including the chimneys and skylights. Access is via a ladder in the R.1.08 and through a steel hatch that opens downwards into the R.1.08. The attic contains several ventilation chimneys and a skylight. The rest of the floor space is virtually empty, with the exception of artifacts pointing to various periods Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 41 of occupation (Fig. 41). The attic is lit only by two small dome shaped windows (Fig. 42). The ventilation chimney runs through the loft and to the outside roof. Wooden beams are positioned to support the roof, but since original construction have been exposed to moisture and are no longer viable (Fig. 41). Wood runs longitudinal along the floor, upon which wooden floorboards are placed. These floorboards also run along the longitude on occasion and are all nailed in place. Beneath the floorboards is a portion of air and not filled in with any sort of insulation. The flat saddle roof has a slope of about 16 degrees (Fig. 43). The rafters have a center distance of 76.5cm, 85cm and 101cm. A strut with two tabs again reinforces every third and fourth rafter. Above R.1.05 (the former lift) are compact rafters, presumably the construction here was to strengthen the lift load. There were no immediate remnants of the lift present. 2.12 Attic Floor (Map 4) Introduction Images Figure 41: Cushions on the left and to the right of the picture is a brown fedora amongst discarded roofing sheets. The wooden beam being measured is now supported by a steel I-beam (6). Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 42 Figure 42: One of two skylight windows providing the only light to the attic. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 43 Figure 43: The rafters indicate the slope of the roof. 2.13 Attic Floor (Map 4) Description R2.01 (area: 112sqm; h: 1.56) There are five ventilation chimneys and two skylights for natural illumination. The standing roof rests on brick jamb wall 65.6cm high. 26 rafters on the East side and 21 rafters on the west side (Fig. 44). Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 44 2.14 Attic Floor (Map 4) Description Images Figure 44: The southwest brick wall supporting the wooden roof. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 45 3. History and Documentary Research In 1886-1889, on behalf of the City Council, the municipal hospital and sanitaria were built based on the plans by architect Hermann Blankenstein (1829-1910) on the Prenzlauer Allee (Fig. 45) (Behrendt and Malbrane 1928). The hospital and sanitaria were among the first municipal complexes in Berlin that were built to specifically serve the poorer population that developed as a result of the rapidly growing industrial metropolis (Kieling and Blankenstein, 1987). The hospital was designed similarly to another hospital in the Friedrichschain district of Berlin, which opened in 1874 (Berlin und seine Bauten 1877; Hagemeyer 1897). Blankenstein designed the complex as a symmetrical system: on both sides of the central axis the hospital buildings are mirrored (Fig. 46) and located in the rear of the complex were the sanitaria for the terminally ill. The Leichenhalle was built as an extension of these sanitaria with a public access from the Prenzlauer Allee. The Leichenhalle and sanitaria were separated from the ensemble of other buildings by a walkway, but still maintained a symmetrical aspect (Wörner 1991). With a floor plan (Fig. 47) and description in “Berlin und seine Bauten” published in 1896, the use of morgues is well documented. This offers insight to the general use of Leichenhalles during the original phase from 1889-1934. From this source it is revealed that using the staircase in the rear of the building (Fig. 48), the bodies could easily be carried into the cellar where they were washed, prepared and laid out, likely in the octagonal area, R.0.01, until they were ready for examination on the ground floor. An elevator was used for the transportation of the corpses and there was an interior staircase for the corpse handlers and doctors. On the ground floor was a dissection room, R.1.02, where autopsies were carried out to determine cause of death as well as other forms of research. Opposite this room, R.1.03 was a room for the clerics where they could prepare for services for the mourners (Borck et al 1997). The octagonal area, R.1.01 of the ground floor acted as a chapel during this time and could be reached by two round conches, one that led to the cleric room, R.1.03, and the other to the dissection room, R.1.02. The original paintwork and mosaic from this period can still be seen in one of the conches, R.1.09. The chapel had a specially designed staircase leading to Prenzlauer Allee, that the mourners used when saying farewell to the deceased. In addition to being an entrance for the mourners, T.1 also doubled as a speedy removal point for the bodies to be transported to the local cemetery. The hospital fell out of use in 1934 and was converted to use as a Bezirksamt (District Office) under the newly risen to power Nazi government (Leisering 1994). However, in regards to the new function of the Leichenhalle specifically, no documentation remains. Due to the structural size and difference of the Leichenhalle, compared to the other buildings, it is unlikely that the Leichenhalle served the same purpose as the surrounding former hospital buildings, now general office buildings (Fig. 49). During this time the interior staircase was blocked off (Heise 2009) and the conch doorway to R.1.03 was sealed off. Other modifications during this period are the hatch in R.1.09 and a remodeling of the floor in the former chapel, R.1.01. It was likely that during this time the apse, R.1.07, was also closed and in front of this central wall a monument was Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 46 erected. The floor plate for this monument is still present today in the red brick floor. The conch entrance to the former dissection room, R.1.03, was left open and the room was likely converted into a special office for Nazi Officers. Also during this time, the passage from R.1.04 to R.1.02 was closed and the former elevator was therefore opened up to create a new corridor to the WC. The described changes are evident by a strong change in the building’s fabric (i.e. denser wall material between R.1.02 and R.1.04). Following World War II, from 1945-1950, the buildings of the hospital complex were altered during Soviet occupation while they carried out their task of removing all evidence of Nazism in the borough. The seat of the district office was in near by House 9, and not in the Leichenhalle as was mistakenly reported (Fig. 50). The Leichenhalle was, however, probably still used as offices by the Soviet administration. Witnesses tell of a public waiting room use for R.1.01, where they were obligated to report while accompanied by guards (Kufeke 2006). In the Leichenhalle, there were only a few modifications that were detectable. Artifacts suggest that the conch R.1.09 was sealed at this time and it can be assumed that the other conch was sealed at this point as well. In R.1.09 a Soviet Workers newspaper dated 31.12.1946 was discovered which was used to clean the masonry tools used to brick up the conch wall (Fig. 51). Also found was a filter for a Papyros cigarette, a popular Soviet cigarette with matches (Fig. 52). During this time, T.1.01/107 would have been reopened creating the only access point between the octagonal area and the rectangular area. After 1950, the Soviet Union left the headquarters of the former hospital complex and for the next 35 years the Ministry for State Security (MfS), also known as the Stasi, occupied the area in the newly formed German Democratic Republic (GDR). The MfS complex was now surrounded by a guarded border. The Leichenhalle, being so close to Prenzlauer Allee, was utilized by the MfS as a guardhouse and motorcycle garage.A ramp was constructed in the rear of the building so that the motorcycles could be directly driven into the cellar converting the cellar into a garage. Nearby a garage was constructed and an addition made to the northeast facade (NIII) of the Lecihenhalle for automobiles. (Fig. 53 and 54). R.1.01 was no longer open to the public, but was likely a recreation area for the guards. T.1.01/1.07 allowed direct access to the rear door providing easy access to the garage. In almost all of the rooms during this time there was PVC floor installed, an additional window added and a suspended ceiling constructed. In 1985, the MfS moved into a new building on Berlin-Firedrichsfelde (Grubitzsch 1995). Since the complex still remained property of the GDR, it was now used as the Bezirksamt for the Prenzlauer Berg district. Starting in 1987, the Leichenhalle was used as an exhibition museum open to the public (Fig. 55 and 56) (Häder and Wüst 1994). Following the collapse of the GDR, the Leichenhalle remained a museum. During this time there was an attempt to make the building presentable and to do so white paint was used throughout the ground floor. Since 1992, an on-site repair task was conducted, commissioned by the city, for the building’s preservation, although they were strictly superficial. In 2001, the museum was moved to another location and the Leichenhalle remained empty until 2005 when it began use as an archive of patient records by the Public Health Department. Until 2009, almost every space had been taken up with the shelves of Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 47 records, obscuring any effective spatial impression the structure had to offer (Fig. 1). Today, for patient privacy reasons, the building remains closed to the public, although it was opened for a few hours on the Day of the Open Monuments in February. During this occasion the records were removed from the ground floor and one could recognize the spatial organization of the building on the ground floor (Fig. 57). After the Day of the Open monuments the building was closed off to the public again and continues to be lost behind the surrounding and expanding flora and graffiti. 3.01 History and Documentary Images Figure 45: The Leichenhalle facing Prenzlauer Allee, ca. 1889. (Jakoby, 2006). Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 48 Figure 46: The Hospital and Sanitarium Complex, 1889. (Berlin und seine Bauten, 1896). Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 49 Figure 47: The original floor layout of the Leichenhalle (Klinkott, 1987). Figure 48: Enhanced view of the Leichenhalle from Figure 38. Notice the external staircase in the rear facing the sanitaria for easy and direct access (Berlin und seine Bauten, 1896). Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 50 Figure 49: The Leichenhalle during the 1930s (Jakoby, 2006). The flora begins to develop in front of the Leichenhalle. Figure 50: This source labels the photograph as House 8, the Leichenhalle, but in reality this is the exterior of near by House 9 (Jakoby and Kufeke, 2006). Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 51 Figure 51: A Soviet “Work” paper found in R.1.09 with the date 31.12.1946. Figure 52: Matches and a Papyros cigarette filter found inside the sealed R.1.09. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 52 Figure 53: The man being saluted is the MfS Stasi Chief Erich Mielke. In the background a garage can be seen near the Leichenhalle, seen on the right (Kufeke, 2006). Figure 54: This MfS map of the complex shows the additions made to the Leichenhalle and the near by garage shown in Figure 43 (Guhr, 1991). Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 53 Figure 55: An exhibit during the museum phase of the Leichenhalle (Leisering, 1994). Figure 56: The former dissection room, R.1.02 during the museum phase. Notice the conch door remains opened, but sealed to R.1.01. (Leisering, 1994). Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 54 Figure 57: R.1.01 during the Day of the Open Monuments, cleared of the shelves. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 55 4. Discussion and Analysis 4.01 Cellar Floor (Map 1) Analysis The cellar of the Leichenhalle was used from 1886-1934 (Leisering 1994) as a corpse depository. A ramp formerly in the rear of the chapel has been associated with the moving of corpses via stretcher from the sanitaria directly and quickly into the naturally cool cellar where they were first stored and disinfected in room R.0.02, but not evidence of this staircase remains. A lift, R.0.04, for the deceased carried the corpses up to the autopsy room where they could be examined and then taken to the mortuary chapel. Like the staircase, there is no evidence of a lift present. In these cellar rooms the bodies were stored, disinfected, and prepared for the chapel above. The octagonal area beneath the chapel could have served as a coffin warehouse. Since the rooms have been rearranged, there are no indicators as to what these rooms may have been used for. The original construction was heated via stove. In the basement were probably situated several ovens. The stale air from the corpses stored here was dissipated through the ventilation designed in the walls (Bärthel 1997). For heating reasons during the 1930’s, the staircase leading to the cellar was removed. This was done because the Leichenhalle no longer was serving its original function during which Doctors would need to frequently go from the ground floor to the basement. Now the building was used by the Nazis and likely served as a memorial and special office space. Like much of the Leichenhalle’s history, this remains undocumented, but the structural changes reveal hints of its function during this phase. The hatch and ladder that leads into the basement was constructed at some point between 1934 and 1945. It is possible that at this time the cellar windows, SIII and SIV, were also sealed off during this time. Since there are modifications made to the other two windows, it is possible that they were unblocked during the modification, but this cannot be said with an amount of certainty. One reason for the hatch, ladder and the blockage of the windows during this time are that the area beneath R.1.01 was converted into a makeshift air-raid shelter. The tunnels running the original lead heating pipes would have acted as an escape route to the other near by structures and vice versa. When the Soviet Army occupied Berlin, R.0.01 would no longer need to function as an air-raid shelter. During the Soviet occupation phase both conches were sealed off making the cellar only accessible from the outside. When the Leichenhalle was controlled by the MfS, the building was converted to a watchman post due to its proximity to Prenzlauer Allee. The cellar was modified during this phase to be used as motorcycle garage. During this phase the ramp leading to the cellar would have been constructed. This use as a motorcycle garage is still evidenced by warnings to motorcyclists to turn off their engines (Fig. 58). At this phase, it would make sense that the windows blocked during World War II were opened for safety reasons. Bars were placed over R.0.01f/F1, which presumably would have been a Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 56 window that was opened for ventilation. Interestingly, there is also evidence of R.0.01g/F1 being sealed from the outside at some point (Fig. 59). Figure 58: A warning to motorcyclist guards in R.0.01 is still posted on the door. Figure 59: R.0.01g/F1 metal hinges and bolts still remains in the windows brickwork. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 57 Like the Nazi Phase, there is virtually no documentation of the Leichenhalle’s use, except that it was a watchmen post. The other rooms of the cellar floor leave little evidence for what they were used for between 1934 and present day. 4.02 Ground Floor (Map 2) Analysis There is very little documented on the function of the rooms and therefore it is difficult to make an accurate statement as to their use. The room layout of the building as it is now barely resembles the original design (Reconstruction 1). New passages were made through walls, one wall has been completely removed, and others put up. Because of this, the open character of the alter, R.1.07, in the octagonal chapel cannot be realized. Since there were no construction documents, investigation by architectural comparison was done comparing this layout to other mortuaries of the time (Heise 2009). Only the autopsy room, R.1.02, the corpse lift, R.1.04, the WC, R.1.08, and the cleric room, R.1.03, were entitled on the old source plans (Fig. 47). In R.1.02, during the Original Phase (Reconstruction 1), the entire floor was likely tiled and the lower part of the window design opaque (Bolk 1984). Here the bodies were examined on a dissecting table. This table would have been specially designed with the end of the table leading directly into the ground for immediate disposal of blood and water. The dissections were for research purposes as well as cause of death. One person was in charge of cleaning and disinfection of the premises and another for cleaning and sewing the corpses. Not every corpse could be thoroughly investigated due to the overwhelming amount of dead that came in everyday. This created a lack of time and space, but it seems that the Leichenhalle had been designed to accommodate for this. From R.1.04 the body lift could be entered and exited with ease from the dissection room, spending little energy and time moving the bodies. There is a noticeable division of space in the Leichenhalle. In the octagonal chapel, the dead were laid out and the mourners could visit and leave through the Prenzlauer Allee entrance, making it a public accessible area, while the rectangular area was reserved for mortuary personnel. It is possible that this division of space was purposefully continued when the Nazi government controlled the Leichenhalle and converted it for their use. During the Nazi Phase of the Leichenhalle (Reconstruction 2), there is no documentation as to its use. The surrounding hospital buildings had specific functions, so the role of the Leichenhalle can generally be inferred from this context. It has been suggested that the Leichenhalle was a SA memorial, but there is no historical evidence supporting this (Jakoby and Kufeke 2006). R.1.01, the public access area, seems to support the notion of a SA Memorial. The octagon space had red brick flooring inserted at some point during the 1930s. The brickwork does not match any type found in the other hospital buildings and differs from the black and white mosaic found in the other public access space (i.e. the conch and apse). This suggests the Leichenhalle, or at least R.1.01, served a specially function. Examination of the brickwork patterning suggests that it could have been an SA memorial. Black lines form a number of connecting swastikas dividing the red brick across the floor. Evidence of a memorial plate where a pillar once stood near the center Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 58 of the room is still present. The square section was carefully designed into that of the brickwork, indicating that it was not a later addition, but an incorporation of the floor design (Fig 60). During the Soviet and MfS period, although there is little documentation, it is difficult to conceive why a floor design such as this would have been added for a guardhouse. As recommended by Heise, this patch should be preserved because of its historical significance. Figure 60: Swastika floor patterning of R.1.01. To the right the memorial base can be seen as well as the specially cut and designed bricks to surround the memorial. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 59 Further modifications made during this time were the sealing of T.1.01/107. The former arch can still be seen from R.1.01. This wall in front of the formal alter could have served as a backdrop for the memorial that stood in front of it in the black and red swastika covered floor. The conch door, leading to the former clergy area was also sealed during this time while the hatch was placed into the conch. We know that the door was sealed during this time because the paint in the conch matches the rest of the building, suggesting that it was still visible and not sealed up sometime after 1945. The conch hatch was also carefully placed into the black and white mosaic so as to no ruin the design. The careful planning indicates that the hatch was made from above and was a visible part of the chapel area. The wall sealing the conch was made around 1946 as evidenced by a Soviet workers paper containing mortar that was wiped on the paper, probably from the tools used to make the wall. This paper was found inside the conch along with a Soviet cigarette and matches. As discussed in the Cellar Floor Analysis section, this hatch could have been created as an access to the cellar converted to a makeshift air raid shelter. Had the internal staircase of the original construction not been removed before the need for air raid shelters, then the hatch would have not been needed. Since the cellar was naturally cool for storing bodies, the staircase provided an unnecessary draft for the rooms above and was likely therefore removed. With the modifications made during the Nazi Phase, there was still a separation of the public and private aspects of the building. Without knowing the absolute function of the private spaces, it is difficult to say what occurred in these rooms, however it is likely that they were offices occupied regularly, hence the removal of the drafty staircase. The public area more than likely functioned as an SA memorial. After World War II, Soviet forces occupied the Leichenhalle and surrounding buildings (Ribbe 1987). The only evidence of modification made by this government is the sealing of the conch, mentioned earlier, although they could have also made others modifications. From 1951-1986 the GDR controlled Berlin and the MfS moved into the hospital complex including the Leichenhalle (Reconstruction 3). At this phase, the Leichenhalle was no longer a public and private building, but a restricted structure. Due to the secret nature of the MfS, very little is known about what occurred in the Leichenhalle. During this phase the swastika flooring in R.1.01 remained, possibly because it was overlooked, or because of the amount of effort it would have taken to remove the flooring. Certain Nazi architecture had been designed for a thousand year Reich, such as the Colossus von Prora, and had proved too durable for quick removal and was left in place after attempts had failed. However, there is documentary evidence of the building being designated a watchman post by the MfS, as well as a garage being added to the northeast side (NIII). Near by another garage was also constructed. These would have been used strictly for automobiles, while the cellar of the Leichenhalle would have been used for motorcycles (see Cellar Analysis). Evidence of the garage addition can still be seen today (Fig. 61). Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 60 Figure 61: NIII where an auto garage was added. It is difficult to imagine how this garage addition appeared. In order to analyze the NIII addition, a brick by brick analysis carried out and context matrix was created (see Matrix 1 and 2). Although simple enough in design, you can see it goes directly across the extra large window of the former dissection room. Oddly, there is no indication that this window area was blocked up at any point. The garage was attached on the side of the building with cement and possibly a tar sealed roof. White paint was used inside the garage on the NIII facade and painted around two square objects during this time (Analysis 1). It cannot be stated with any certainty as to what could have been on the wall especially since there do not appear to be any fasteners put into the brickwork. The large window and the addition of the garage seem to have taken their toll on the northeastern wall (NIII). Large cracks can be seen forming down the middle of the wall starting above the window and proceeding down below the window. This will only become worse with time. It is possible that while trying to make the Leichenhalle Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 61 functional with the garage addition, the MfS did not consider the effects winter would have on the addition. It appears from context 18 and 19 (Matrix 2), that above the tar sealing of the sloped roof, stepped shingles were added making the roof similar to that of the other garage (discussed in Façade Analysis below). This is not beneficial to the structure during particularly harsh winters during which snow would accumulate on the roof adding unforeseen weight to the garage and pressure to NIII, which was not designed for this function or these problems. Sometime after the MfS left the hospital area, the garage additions were torn down. Rubble still remains of the former garage on the southwest side, while the former NIII garage space is still unofficially used for parking cars today. 4.03 Attic Floor (Map 3) Analysis There has been little modification to the attic area with the exception of a preservation attempt to save the wood and the removal of components operating the lift. Nonetheless, artifacts found in the attic are evidence of a constant occupation of the building. Supporting the analysis of the cellar as a makeshift air-raid shelter is evidence of occupation of the Leichenhalle around the 14th of February 1945, shortly before the occupation by Soviet soldiers. This evidence comes in the form of a “Morgenpost” newspaper (Fig. 62) that details the advances of the Soviet Army toward Berlin. It is likely that an animal brought the newspaper to the attic, but it is less likely that the animal brought the paper from outside of the Leichenhalle to the attic. Figure 62: The headline of the intact “Morning Paper” from February 14th, 1945. Evidence that the building was still occupied or in use two months before the Battle of Berlin. 4.04 Façade (Map 4) Analysis Every building in the hospital complex was, for economic reasons, constructed from brick. The Leichenhalle and other structures were designed in the ensemble using the Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 62 color to denote functions, which had also been done in a slaughterhouse ensemble by the same designer. The position, view, and the meaning of the building were important for the creation and design of the façade, i.e. sometimes the hospital buildings were only decorated where visible. The chapel is the only building with the entrance on Prenzlauer Allee and for this reason the chapel front, especially WP side, was decorated and designed in a way differing from the other buildings. The chapel in contrast to the rest of the hospital buildings is filled with details and a specially decorated façade. In this way the chapel stood out architecturally. Relatively expensive materials were used compared to the other buildings. The columns and steps were made of expensive materials were used for the Prenzlauer Alle entrance. Decorative terracotta designs were used to liven the façade and roof. Two separate frieze designs (yellow and blue; yellow and red) make up the facade. Unique to only the Leichenhalle are the blue bricks, which were first made as yellow bricks then dyed blue making them very expensive, used in a design under every Ground Floor window (Giebels and Hasinger 1989). T.1, which carries a roof, was especially filled with detail making it visually appealing to the mourners who entered this way. The round sandstone windows of the octagonal area were also specifically for the public mourners, while the functional rooms (although visible from Prenzlauer Allee) retained economic window frames. Today, the flora obscures all. The other hospital buildings were all designed virtually the same, leaving the Leichenhalle as the only building with a special décor. The roof is also unique being the only octagonal one in the complex. Slate stone made up the roof in contrast to the other buildings, which had wood shingles (Guhr 1991). Just as the outside of the Leichenhalle has a specially decorated facade, so to was the interior during the Original Phase. Some evidence of this special interior is still visible in the conch (R.1.09), but all other traces have since been removed. Figure 63: The garage addition to NIII could have appeared similar to the other garage additions. The brickwork lacks design indicating a functional and economic decision, over visual appeal (Kufeke 2006). Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 63 The façade remains much the same since the time of the original construction. The only addition to the façade was the garage to NIII, but this has since been torn down. It is likely that the garage appeared much the same as the other garages constructed near the Leichenhalle (Fig. 63). What this means is that in addition to the MfS ignoring the division of public and functional space, turning the Leichenhalle in to exclusively functional space, they also ignored the visual aspect of the Leichenhalle’s façade. This process of construction follows the favored form of construction in the GDR, that is, economic and functional before visually appealing. From the Leichenhalle, it can be inferred that this concept even applies to additions to visually appealing buildings as well, regardless of the contrast. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 64 5. Evaluation of Research and Recommendations The goals of the archaeological phase of the analysis were successful and are no less reliable than other forms of archaeological interpretations. The data gathered during the course of this investigation, such as the measurements and fabric of the building, are very reliable. The interpretation of the building chronology is thought to be reliable and based on the stratigraphy of the building and historical records. While the empirical measurements and chronology of the fabric and building phases are reliable, the interpretations of the exact functions of the rooms are on less solid ground. Based on historical sources, we can be reasonably certain that in the GDR the building was used as a guard post and the cellar was used as a garage, however, one cannot be more specific than that. We also know from historical records that the building was used as a government office during the Third Reich and that the main hall held a statue with a square base. Beyond that, there is no evidence of the function. This analysis has provided inferences as to what the exact functions of the rooms were and what they may have looked like using comparative techniques, such as with other Third Reich architecture. The construction of the hatch and ladder in the conch remains questionable and open to further interpretation. Future analysis of the Leichenhalle could possibly include a more precise dating of the ladder used in construction. Due to the recent history of the Leichenhalle, it is entirely possible to interview someone who may have had access to the building during the GDR phase who may have more in depth knowledge of the construction. Although no person has yet been encountered, and it is questionable as to anyone would admit today as to having worked for the MfS, if such a person becomes available it would provide an opportunity for archaeology to put for a theory that can potentially be corroborated or rejected by an eyewitness account. Archaeology regularly has the chance to propose hypotheses regarding sites and functions, but rarely has the chance to test a hypothesis so directly. This is not the case with contemporary archaeology and should be used to its full advantage in the near future. Further recommendations regarding preservation techniques and future uses for the building have been proposed by Heise (2009) and are therefore not repeated in this analysis. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 65 5. Conclusions The Leichenhalle of Prenzlauer Berg has had a relatively short history when compared to other structures of Berlin, but its contemporary history has been lost. While its earlier function is well known and documented, the succeeding phases of its use cannot be fully understood through the historical record. The 11-year phase during Nazi rule was virtually erased by the Soviets who wished to rid Berlin of the former political power. Following the Soviet occupation, the secretive MfS controlled the Leichenhalle and surrounding structures. This infamously secretive government branch left only clues in the historical record as to the function of the Leichenhalle for the next 35 years. On a map of the complex, the Leichenhalle is simply labeled as: Wachmannschaften (security guards) and that is all that is known of its use and modifications. Due to the undocumented MfS time and the Soviet erasure of all Nazi elements, 51 years (1934-1985) of the Leichenhalle has been lost from the written record, save Wachmannschaften. From the archaeology of the building, however, there remains evidence of its history during this time. From the phases discovered during this research, it was revealed that during the original construction phase the building was open to the public. This remained the case through the 1945, but after occupation by a foreign power, this division of space changed and remained so through present day. The original construction was created to deal with the vast amount of corpses brought about by poor living conditions during the industrial revolution. Following this phase the public section, the former chapel, was modified to serve as a memorial, incorporating relatively expensive materials into the flooring of the former chapel creating the symbol of the state across the floor. The functional rooms where corpses were autopsied were likely converted into offices at this time, while the cellar was modified to make an air-raid shelter for the government officials occupying the building. At the end of World War Two Berlin was divided amongst the Allied forces. Prenzlauer Berg was now part of the Soviet Sector and was removed of all evidence of the former Nazi government. This included the removal of a monument in the chapel, but the flooring of the monument room was spared. It is not known why this may have been the case. The building was converted into a security guard house for the MfS, which continued the Soviet precedent of using the entire building as a functional structure off limits to the public. In addition to changing the function of the building, an addition was made, changing the appearance of the Leichenhalle. Economic GDR architecture was added to the Leichenhalle, contrasting with the relatively expensive multicolored and designed brickwork of the original façade. A detailed paint analysis should be carried out on in all of the rooms as well as a fabric analysis of the construction material since not all could be accessed on the ground floor. Understanding the material used during the phases could offer some more insight as to the level of investment each government put into the Leichenhalle. There are also a number of structural damages that the building is suffering from. Wall NIII displayed clear static problems and the most of the ground floor rooms suffer from moisture damages, indicating a leaky roof. These cumulative problems should all be dealt with in Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 66 the near future. The Leichenhalle reflects the turbulent history of Berlin during the past hundred years and is a rare opportunity to glimpse into the construction methods and motivations of governments that today’s populace would much rather forget. The Soviets and GDR tore down the Nazi architecture (e.g. Der Führerbunker), overlooking the simple red swastika floor, and Berlin today is slowly removing the architecture of the former GDR (e.g. Palast der Republik, The Palace of the Republic). With this pattern of architectural destruction of the previous governments, the Leichenhalle has likely only been overlooked because the modifications were mostly restricted to the interior. This allowed the structure to maintain a 19th century exterior while the interior changed with every succeeding government. The Leichenhalle is a unique structure for contemporary archaeology that should further analyzed and preserved for future generations to benefit from. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 67 6. Bibliography Bärthel, H. 1997. Die Geschichte der Gasversorgung in Berlin. Eine Chronik. Hrsg. von der GASAG. Berlin: Berliner Gaswerke – Aktiengesellschaft Behrendt, O; Malbranc, K. 1928. Auf dem Prenzlauer Berg. Beiträge zur Heimatkunde des Bezirks IV. Berlin: Frankfurt am Main. Berlin und seine Bauten. 1877. Hrsg. vom Architekten-Verein zu Berlin. Zwei Theile. Berlin: Verlag fur Architektur und Technische Wissenschaften Gmbh. Berlin und seine Bauten. 1896. Hrsg. vom Architekten-Verein zu Berlin. Band 2. Berlin: Verlag fur Architektur und Technische Wissenschaften Gmbh. Bolk, R. 1984. Das Krankenhaus am Urban. Berlin: Westkreuz-Verlag. Borck, F.K; Halbach, B; Zander, K. 1997. Krankenhäuser bis 1918. In: Berlin und seine Bauten Hrsg. vom Architekten- und Ingenieurverein zu Berlin. v.2. p. 37- 70. Berlin: Krankenhausbauten. Ribbe, W. (ed). 1987. Geschichte Berlins. v.2. Von der Märzrevolution bis zur Gegenwart. Munich: Dietz. Giebels, N; Hasinger, A. 1989. Krankenhäuser in Berlin. Bauten und Projekte der 80er Jahre. Berlin: Willmuth Arenhovel. Guhr, D. 1991. Berlin, Prenzlauer Berg, Strassen und Plätze. Mit der Geschichte Leben. In: Bezirksamt Prenzlauer Berg. Berlin: Edition Hentrich. Grubitzsch, P. 1995. Prenzlauer Berg: Die Geschichte der Berliner Verwaltungsbezirke. Berlin: Bebra Verlag. Häder, A; Wüst, U. 1994. Prenzlauer Berg, Besichtigung einer Legende. Berlin: Edition Q. Hagemeyer, A. 1897. Das allgemeine Krankenhaus der Stadt Berlin in Friedrichshain seine Einrichtung und Verwaltung. Berlin: Franz Steiner Verlag. Harris, C.M. (ed). 1977. Illustrated Dictionary of Historic Architecture. New York: Dover Press, Inc. Heise, M. 2009. (14th February 2009). Die Leichenhalle des ehemaligen Staedtischen Hospital- und Siechenhauses von Hermann Blankenstein (1886-1889): Bauuntersuchung- denkmalpflegerischer Bindungsplan- Nutzungskonzept. Technischen Universitaet Berlin. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 68 Hutton, B. 1986. Recording Standing Buildings. Sheffield: University of Sheffield/ The British Archaeological Trust. Jakoby, B. 2006. Das Hospital und Siechenheim Fröbelstraße (1889-1934), In: Verlag, Lukas (ed), 2006.Prenzlauer, Ecke Fröbelstraße p. 25-49. Berlin: Art-Druk Jakoby, B; Kufeke, K. 2006. Das Bezirksamt Prenzlauer Berg während des Nationalsozialismus (1933-1945). In: Verlag, Lukas (ed), 2006 Prenzlauer, Ecke Fröbelstraße. p. 50-64. Kieling, U; Blankenstein, F.H. 1987. Hermann Blankenstein - Berliner Stadtbaurat fuer Hochbau 1872-1896. In: Winkler, D, Beiträge zur Berliner Baugeschichte und Denkmalpflege. Berlin: Editions Rodopi BV. Klinkott, M. 1987. Hermann Blankenstein. In: Ribbe, W; Schäche W. (eds), Baumeister, Architekten, Stadtplaner, Biographien zur baulichen Entwicklung Berlins. p. 235-256 Berlin: Stapp Kufeke, K. 2006. Kalter Krieg im Prenzlauer Berg. Durch Durchsetzung der SEDHerrschaft. (1945-1949) In: Verlag, Lukas (ed), 2006. Prenzlauer, Ecke Fröbelstraße, p. 65-96. Berlin: Art-Druk Leisering, B. 1994. Städtisches Hospital und Siechenhaus in der Fröbelstraße BerlinPrenzlauer Berg. Berlin: Bebra Verlag. Morriss, R.K. 2000. The Archaeology of Standing Buildings. Stroud: Tempus Publishing, Ltd. Wörner, M. 1991. Architekturfuehrer Berlin. Berlin: Verlagshaus Braun Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 69 Appendix 1: Maps Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 70 Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 71 Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 72 Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 73 Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 74 Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 75 Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 76 Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 77 Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 78 Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 79 Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 80 Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 81 Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 82 Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 83 Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 84 Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 85 Appendix 2: Curriculum Vita of the Archaeologist First Name/Surname: Glenn Arthur Ricci Address: Marienburgerstrasse 6, 10405 Berlin, Germany E-Mail: [email protected] Occupational Field: Archaeology and Physical Anthropology Work experience October 2010 – December 2010: Research analysis of human remains from a mass grave involving measuring and recording bones, establishing a MNI/MLNI, creating osteobiographies and identifying pathologies. Historical research involved analyses of primary historical documents, photographs and maps. Osteological and historical analyses were then utilized to interpret the mass grave. Contact: Mr. Rainer Kuhn, Stiftung Dome und Schlösser in SachsenAnhalt; Otto-von-Guericke-Str. 26-28, 39104 Magdeburg (Germany) June 2010 - August 2010: Archaeologist/Physical Anthropologist: Surveying, locating and excavating medieval burials. Independently conducting laboratory analyses, writing reports and photography of the excavated remains. Additional tasks include presenting tours to professionals and the public of the excavation, progress being made and interpretations of the site. Contact: Dr. Steinunn Kristjánsdóttir, Skriduklaustersrannsóknir; Sudurgata 41, 101 Reykjavik (Iceland) July 2009 - August 2009; October 2009 - December 2009: Excavation in the cathedral of Magdeburg, including drawing, cleaning, and packing artifacts. Conducting analyses of human remains from previous excavation seasons. Contact: Mr. Rainer Kuhn, Stiftung Dome und Schlösser in Sachsen-Anhalt; Otto-von-Guericke-Str. 26-28, 39104 Magdeburg (Germany) July 2008 - December 2008: Archaeologist: Documentation of historical architecture, including mapping and theoretical reconstruction of earlier building phases. Additional tasks include preparing the site for presentation to the public and assisting in presenting the information to the public. Contact: Ms. Heise, Ms. Hansen; Masterstudium Denkmalpflege, Technische Universität Berlin (Germany) January 2008 - April 2008: Archaeologist: Excavation of a colonial era site, including drawing, photography, sampling, cleaning, and packaging artifacts. Analyses of human remains from previous excavations. Collaborated with an experimental archaeology project recreating a wattle & daub hut. Assisted in leading volunteers in conducting archaeological excavation and presenting archaeological techniques to the public. Contact: Dr. Grant Gilmore, St. Eustatius Center for Archaeological Research; Oranjestad, St. Eustatius (Dutch West Indies) Education 2009 - 2011: Master of Arts in Historical Archaeology with Distinction The archaeology of historical ('text-aided') periods from Classical to Contemporary sites. Methodological, theoretically, philosophical issues, and historical analysis are covered. Dissertation: Ein Massengrab: What Can Commingled and Fragmented Bones Reveal About Early Medieval Magdeburg Society? The dissertation covers a forensic anthropological analysis of 810 commingled human remains discovered beneath the Magdeburg cathedral and what this information can reveal about society. University of Leicester, University Road, LE1 7RH Leicester (United Kingdom) Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A. Archaeology Report on H. Blankenstein’s Leichenhalle 2009 86 2010: Archaeological Excavation 15 Credits with Distinction Excavation of graves, drawing, surveying, photography, registering finds, sampling, conservation work, and report writing. Phase I-III training. Presentation to professionals: Grave Plots, Burial Positions & Disease at Skriduklauster 1493-1550. An interpretation of site activity combining physical anthropological analyses, archaeological excavation and historical information. Linnaeus University, 391 82, Kalmar (Sweden) 2003-2007: Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology Double focus in archaeology and physical anthropology with an emphasis on human osteology. Minor: Southeast Asian Studies. Northern Illinois University, 1425 West Lincoln Highway, 60115-2825 DeKalb (United States) 2005 - 2006: Study Abroad Independent ethnoarchaeological projects involving working with the Thai people and community for university courses and research. Local information was utilized in the analysis of archaeological sites and interpretation of cultural practices in the past. Rangsit University Muang-Ake, Phaholyothin Road, 12000 Pathumtani (Thailand) Research Interests: Forensic archaeology and anthropology; Cultural burial practices; Paleopathology; Musculoskeletal Stress Markers; Human osteology; Contemporary & historical mass graves. Supplementary Skills: Able to work in a team or individually; Capable of meeting deadlines; Good sense of organization; Able to handle multiple tasks; Strong understanding of human anatomy and muscles; Basic radiological skills; General understanding of Section 106; Excellent command of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint); Able to write analyses and reports; Qualified to carry out exhumations and excavations; Working knowledge of GPS. Glenn Arthur Ricci, B.A., M.A.