Architect |
Hugh Stubbins |
Date Built |
Completed
1957 |
Location |
John Foster Dulles Allee |
Description |
|
The House of World Cultures
says that its mission is to be, " ... a place for international
contemporary arts and a forum for
current developments and discourse ...
it presents artistic productions from
around the world, with a special focus
on non-European cultures and societies.
Visual arts, music, literature,
performing arts, film, academic
discussions and digital media are all
linked in an interdisciplinary programme
that is unique in Europe." This
building on the northern edge of the
Tiergarten was designed by Hugh Stubbins,
an American architect who went on to
design a number of high profile buildings,
including the Citigroup Centre in New York
and the Yokohama Landmark Tower in
Japan. Apparently Stubbins felt that
the wing-like roof, "upheld the promise that there
would be no restrictions on the freedom
of intellectual work." The building took a year to construct. The Haus of Kulture website says that, "On 19 September 1957, after the building had been completed, the US government gave the Congress Hall to the City of Berlin as a present." In 1980 the roof of the Congress Hall collapsed trapping a journalist. A program of reconstruction and renovation followed and in 1987 the hall reopened. At that time a large Henry Moore sculpture called "Large Divided Oval - Butterfly" was added to the site. It was Moore's last creation. |