Review

Radically
Modern

Urban Planning and Architecture in 1960s Berlin

Architecture and urban design from the sixties still set their stamp on the Berlin townscape. Many key planning decisions were made in the sixties and some striking buildings were constructed during that period.

The Berlinische Galerie presents the first ever comprehensive overview of this architectural heritage in both East and West Berlin. Historical documents, some familiar and others of more recent origin, illustrate political, social and technical visions for developing a city that had suffered severe destruction in previous decades and was then divided by the Wall. Alongside themes such as the objectives, common denominators and distinguishing factors that define a selection of these developments, such as Stalinallee, Alexanderplatz, Breitscheidplatz and the Märkisches Viertel, the exhibition explores features of these architectural designs that reveal international networking between those involved or else illustrate how knowledge of international trends was reflected in concrete designs. About 300 works by some 30 architects, planning partnerships, photographers and artists are on display.

Architects (selected): Werner Düttmann, Fehling + Gogel, Walter Gropius, Georg Heinrichs, Josef Kaiser, Roland Korn, Ludwig Leo, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Klaus Müller-Rehm, Ulrich Müther, Hans Scharoun, Manfred Zumpe

Artists (selected): Beate Gütschow, Karsten Konrad, Hendrik Krawen, Bernd Trasberger, Stephen Willats

Exhibition Architecture: david saik studio

Catalogue
The fully-illustrated exhibition catalogue published by Wasmuth Verlag in German and English editions includes texts by Bruno Flierl, Hartmut Frank, Anna Heckmann, Irma Leinauer, Ursula Müller, Frank Seehausen, Dirk Weilemann, Adrian von Buttlar and Stanislaus von Moos. The exhibition and catalogue are made possible by the Kulturstiftung des Bundes. The catalogue is additionally funded by the Wüstenrot Foundation.

The catalogue is available in the museums shop for 19,80€. ISBN: 978-3-940208-32-3
The catalogue is also available in public book shops for 38,00€. ISBN: 978-3-8030-0793-3

Blog
In addition to the website of the Berlinische Galerie, an exhibition blog was launched featuring interviews, features, statements, events & dates for the exhibition. The blog is a comprehensive information source and supplement to the project Radically Modern.

Visit the Blog here.

App
The bilingual App is available at Google Play und iTunes stores. Download the App here.

Symposium
“Verflechtungen” an academic conference has been held by the Technische Universität Berlin (Department of Art History) and the Leibniz Institute for regional development and structural planning (IRS), Erkner on Friday, 26 June 2015. It enhanced and complemented the content of the exhibition. The conference is also funded by the Wüstenrot Foundation.

The exhibition trailer