Sigrid Kressmann-Zschach

Sigrid Kressmann-Zschach (1929–1990) was a German architect, businesswoman, and entrepreneur. Her best known works are the Ku'Damm Karrée and Steglitzer Kreisel buildings in Berlin.

Biography

Sigrid Zschach was born in Leipzig on 27 July 1929. She graduated with a degree in architecture at the Technical University of Dresden. In the 1950s she moved to Berlin. Kressmann-Zschach married three times and is known to have had several lovers. She became known as a skillful and wealthy career woman but also for her style, blonde hair and good looks.

Kressmann-Zschach's second marriage was to Willy Kressmann, mayor of the affluent Berlin-Kreuzberg district. It allowed her to enter Berlin 'society' and she was able to obtain first hand information about new construction projects. Kressmann-Zschach heard of plans to build a new subway system to Steglitz and produced designs for a 30-storey office block, with a subway station in the basement and Germany's first shopping mall. She secured a DM180 million contract for the scheme, which became known as the Steglitzer Kreisel. Her obituary credited her with having given Berlin a piece of 'Dallas' or 'Denver'.

Notable works Jerusalemer Kirche, Friedrichstadt, Berlin (1968) Steglitzer Kreisel, Steglitz, Berlin (1968–1974) Kurfürstendamm Square, Berlin