21 March 1887 – 15 September 1953, was a German architect widely regarded as one of the most important and original figures of 20th-century modern architecture. Born in Allenstein (today Olsztyn, Poland), he studied architecture in Berlin and Munich, graduating cum laude in 1912, and was influenced early on by Expressionism and contacts with avant-garde artists. After establishing his own practice in Berlin after World War I, he quickly gained recognition with seminal works such as the Einstein Tower (1920–1922) in Potsdam and the Mossehaus in Berlin, both exemplifying innovative, dynamic forms that bridged expressionist ideas with emerging modernist principles.

In the 1920s, his office grew into one of the busiest modern architectural practices, designing factories, department stores, housing complexes, and cinemas. He was a founder of the progressive architects’ group Der Ring alongside figures such as Hugo Häring and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. After the Nazis came to power in 1933, he fled Germany and worked in England, where he formed a partnership with Serge Chermayeff and designed influential modernist buildings such as the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-on-Sea. He later opened an office in Jerusalem and contributed to modernist architecture in Mandatory Palestine with projects including Weizmann House and the Hadassah Hospital.

In 1938 he became a British citizen and, from 1941 until his death in 1953, lived in the United States, where his work was limited by his immigration status but included advisory roles and later architectural commissions for Jewish communities. His architecture is noted for its expressionistic beginnings, fluid use of modern materials and forms, and contributions to Streamline Moderne and dynamic functionalism. He also authored influential architectural writings and photographic documentation of his travels and works.

Reference:
Biography text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA), German edition. Retrieved February 8, 2026. (Adapted from and supplemented with additional sources.)
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_Mendelsohn