House of World Cultures in Berlin
The House of World Cultures in Berlin, is one of the leading centres for contemporary non-European Arts and a place, border crossing projects in fine arts, dance, theatre, music, literature, movie and media.
The House of World Cultures has a big auditorium, an exhibition hall, a theatre and conference facilities. The festival IN TRANSIT takes place annually. It presents current international developments in dance, theatre, performance and music. The projects' comprehensive programme work turns the House of World Cultures into a unique event place. Exhibitions, readings, discussions, movies, meetings, music, theatre and performances open up new contexts and allow artistic and cultural border transgressions.
Construction History:
The building by architect Hugh A. Stubbins, assistant of Walter Gropius at the Harvard-University in Cambridge, was the American contribution to the International Construction Exhibition in 1957. The Congress Hall, which is similar to a giant shell, was soon called
'Pregnant Oyster'. It was considered, with its building technical daring rolling roof construction, carried only by two support columns, as trend-setting in modern architecture.
The pre-stressed concrete roof collapsed in 1980 and was only in 1987, true to the original, restored for Berlin's 750-Year-Celebration and the House of World Cultures, reopened in 1989 for events and exhibitions.
In the middle of the artificial lake in front of the House of World Cultures, is one of the oversized, soft rolling sculptures by the famous English Sculptor Henry Moore - 'Two Forms'.
From the 42m high carillon next door, the in 1987, inaugurated bell tower on the occasion of Berlin's 750-Year-Celebration, sounds a Glockenspiel, daily from 12nn to 6pm. It is Europe's biggest Glockenspiel - four narrow towers, blanketed by a pavilion roof under which the Glockenspiel with its 68 bells, is suspended.
Address:
John-Forster-Dulles-Allee 10
10557 Berlin-Tiergarten
(030) 39 78 70
Fax: (030) 394 86 79
www.hkw.de Opening Times:
Tuesday, Wednesday 10am to 6pm
Thursday - Sunday 12nn to 8pm
Different opening times during events, exhibitions and public holidays. Please check for information directly on the House of World Cultures' Homepage. www.hkw.de Admission Charge:
entrance free, depending on exhibitions Transport Links:
100
All events and special exhibitions are listed at the Homepage of the Hauses der Kulturen der Welt Berlin.