Mendelsohn, Erich (1887-1953)

German-American expressionist architect. He caused a sensation with his sculptural curved design for the Einstein Tower, Potsdam, 1919-20. His later work fused modernist and expressionist styles; in Britain he built the de la Warr Pavilion 1935-36 in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex (with Serge Chermayeff, 1900-96). In 1941 he settled in the USA, where he designed the Maimonides Hospital, San Francisco, 1946-50.

Born at Allenstein, he trained in Munich and Vienna, and started practice in 1911. He worked in England 1933-4, and was in Palestine 1934-8, before moving to the USA. His works include (in Germany) factory at Luckenwalde, 1923; the Columbushaus, Berlin; Universum Cinema, Berlin; Schocken Stores at Nuremberg, Stuttgart and Chemnitz, 1928-30; (in Israel) hospital and power station at Haifa; university at Jerusalem.