Berlin Projects

On show at Tchoban Foundation, “Berlin Projects. Architectural Drawings 1920–1990” presents an exciting selection of important moments in Berlin’s urban development.

Gottfried Boehm, 1992 Reichstag (remodelling), sketch: view, variant C, charcoal on tracing paper 50 x 81 cm. © Gottfried Böhm and Deutsches Architekturmuseum, Frankfurt am Main; Photography: Uwe Dettmar

Hardly another city has undergone such architectural transformations in the twentieth century as Berlin has: historical events, economic crises, the scars of war, reconstruction, the division of the city and its reunification – all this needed new planning and offered architects and city planners a chance for new projects, new ideas and new visions of Berlin. The city is still growing and developing, meaning that the discussion about the future of the German capital is today more relevant than ever.

  “Berlin Projects. Architectural Drawings 1920–1990” shows an exciting selection of important moments in Berlin’s urban and architectural development, illustrated in hand-drawn designs by Hans Scharoun, Hans Poelzig, Frei Otto, Gottfried Böhm, Zaha Hadid, Álvaro Siza Vieira and other renowned architects. The exhibition should not be seen as a complete chronological documentation of the capital’s architecture during this period. It is rather a presentation of the variety of ideas and visions for Berlin, a stimulus to comparison of the drawn and the actually built architecture, and a highlighting of the high artistic quality of the exhibited works.

Álvaro Siza Vieira, 1980 – 1983, Corner building Schlesische Straße / Falckensteinstraße Sketch, different views, pencil on paper, 29.7 x 21 cm. Collection of the Deutsches Architekturmuseum, Frankfurt am Main. Photo Uwe Dettmar. © Alvaro Siza Vieira