An Island in the Making
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| 8 EUR / reduced 4 EUR |
| Duration: 120 min |
| Ground Floor, Hall 3 |
| Part of: SITE SPECIFICS |
How do we, as an urban society, want to shape the heart of Berlin? What do we expect from the core of our city – and who should this place be for? Should the Spree Island primarily be a site of remembrance and representation, or should it offer space for a vibrant, diverse urban life? How can past, present, and future come together here?
These questions have been the subject of intense debate for decades. Twenty-five years ago, the International Expert Commission “Historische Stadtmitte Berlin” presented a widely discussed vision for the future of Berlin’s Spree Island. Although its recommendations were highly controversial, they have significantly shaped the development of this central site: the demolition of the Palace of the Republic and the reconstruction of the Berlin Palace as the Humboldt Forum have redefined Berlin’s city center.
On the occasion of the anniversary, the Humboldt Forum invites audiences to take a fresh look at the Spree Island. The focus is on the formative visions, conflicts, and hopes, as well as on current challenges. Finally, we ask about the future of the Spree Island and its surroundings, such as the Marx-Engels Forum and the site of the Bauakademie.
In a multifaceted dialogue, experts from urban development, architecture, politics, and civil society come together. On the panel, Franziska Eichstädt-Bohlig, former member of the International Expert Commission, Manfred Kühne, long‑standing head of the Department for Urban Development and Projects at Berlin’s Senate Department for Urban Development, Building and Housing, and Leslie Quitzow from the Bundesstiftung Bauakademie take part in the discussion. The architectural historian and publicist Matthias Grünzig introduces the topic and moderates the panel.
Participants
Franziska Eichstädt‑Bohlig is a graduate engineer in architecture and urban planning. Beginning in 1969, she worked as an architect and urban planner, including a senior position at the Berlin urban renewal agency STATTBAU. In 1989/90, she served as District Councillor for Building and Planning ( Baustadträtin) in Berlin‑Kreuzberg. As a member of the German Bundestag from 1994 to 2005, she worked on issues relating to construction, housing, and budgetary policy. From 2006 to 2011, she was a member of the Berlin House of Representatives, serving until 2009 as parliamentary group chair of Bündnis 90/Die Grünen (Germany’s Green Party). From 2000 to 2001, she was a member of the International Expert Commission “Historische Mitte Berlin” (Historic Center of Berlin). To this day, she remains actively involved in key debates and committees concerned with building culture, urban development, and memory culture.
Dr. Matthias Grünzig, born in 1969 in Berlin, is an architectural historian and publicist. He is the author of numerous publications on central Berlin, including “Der Fernsehturm und sein Freiraum – Geschichte und Gegenwart im Zentrum Berlins” (2022), and has curated several exhibitions, including exhibitions on 50 Years of the Berlin Television Tower and Karl‑Liebknecht‑Straße. Since 2015, he has been active in the Offene Mitte Berlin initiative. In 2021/22 he served as a citizens’ representative in the Molkenmarkt competition and workshop process and has been a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Hermann-Henselmann-Stiftung since 2022.