Charlottenhof Palace

Karl Friedrich Schinkel was the most significant representative of Neoclassicism and Historicism. His influence on German architecture (especially in Berlin) is evident to this day. In his position as the chief building councilor, he was responsible for the appearance of all construction projects in the then Prussian kingdom not only from an aesthetic perspective but also in terms of functionality and economy. For the Prussian King Frederick William III, he also designed several buildings for the Sanssouci Palace park in Potsdam, including the Charlottenhof Palace, where in the southwest part of the royal palace there is an unusual room called the Tent Room (Zeltzimmer) imitating the interior of a tent. The paper wallpapers were generally meant to provide decoration, warmth, and improve the acoustics of large halls. In the case of the Tent Room, however, the simple motif of blue and white stripes transitions from the walls to the ceiling in the form of a tent roof and extends into the space as a textile canopy above the beds and upholstery of the furniture. The room, which served as a waiting area, was intended to evoke feelings of being in the outdoors. This room was connected to an outdoor garden terrace with trellis and a view of a poetic grove. A frequent guest was the German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt, for whom the room reminded him of accommodations during his exploratory travels. The blue and white motif appears in several places (most visibly on the outdoor shutters) and is meant to refer to the origins of the Prussian Queen Elizabeth Ludovika of Bavaria.