A kind of spaceship lay down in the west end side of Berlin. This is the International Congress Center Berlin (abbreviated ICC Berlin) it was designed by Ralf Schüler and Ursulina Schüler-Witte and build in the 70s.
They won the competition for the construction of a multifunctional hall in 1965, after several changes in the specifications, began its construction period between 1965 to 1979.
ICC Berlin is one of the most important buildings of the post-war period, and probably the most expensive building in West Berlin. 40 years since then the actual owners (the state of Berlin, operator Messe Berlin GmbH) consider this building “technically worn”. In April 2014 it was closed in order to remove asbestos contamination, but now it remains closed.
It was one of the largest convention centers in the world. Indeed, the 313-meter-long, 89-meter-wide and almost 40-meter-high support this statement. ICC Berlin is a very unique and special building.
State of Berlin, DOCOMOMO Germany and DOCOMOMO International please, consider to give ICC Berlin other uses. As a multifunctional building it has been demostrated ICC Berlin could handle other uses, don’t let this building remains abandoned.
If you are in Berlin or you have planned to travel there try to visit their surroundings.
Wikipedia`s friend told us the actual state of this building, thanks to them:
“..For years, the future of the building has been discussed in Berlin.
Messe Berlin has no interest in continuing operation as the operating costs exceed the income from events. Even a demolition was brought into conversation, this is rejected by large parts of Berlin’s policy, however. The last public event in the building was on March 9, 2014, and after the Daimler Annual General Meeting on April 9, 2014, it was closed. So far, it is unclear whether and when the ICC will be rehabilitated and who bears the costs. Sustainable concepts for further use after a renovation are not yet available.
In the wake of the refugee crisis in Europe in 2015, the ICC has been used since December 2015 as emergency shelter for initially more than 500 residents. In June 2017, about 260 people still lived there. From May 2016 to June 2017, the building was also used as one of Berlin’s first port of call for refugees. Up to 1,400 asylum seekers were processed daily here…”
images:
1- Instructional plan. Drawing Illustration by Robinson. Domus v.557
2-7-8 Arquigraph
3-5-6 aerial view. wikipedia
4- facade detail. Alexander Stumm
5- ICC Berlin Illustration by Robinson,1978
