The AEG Turbine Factory, constructed in Berlin in 1909, established Peter Behrens as a primary force in industrial architecture. Born in Hamburg in 1868, he navigated a diverse professional path that spanned painting, typography, and graphic design before achieving structural prominence. Throughout his career in the German Reich, he bridged the transition from artisanal craft to large-scale modern engineering.
Early Development and Darmstadt
Behrens received his initial education at the Christianeum and later attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Karlsruhe from 1885 to 1887. He furthered his training at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf between 1888 and 1892, supplemented by studies at the Beaux-Arts de Paris. His transition toward architecture crystallized in 1899 when he joined the Darmstadt Artists' Colony. In 1901, he completed his own house at Mathildenhöhe, marking his departure from a purely painterly career to a comprehensive approach encompassing architecture, furniture, and decorative arts.
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Appointed director of the Kunstgewerbeschule Düsseldorf in 1903, Behrens focused on reforming design education. By 1907, he became the artistic consultant for AEG, where he managed the company's corporate identity, including logotypes and industrial products. His architectural contributions for the firm included the AEG Turbine Factory, the AEG-Montagehalle für Großgeräte, and the AEG-Kleinmotorenfabrik. These projects demonstrated an early commitment to rectilinear forms and rational construction methods, solidifying his role as a pioneer of industrial design.
Monumentalism and Modernism
Beyond industrial work, Behrens directed large-scale commissions such as the Eduard-Müller-Krematorium, Haus Wiegand, the Mannesmann-Haus, and the Embassy of Germany in Saint Petersburg. Following the First World War, his style evolved toward Brick Expressionism, notably seen in the Technical Administration Building of Hoechst AG. During his tenure as head of the architecture school at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna from 1921 to 1936, his influence extended through his mentorship of architects like Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
Fast facts
- Born: 1868, Hamburg
- Died: 1940, Berlin
- Citizenship: German Reich
- Notable work: AEG Turbine Factory
- Primary field: Architecture
- Teaching role: Academy of Fine Arts Vienna (1921-1936)
- Professional affiliation: Deutscher Werkbund
- Burial site: Wilmersdorf Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What was Peter Behrens' role at AEG?
He served as an artistic consultant responsible for the company's entire corporate identity, spanning product design, typography, and factory architecture.
Which major architects trained under Behrens?
His assistants and students included Walter Gropius, Le Corbusier, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
Achievements
- Notable work: Eduard-Müller-Krematorium
- Notable work: Haus Wiegand
- Notable work: Mannesmann-Haus
- Notable work: AEG’s Turbine factory
- Affiliated with Academy of Fine Arts Vienna and Kunstgewerbeschule Düsseldorf
- Educated at Beaux-Arts de Paris, Academy of Fine Arts, Karlsruhe and Kunstakademie Düsseldorf
- Worked as poster artist, architect and typographer
