The architectural exhibition Culture:City curated by Matthias Sauerbruch for the Akademie der Künste – with an extended side program including lectures, talks, conferences and interventions – takes a critical eye to the relationship between architecture and the social reality of the 21st century and shows the impact of art and culture on cities and architecture.
In what way does cultural activity change a city? How does it affect architecture? When do they strengthen, redefine or preserve the urban environment from decay? When do they can become a burden on public finances? Given the global competition between cities, dreams of glory and tourism drive politicians and property developers to erect spectacular buildings designed by star architects – for the purpose of creating memorable icons. However, these do not always serve local culture. What then are the alternatives to the “Bilbao effect” or “post Bilbao effect? Culture:City asks these questions and discusses them based on international architectural projects and on a platform for discourse.
The selection of international examples presented – ranging from spectacular architectural and art projects, via the creative reuse of empty buildings and city areas, through to citizens’ initiatives – opens up a panorama of constructed concretisation of culture thus allowing us not only to take stock of the surroundings but also to evaluate and assess each individual case.
Presented projects are: 2-3 Straßen, Mühlheim a. d. Ruhr, Dortmund, Duisburg; Berghain, Berlin; Birmingham Library; Centre Pompidou, Paris; Centre Pompidou Mobile; Cidade da Cultura de Galicia, Santiago de Compostela; Die große Weltausstellung, Berlin; El Batel, Kongresszentrum, Cartagena; Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg; Foundation Generali, Wien; Grimm Zentrum Bibliothek, Berlin; Guangzhou Opera House; Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao; Inner City Arts, Los Angeles; Interaction Centre, London; Kulturhuset, Stockholm; Kulturforum Berlin; Kunsthaus Graz; Library and Culture Center, Arnheim; Metropol Parasol, Sevilla; Museo M9, Venedig-Mestre; Museum Gunzenhauser, Chemnitz; Museum of Contemporary Art, Córdoba; Paju Book City, Korea; Palais de Tokyo, Extension, Paris; Parque Biblioteca España, Medellín; Parkhaus-Projekt Berlin; Radialsystem, Berlin; Seattle Central Library; SESC Fabrica, São Paulo; SOUP, Detroit; Sydney Opera House; Tate Modern, London; Toni Areal, Zürich; Tsutaya / Daikanyama T-Site, Tokio; West Kowloon Cultural District, Hong Kong; Zeche Zollverein, Essen.
The extensive TALK AND CONFERENCE PROGRAM featuring Culture:City protagonist starts with a lecture by Selgas Cano Arquitectos (winner of the Kunstpreis Berlin 2013, “architecture section”) and a lecture by Florian Beigel (Großer Kunstpreis Berlin 2013), followed by a series of lectures in cooperation with the Universität der Künste Berlin with Patrick Bouchain (Paris), Jacques Herzog (Basel), Francine Houben (Delft) and Daniel Niggli (Zurich) amongst others. The two-day symposium "Culture:Capital" in cooperation with uncube, Arch+ and the Technische Universität Berlin includes amongst others Sir Peter Cook, Giancarlo Mazzanti, Peter Eisenman, Willem-Jan Neutelings, András Pálffy and Enrique Sobejano. The conference "Shaping Contested Projects for Tomorrow's Metropolis – Public Participation and Design Review" is presented in cooperation with George Thrush, School of Architecture, Northeastern University, Boston/USA. The panel discussion "Kunst als Entwickler öffentlichen Bewusstseins" in cooperation with Theatrum Mundi/Global Street invites Richard Sennett, Adam Kaasa and Wilfried Wang. As the closing event, Culture:City invites to the symposium on the restructuring of Berlin's museum landscape: "Kulturvermittlung im Zeitalter der Globalisierung und des Wettbewerbs um Aufmerksamkeit".
More detailed information on the exhibition and the talk and conference program can be found online at adk.de/kulturstadt.
Filmstill "After", Berghain, Berlin © Phillip Kaminiak
