Press Kit Berlin, 17.3.21 , Foto: © Unbekannte*r Fotograf*in / Berlinische Galerie, Digitalisierung: Anja Elisabeth Witte 1984 Manfred Prasser, Dieter Bankert, Walter Schwarz, Friedrichstadtpalast, kurzJahr nach seiner Eröffnung im Anything Goes? Berlin Architecture in the 1980s 1 7.3. – 16.8.21 C ontents P ress release Anything Goes? P. 1 Press release Revisited P. 3 Press release Tactile models P. 4 Press release Audiowalks P. 6 I nvolved Artists and Architects P. 7 E xhibitions texts P. 8 Handout Video programme P. 11 C atalogue P. 13 P ress images P. 14 Co ntact P. 18 Press Release Berlin, 17.3.21 Berlin boasts a unique concentration of notewor- thy buildings from the 1980s, and more than 30 years , later they deserve a review. The colourful diversity 1984 of this architectural vocabulary challenged previous ideas of living in the modern world. Widely labelled “postmodern”, it drew on structural typologies and stylistic devices from the past and tested alterna- tive urban lifestyles. In the run-up to the celebrations marking 750 years since the original town charter, the entries submitted to the “Internationale Bauausstel- lung” in West Berlin in 1984/87 and the “Bauausstel- lung” of 1987 in East Berlin turned the city into a kind of architectural laboratory observed from well beyond its boundaries. Even at the design stage, some were already attracting criticism as artistically misguided, and significant examples of this era in architecture have since disappeared, been revamped or else threatened by demolition. By around three hundred prints, mod- els, photographs, paintings, films, and tactile models, the exhibition examines for the first time the build- ings and visions in East and West Berlin that were developed in the final decade before the fall of the Manfred Prasser, Dieter Bankert, Walter Schwarz, Friedrichstadtpalast, kurz nach seiner Eröffnung im Jahr Foto: © Unbekannte*r Fotograf*in / Berlinische Galerie, Digitalisierung: Anja Elisabeth Witte Berlin Wall. Its subject matter is focused on large- scale projects such as the expansion of the housing development in Marzahn, the reconstruction of the Anything Nikolaiviertel and the Gendarmenmarkt, the renewal of neighborhoods of prewar buildings in the center of G oes? the city, and monumental and memorials built to rein- force a sense of identity. They exemplify the area of Berlin Architecture tension between global and local demands within which architects were operating. This makes it clear in the 1980s that the competition between political systems taking place in the field of architecture and urban 17.3. – 16.8.21 design as well meant that East and West often pur- sued the same goal, each in its own way: harmoniz- ing the achievements of the modern city with local cultures, traditions, and human needs. The contem- porary intervention “Times are hard, but postmodern” by Isa Melsheimer employs a variety of artistic ren- derings to bring the architecture of the 1980s into the present. Guerilla Architects presents the results of a dialogue- based project: in its installation, this collective invites visitors to rediscover Berlin apartment houses from the 1980s through encounters with their present res- idents. Audio recordings and photographs provide insights into private appropriations, perceptions, and designs of the planned space. An extensive film program accompany- ing the exhibition presents urban spaces in the Berlin 1 of the 1980s in inspiring engagements, some of which Web app: Audio walks have been little known until now. Free web app on the exhibition with audio walks Tactile models in the exhibition offer a through the city: along Friedrichstrasse, with com- multisensory experience to blind, vision-impaired, peting architecture from East and West Berlin; and seeing people alike. They convey the postmod- through alternative Kreuzberg; and around the ern formal language of the architecture of the 1980 Berlinische Galerie: berlinischegalerie.de as well as various architectural concepts. You can access background information using your own #AnythingGoes smartphone. A screen reader can read the texts Online campaign on the exhibition aloud. Tactile floor coverings lead to the stations. There is a lot to tell about the architecture in Berlin of This project was a cooperation with the Model + the 1980s. The Berlinische Galerie is using the Design department of the Technische Universität “Anything Goes?” exhibition as an occasion for a Berlin’s master’s program in stage design and series of ten surprising and unusual stories published scenography. with the hashtag #AnythingGoes on the museum’s various online channels. Artists, Architects (Selection): Raimund Abraham (1933–2010) Hinrich Baller (*1936), Education programme Inken Baller (*1942); Cynthia Beatt (*1949), Sibylle Due to the contact restrictions, no guided tours or Bergemann (1941-2010), Hélène Binet (*1959), Gianni events may take place in the museum until further Braghieri (*1945), Wolf R. Eisentraut (*1943); Christian notice. Live tours on Instagram are planned for the Enzmann (*1951 ), Bernd Ettel (*1949); Harun Farocki exhibition. More information: (1944–2014), Guerilla Architects; Hardt-Waltherr berlinischegalerie.de/en/visit/calendar Hämer (1922-2012); John Hejduk (1929-2000); Josef Paul Kleihues (1933-2004); Michael Kny (*1947); Hans Time slot tickets in advance Kollhoff (*1946); Dorothea Krause (*1935); Rob Krier The museum is equipped throughout to meet current (*1938); Isa Melsheimer (*1968), Peter Meyer (*1953); hygiene standards. There will be a limit on the num- Kjell Nylund (*1939); Frei Otto (1925-2015); Manfred ber of people so that everyone can keep the minimum Prasser (1932–2018); Aldo Rossi (1931-1997); Günter distance from each other as prescribed. The staff will Stahn (1939-2017); Solweig Steller-Wendland be wearing high-filtration or surgical masks, and the (1942-2019), Helmut Stingl (1928-2000); James Stirling same rule applies to our visitors. To gain admission, (1926-1992); Peter Stürzebecher (1941-2012); visitors must buy a ticket in advance for a specific Karl-Ernst Swora (1933-2001); Oswald Mathias time slot. Tickets can only be purchased online and Ungers (1926-2007); Thomas Weber (*1953), will be available three days in advance. Michael Wilford (*1938) berlinischegalerie.de/en/visit/your-visit/#c2539 Exhibition architecture and colour design: david saik studio The exhibition and catalogue were made possible by the Kulturstiftung des Bundes (German Federal Cultural Foundation). Exhibition catalogue Kerber Verlag, 232 pages, 226 coloured illustrations, German and English ISBN Museum Edition: 978-3-940208-66-8 ISBN Book Trade Edition: 978-3-7356-0695-2 Price Museum Edition: 29,80 € Price Book Trade Edition: 45,00 € 2 Press Release Berlin, 17.3.21 At the exhibition “Anything Goes? Berlin Architecture er 80 in the 1980s”, the architects and artists who make up the collective Guerilla Architects are inviting visitors to revisit homes built in the city in the 1980s by means of encounters with their present occupants. Accompanied by photographer Phil Dera, the group dropped in on the low-energy buildings on Lützowufer in Tiergarten, the residential court LiMa in Kreuzberg, the housing estate Ernst-Thälmann-Park in Prenzlauer Berg, the apartment blocks on Fraenkel- ufer in Kreuzberg and the rental block Spitteleck in Mitte. These sound recordings and photo- Jahre“, Foto © Phil Dera Guerilla Architects, „Revisited. Zu Besuch in Wohnhäusern der graphs offer insights into personal homes and lives. A dialogue emerges between the residents’ own accounts of changes, strengths and weaknesses and Revisited the original intentions of the planners. What is it like A t Home in the 1980s to live in these buildings designed four decades ago? The exhibition is complemented by an interactive tour of the urban space. For more infor- 17.3. – 2.8.21 mation about the project, the different buildings and interviews with the occupants, as well as the latest information about events and dates, go to our web- site: berlinischegalerie.de/en/revisited The project was implemented by Nike Kraft, Shahrzad Rahmani, Philine Schneider with Dominik Berton in collaboration with Phil Dera (photos and videos), Gabor Csongradi (sound design), Mike Daly (video editing). Guerilla Architects are a multidisciplinary col- lective at the interface between art and architec- ture, research and performance. In their work they Contact explore the grey areas, resources and hidden poten- Berlinische Galerie tial of (urban) spaces. Their interventions and art Christine van Haaren projects, founded on social critique, centre on polit- Head of Education and Outreach ical, legal and spatial issues. The guerrilla mindset Tel +49 30 789 02 836 defines their approach to urban planning. Challeng- ing the belief that big scale means big value, the Katrin-Marie Kaptain group identifies the untapped potential – the freely Education Officer available resources – which can be found in the over- Tel +49 30 789 02 837 abundance and overproduction of urban societies. In [email protected] many cases, minimally invasive surgery within exist- ing structures can lend fresh significance to once invisible spaces. 3 Press Release Berlin, 17.3.21 In the summer semester of 2020, during the run-up to the exhibition “Anything Goes? Berlin Architecture in the 1980s”, a series of seminars entitled “Berlin Architecture in the 1980s: For everyone to grasp” was held at Berlin’s Technische Universität to analyse the priorities set by architects