Wannsee S-Bahn Tunnel

The result is fascinating: over a length of 43 m and up to a height of 2.50 m, Niemann created pixel images from 20,000 plain-colored ceramic tiles in a 10 x 10 cm format, which are so roughly gridded that the scenes and objects depicted can only be seen from a greater distance. And although he has completely avoided the blue tones that one typically expects on a lake and has worked with green throughout, it is very clear that the man with his child is on the way to the beach, or that a bather is diving into the lake, on which a sailboat glides.

In addition to impressions of bathing pleasure at Wannsee, Niemann also depicted buildings such as the Liebermann Villa and the American Academy, over which a stylized American flag flies. The house of the Wannsee Conference of 1942, for Niemann the “moral low point of the 20th century” and today a memorial to the Holocaust, is also shown. Nevertheless, the work as a whole spreads a cheerful mood and invites the viewer to continually discover new details.

The project, which was completed in just nine months, is part of a campaign in which Deutsche Bahn AG is supporting beautification measures at 100 German train stations with around 23 million euros. The PRO ARCHITECTURA color concept from Villeroy&Boch Tiles proved to be ideal for implementing the project idea of increasing the quality of experience in the tunnel. With the comprehensive system series, which offers a total of 54 colors or shades, the tunnel could be transformed from a passage corridor into an experience space – functional, tiled tunnel walls became inspiring surfaces.