Blown away. The Palace of the Republic

FAMED AND DEFAMED, REMOVED AND REMEMBERED

The Palace of the Republic was the building that most exemplified political power in East Germany. Built from 1973 to 1976 in the middle of Berlin, the state and cultural

centre was the seat of the Volkskammer (parliament) as well as a meeting place with event and gallery spaces, restaurants, a theatre, discotheque, and bowling alley.

The first freely elected Volkskammer convened there in March of 1990. Shortly thereafter, the building was closed because of asbestos contamination. In the

early 2000s, the shell was successfully used for cultural purposes but demolished nonetheless not much later. Today, the Humboldt Forum stands in its place. Yet the

palace remains present in many people’s memories.

 

This volume explores aspects such as closeout sales, construction site, ghosts, Glass Flower, Global South, identity, interim use, lighting system, Marx & Engels,

palaces of culture, reconstruction, Stasi, and more. Recent research, artistic contributions, and personal interviews open new perspectives. The Palace of the

Republic thereby emerges as an all-German topic.