53 - Social building/ chemical dye works

To mark an anniversary, the Griesheim-Elektron company decided to construct a new building for social facilities at its Offenbach branch. Based on plans by the Berlin-based architect Hans Bernoulli, the so-called welfare building was constructed in 1908, which also functioned as a gateway to the city. On the street side, traditionally between modernized baroque and Heimatstil, the interior of the main building with its striking tower conceals a reinforced concrete construction that supports large cantilevered halls on each floor. The first floor housed a bathhouse for the staff, while the kitchen and dining room with seating for almost 360 people were located on the upper floor. The eastern extension contained further bathing rooms for civil servants and female employees as well as additional social facilities. The plans from 1908 already included extensions. Today's corner building with the large gable would have become the center when the northern side wing with the final north tower was built. The resulting unintended asymmetry of the main building has not impaired its representative effect. Even minor alterations to the interior and war damage have not changed this. After years of vacancy, artists and creative people have taken up residence in the listed building.