There are a number of Islamic-type buildings in Germany influenced by the growing interest in Orientalism in 19th century. The most famous example is the water-pumping station at Potsdam (1841-5) built in the form of an Egyptian Mamluk mosque. Perhaps a more surprising example is the Yenidze tobacco factory designed by Martin Hammitzsch[1] at Dresden where the minarets are used as factory chimneys. In those days the Balkan provinces provided the tobacco like Yenice, with competition from Latakia (now Syria).
Mavi Boncuk | The Yenidze as seen from the other side of the river Elbe.
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Former Yenidze Cigarette Factory
In 1886, Jewish entrepreneur Hugo Zietz[2], which imported tobacco from Ottoman Yenidze, Thrace founded the Orientalische Tabak- und Cigarettenfabrik Yenidze (oriental tobacco and cigarette factory Yenidze). After Zietz had brought the firm into the leading group of German tobacco ware producers, he commissioned the architect, Hermann Martin Hammitzsch, to build the factory near the railway route near the Dresden city center. It was built sometime in the years of 1908-1909 as the first reinforced concrete multi storey buildings in Germany.
The name "Yenidze" derives from the tobacco cultivation area of Yenice, a place in the Grecian part of Macedonia today known as Giannitsa. "Yenidze" was also the name of the tobacco importing company that built the factory. At the time of the construction, the factory was under the Turkish administration and wanted a factory for their imported eastern tobacco to include Near-Eastern design elements.
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Martin Hammitzsch, the 29-year-old engineer and architect designed an astonishing building that incorporates Turkish, Moorish and Jugendstil architectural and decorative elements. It is topped by a 20-metre-high coloured-glass dome inspired by the tombs of the Abassid Caliphs in Cairo, which can be illuminated from inside at night. Originally two steam engines produced the electricity needed to light it and project the words "Salam Aleikum". Local legislation forbade factory chimneys near the city centre but Hammitzsch got round it by disguising them as minarets. The main part of the factory consists of six floors, and rises to ten under the dome, making it when built one of the tallest structures in Dresden.
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The façade, which shows the influence of Jugendstil (Art Nouveau), is made from granite, colored concrete blocks, and painted stucco. In 1907-10, Hammitzsch built this factory on Weißeritzstraße. It was the first industrial building that was constructed using a reinforced concrete frame. However, at the time of construction, the design was controversial. The style irritated the architectural community used to the buildings of baroque of the Saxonian kings in Dresden, Martin Hammitzsch was removed from the rolls of Reichsarchitektenkammer/the Association of Architects.
Dresden during the 30's became the tobacco center of Germany, with 40 factories producing over 60 per cent of all smoke goods. The Yenidze Factory was the largest in Germany. It was (like most of Dresden) heavily damaged in 1945. During the East German regime it was used as a storage facility for a manufacturing plant.
The firm of Hentrich, Petschnigg, and Partners eventually rebuilt the Tobakmoschee; and, since 1996, it has served as a building for restaurants and offices. The dome is glass and is lit from within at night and is being used very creatively to tell childrens stories under.
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Architectural information from Dresden Archive (in German)
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Note for the curious:
[1] Martin Heinrich Hammitzsch ( b. 22. May 1878 in Plauen near Dresden; d. of a suicide 12. May 1945 near Kurort Oberwiesenthal) was a Gerrman architect. He was the second husband of Angela Hitler (July 28, 1883 - October 30, 1949) the elder half-sister of Adolf Hitler. Her first husband Leo Raubal died on August 10 1910. Angela moved to Vienna and after World War I became manager of Mensa Academia Judaica, a boarding house for Jewish students where she once defended her charges against anti-Semitic rioters. Angela had heard nothing from Adolf for a decade when he re-established contact with her in 1919. In 1928 she and one of her daughters, Geli moved to Obersalzberg where she became his housekeeper and was later put in charge of the household at Hitler's expanded retreat in Berchtesgaden. Adolf Hitler began a relationship with Geli who committed suicide in 1931. She eventually left Berchtesgaden as a result and moved to Dresden. Adolf Hitler broke off relations with her and did not attend her wedding to Prof. Martin Hammitzsch.
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[2] See: Tax Court of the United States. ESTATE OF HEDWIG ZIETZ, WILLY ZIETZ, ADMINISTRATOR, PETITIONER, v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, RESPONDENT
"Hedwig was married to Hugo Zietz, a German citizen, in 1898. They resided in Dresden, Germany, until the death of Hugo. They had two sons, Hugo, Jr., and Willy.
At the time of her marriage, Hedwig did not own any property except some heavily encumbered real estate in Berlin. It was destroyed during World War II.
Hugo Zietz was engaged in the manufacture of cigarettes. He owned the business known as the Oriental Tobacco and Cigarette Factory Yenidze.
Hugo died testate in Germany on September 3, 1927. He was survived by Hedwig and their two sons. The last will and testament of Hugo was executed on May 8, 1925, in Dresden. Upon his death it was probated without contest in the Dresden court having jurisdiction. The will is incorporated herein by this reference.
Architectural information from Dresden Archive (in German)
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Mavi Boncuk | The Yenidze as seen from the other side of the river Elbe.
Former Yenidze Cigarette Factory In 1886, Jewish entrepreneur Hugo Zietz[2], which imported tobacco from Ottoman Yenidze, Thrace founded the Orientalische Tabak- und Cigarettenfabrik Yenidze (oriental tobacco and cigarette factory Yenidze). After Zietz had brought the firm into the leading group of German tobacco ware producers, he commissioned the architect, Hermann Martin Hammitzsch, to build the factory near the railway route near the Dresden city center. It was built sometime in the years of 1908-1909 as the first reinforced concrete multi storey buildings in Germany.
The name "Yenidze" derives from the tobacco cultivation area of Yenice, a place in the Grecian part of Macedonia today known as Giannitsa. "Yenidze" was also the name of the tobacco importing company that built the factory. At the time of the construction, the factory was under the Turkish administration and wanted a factory for their imported eastern tobacco to include Near-Eastern design elements.
Martin Hammitzsch, the 29-year-old engineer and architect designed an astonishing building that incorporates Turkish, Moorish and Jugendstil architectural and decorative elements. It is topped by a 20-metre-high coloured-glass dome inspired by the tombs of the Abassid Caliphs in Cairo, which can be illuminated from inside at night. Originally two steam engines produced the electricity needed to light it and project the words "Salam Aleikum". Local legislation forbade factory chimneys near the city centre but Hammitzsch got round it by disguising them as minarets. The main part of the factory consists of six floors, and rises to ten under the dome, making it when built one of the tallest structures in Dresden. 
The façade, which shows the influence of Jugendstil (Art Nouveau), is made from granite, colored concrete blocks, and painted stucco. In 1907-10, Hammitzsch built this factory on Weißeritzstraße. It was the first industrial building that was constructed using a reinforced concrete frame. However, at the time of construction, the design was controversial. The style irritated the architectural community used to the buildings of baroque of the Saxonian kings in Dresden, Martin Hammitzsch was removed from the rolls of Reichsarchitektenkammer/the Association of Architects.Dresden during the 30's became the tobacco center of Germany, with 40 factories producing over 60 per cent of all smoke goods. The Yenidze Factory was the largest in Germany. It was (like most of Dresden) heavily damaged in 1945. During the East German regime it was used as a storage facility for a manufacturing plant.
The firm of Hentrich, Petschnigg, and Partners eventually rebuilt the Tobakmoschee; and, since 1996, it has served as a building for restaurants and offices. The dome is glass and is lit from within at night and is being used very creatively to tell childrens stories under.
Architectural information from Dresden Archive (in German)
.jpg)
Note for the curious:
[1] Martin Heinrich Hammitzsch ( b. 22. May 1878 in Plauen near Dresden; d. of a suicide 12. May 1945 near Kurort Oberwiesenthal) was a Gerrman architect. He was the second husband of Angela Hitler (July 28, 1883 - October 30, 1949) the elder half-sister of Adolf Hitler. Her first husband Leo Raubal died on August 10 1910. Angela moved to Vienna and after World War I became manager of Mensa Academia Judaica, a boarding house for Jewish students where she once defended her charges against anti-Semitic rioters. Angela had heard nothing from Adolf for a decade when he re-established contact with her in 1919. In 1928 she and one of her daughters, Geli moved to Obersalzberg where she became his housekeeper and was later put in charge of the household at Hitler's expanded retreat in Berchtesgaden. Adolf Hitler began a relationship with Geli who committed suicide in 1931. She eventually left Berchtesgaden as a result and moved to Dresden. Adolf Hitler broke off relations with her and did not attend her wedding to Prof. Martin Hammitzsch.
[2] See: Tax Court of the United States. ESTATE OF HEDWIG ZIETZ, WILLY ZIETZ, ADMINISTRATOR, PETITIONER, v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, RESPONDENT
"Hedwig was married to Hugo Zietz, a German citizen, in 1898. They resided in Dresden, Germany, until the death of Hugo. They had two sons, Hugo, Jr., and Willy.
At the time of her marriage, Hedwig did not own any property except some heavily encumbered real estate in Berlin. It was destroyed during World War II.
Hugo Zietz was engaged in the manufacture of cigarettes. He owned the business known as the Oriental Tobacco and Cigarette Factory Yenidze.
Hugo died testate in Germany on September 3, 1927. He was survived by Hedwig and their two sons. The last will and testament of Hugo was executed on May 8, 1925, in Dresden. Upon his death it was probated without contest in the Dresden court having jurisdiction. The will is incorporated herein by this reference.
Architectural information from Dresden Archive (in German)
