Haus der Schweiz

The Haus der Schweiz in Berlin-Mitte is a protected commercial building at the corner of Unter den Linden and Friedrichstraße. Built between 1934 and 1936 to designs by the Swiss architect Ernst Meier, the steel-frame structure stands out for its shell limestone cladding and round-arched colonnades on the ground floor. Its design follows the architectural conventions of the era. A special feature is the William Tell monument on the corner, which depicts Walther Tell. As the only historic corner building at this intersection, it came through World War II largely unscathed and remained in the hands of the Swiss bank even during the East German era. After extensive renovations in the years following reunification, the building now serves partly as a hotel and is owned by AXA Versicherungen AG.