Das Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin Congress Hall building, IBE 1957 Tiergarten project photo, HKW design

Das Haus der Kulturen der Welt Berlin

HKW – Schwangere Auster: Congress Hall Building Berlin, Germany – Photos © Adrian Welch

5 Sep 2009

Congress Hall Berlin

Location: Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW), John-Foster-Dulles-Allee 10, Tiergarten

Dates built: 1956-57

Design: Hugh Stubbins, Düttmann and Mocken, architects

Nicknamed ’Pregnant Oyster’, Schwangere Auster (German), formerly titled Benjamin-Franklin-Halle

Das Haus der Kulturen der Welt

Built by USA for International Building Exhibition in 1957

Since May 2016 HKW is undergoing renovations. From September on, HKW will be out and about at alternative venues in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, New York, and other cities. The building will reopen in January 2017.

The Auster restaurant will remain open throughout.

Acoustic optimization and flexible usage: The stage of the auditorium will be extendable to three sizes and new, variable seating will offer new potentials for the use of the space. The modernization of the acoustic system is tailored to our diversified program, which encompasses discussions, readings, delicate notes and bass-heavy music.

Another focus of the construction work is on extensive modernization of the studio gallery to adapt it to the demands of contemporary exhibition making.
source: http://www.hkw.de/en/hkw/gebauede/gebaeude/gebaeude_bauphase_2016.php

The building is located in the Tiergarten park and a direct neighbour of the Carillon and the new German Chancellery. It was formerly known as the Kongresshalle conference hall, a gift from the United States, designed in 1957 by the American architect Hugh Stubbins as a part of the International Building Exhibition.

John F. Kennedy spoke here during his June 1963 visit to West Berlin. On May 21, 1980, the roof collapsed killing one and injuring numerous people. The hall was rebuilt in its original style and reopened in 1987 in time for the 750-year anniversary of the founding of Berlin.

To Berliners it is also known as the Schwangere Auster (“pregnant oyster”).

Hansaviertel Buildings – International Building Exhibition 1957

Location: Haus der Kulturen der Welt, John-Foster-Dulles-Allee 10, Berlin, Germany, western Europe

Berlin Architecture

Berlin Architecture Tours

Berlin Architecture Designs – chronological list

Contemporary Architecture in Berlin – selection below:

Digital Media Centre and Campus Development, Masurenallee 8-14
Design: Baumschlager Eberle Architekten

renderings : Baumschlager Eberle Architekten, bloomimages Berlin GmbH
Digital Media Centre and Campus Building in Berlin
In a negotiated procedure, the Baumschlager Eberle Architekten design won the Digital Media Centre and Campus Development project of the Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (rbb).

Berlin Hyp Bank HQ
Architects: C.F. Møller Architects

image courtesy of architects practice
Berlin Hyp Bank HQ Building
The new HQ is designed to support the banks sustainable vision, while at the same time contributing to the transition and urban development of the surrounding area.