Room in Abandoned Beelitz Complex, Germany. by Roman Robroek - Photos of Abandoned Buildings

About "Room in Abandoned Beelitz Complex, Germany."

by Roman Robroek - Photos of Abandoned Buildings

About the artwork

This complex, built in the end of the 19th century, was on my wish list for a very long time.

The best architects designed this complex with luxury balcony's, hallways and platforms. At first there was enough space to house 600 patients (mostly poor and elderly people with lung tuberculoses). Soon it turned out that there was not enough space and the capacity was doubled. Patients were separated into different buildings by gender. Staff buildings were also taken into account. For example the laundry and kitchen were at the female part of the complex, and the boiler house was at the male part.

Within 25 years more then 115.000 patients were treated here. In the 1st and 2nd World War the complex has been used as military hospital for the German army. Even Adolf Hitler was treated here with an injured leg in 1916. Unfortunately some parts of the complex have been completely destroyed during the war.

Immediately after the 2nd World War the Russians took over the complex and also used it as a military hospital. It was even known as the largest military hospital outside of Russia itself. Striking is that the Russians didn't change anything of the exterior of the complex. They did make some adjustments to the interior here and there though which nowadays are still noticeable.

In 1994 the last patients left the clinic. Since then the complex is still standing in its original state. For years people could walk around freely but since a few deadly accidents happened it'