HYDRAULICS
A vast residential building seemingly lifted by giant steel cylinders – a monumental façade illusion created in 1979.
A building appears to rise
While extensive construction work was under way at Buckower Damm, Gert Neuhaus and his painting team were commissioned to transform a partly vacant residential complex on Klüberstraße. Working with architect E. Suck, Neuhaus developed a concept for a radical visual reimagining of the building. The client, ARWOBAU, allowed the artistic team considerable creative freedom.
The challenge was to breathe new life into a neglected housing complex. The idea was to immerse the massive building in a “heavenly blue” and make it appear to rise on an oversized painted hydraulic mechanism. Monumental “steel columns”, trees and clouds brought the existing architecture into dialogue with an illusionistic world.
Over approximately four months, the team – supported by artists from Bologna and building and painting contractors from Berlin – transformed several thousand square metres. According to the artist’s account, the redesign was enthusiastically received and helped attract young residents back to the complex.
HYDRAULIK demonstrates how large-scale mural painting can do more than decorate: it can lend a building a new identity and transform the perception of an entire residential environment.