Insights – Perspective – Vision. Images of a changing historic monument

The historic office building of today’s Senate Department for Urban Development, Building and Housing was established at Württembergische Straße 6 in the period 1954-56 following the plans of Werry Roth and Richard Schubert. At 61.20 metres, it was the tallest new high-rise building in Berlin after the war.
In 1991, the building was registered as a historic monument because of its artistic, historical and urban significance for Berlin. It represents a new idea of structure and openness in urban development, reflects a demographic society’s demand for representation and it is a symbol for reconstruction after the war. In the immediate vicinity of Fehrbelliner Platz, which is an example of Nazi urban development, the high-rise building opens itself up to the city, illustrating the pursuit of a fresh start.
Between 2020 and 2024, the listed administrative building was thoroughly renovated by the state of Berlin. The aim was to preserve the 1950s design of the building in its interior and exterior and to reconcile it with heritage protection, sustainability and contemporary office use.
The exhibition uses the artistic photographs by Alexander Schippel to show the change from a traditional administrative centre to a modern office building for the staff of the Senate Department.

To the exhibition