Einstein's Brain

History of the work

High up on the roof gable of the Grosses Länggassschulhaus sits a bronze sculpture. The City of Bern lists it under the title 'Einsteins Gehirn' (Einstein's Brain) as a work by Nina Heinzel from 2014. The sources consulted say nothing about the artist, the commission or the size of the work; Wikimedia Commons describes the piece as a bronze sculpture and shows it in photos from 2020.

The title names the physicist Albert Einstein, who is closely linked with Bern: in June 1902 he took up a permanent post as a technical expert at the Federal Patent Office in Bern, from 1903 to 1905 he lived at Kramgasse 49 in the old town, and in 1908 he qualified as a university lecturer at the University of Bern. Why the sculpture sits on a school in the university district of Länggasse is not explained in the sources.

The school itself dates from the late 19th century. According to the city's building inventory it was built in 1891 to plans by Eugen Stettler, at the same time and to the same plans as the Kirchenfeld school; Wikipedia gives 1892 for the 'new school' at Neufeldstrasse 40. The wide three-storey building is listed as worthy of protection. Its portal projection shows Neo-Renaissance forms, and the friezes below the roof retain ornamental paintings with the names of important historical figures.

In July 2013 a complete renovation began that was planned to take about a year; the competition for it had been won in 2010 by the firm spaceshop Architekten. Among other things, rooms in the attic were opened up for a library and art classes, and the building then had space for 15 classes. The sculpture is dated to the year in which this work was due to be finished.

To see the bronze, look up from the playground: it sits on the gable, not at eye level.

Researched and summarised by Bärn Kit. Sources: Kultur Stadt Bern, Kunst im öffentlichen Raum (offene Daten) · Wikimedia Commons: Bronzeplastik Einsteins Gehirn (Nina Heinzel 2014) · Bauinventar Stadt Bern: Neufeldstrasse 40 · Stadt Bern, Medienmitteilung 11. Juli 2013: Länggass-Schule wird saniert · Wikipedia (de): Länggasse · Wikipedia (de): Albert Einstein