Kaufhaus des Westens, Tauentzienstraße Berlin, German Real Estate, Commercial Building, Interior Architecture Photos
Kaufhaus des Westens in Berlin
8 October 2021
Design: OMA
Location: Berlin, Germany

Kaufhaus des Westens
Kaufhaus des Westens (KaDeWe) belongs to a consolidated tradition of historical European urban department stores such as Galeries Lafayette in Paris, Selfridges in London and La Rinascente in Milan. Historically, these department stores have been some of the pillars of early modern retail, acting as incubators for sophisticated crafts, social exchange and experimentation in services.

Since its opening in 1907, the KaDeWe has always been at the forefront of product selection, while also setting new standards for customer services. Its unique size ? the biggest department store in continental Europe ? makes it akin to a city: a three-dimensional network of paths, squares, neighborhoods, activities and views unfolding through its large extensions, providing opportunities for commercial, social and cultural encounters. Its evolution reflects Germany?s modern history: from its origins in the early 20th century, through WWII destructions and the subsequent rebirth in the 1950s when it became a symbol of the country?s post war reconstruction and economic success.
Late 20th century modifications, accelerating global economic shifts and the digital revolution have turned the KaDeWe?s former set up into an obsolete model. An alternative to the established retail...