A black-and-white photo of the historic Kraepelin building with the words “Under de:construction” written over it. The history of the building, and thus also the content of the history website, is being critically revised here.

Project “UNDER DE:CONSTRUCTION”

The research department of the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry is located in the historic building of the former “Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Psychiatrie” (DFA) at Kraepelinstraße 2. The DFA moved into the building in 1928. The MPI for Psychiatry took over the same location in 1954. Many architectural elements bear witness to the research institution's nearly 100-year history. Under the motto ‘under de:construction,’ various locations in the building are marked and contextualised to encourage critical reflection on history in the Institute's everyday life.

At the same time, these locations are presented here on the website.

Bust of Emil Kraepelin behind a glass plate with the text "under_deconstruction" printed on it

Bust of Kraepelin

How did the nationalistic worldview of its founder, Emil Kraepelin, shape the development of the Institute? What is known about the fate of the Jewish artist who created the bust?

Coming soon

Marble plate with details of the Institute's founding

Panel: “Foundation of the Institute”

Emil Kraepelin's idea of a research institute for psychiatry was closely linked to the idea of ‘Volksgesundheit’. Who was to benefit from the results of the research, and who was excluded?

Coming soon

Bust of Max Planck

Bust of Max Planck

How did Max Planck act during the Nazi era? What was his view on the ideas of “Rassenhygiene” that were developed here at the Institute?

Coming soon

Marble plate with information on the founder of the Institute

Plate: “The Founders”

Who financed the founding of the “German Research Institute for Psychiatry”? What were the founders' motives?

Coming soon

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