House of World Cultures

House of World Cultures (45)

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The House of World Cultures is a cultural institution which holds exhibitions, plays, concerts and other forms of artistic expression. Its key is that it shows art forms from outside Europe. Because of the important cultural role it plays, the house receives economic help from the federal government and is considered a genuine ´beacon of contemporary culture`.

It is, in fact, a palace of congress that was built for the International Interbau Architecture Exhibition in 1957.

Its headquarters are in the building known as Kongresshalle, which was designed by the North American architect Hugh Stubbins Junior. Despite dating from 1957, its structure is very modern. As you will have seen, it forms the shape of an open shell and for this very reason the Germans call it “Schwangere Auster”, which means ´the pregnant oyster”.

In the pond in front of the building there is a huge sculpture by the British sculptor Henry Moore.

It is worth visiting this building just because of its original mollusc shaped design. And if you have time, you can always enjoy one of the exhibitions being held inside, or even go to see one of its plays, dance performances or concerts – all of which always come from outside Europe.

ALL POINTS OF INTEREST

INFORMATION

History (1A)

Play & Tour (0)

History - 1920s to First World War (1C)

History - Origins: The 1920s (1B)

ESSENTIAL

Alexander Platz Square (22)

Brandenburg Gate (3)

Commemorative Monument of The Wall (Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer) (57)

Gotic Church of Kaiser William (35)

Palace of Charlottenburg (34)

Reichstag (46)

Spandau District (59)

Bebel Platz Square (8)

Breitscheidplatz Square (36)

East Side Gallery (56)

Kreuzberg District (54)

Pariser Square (4)

Reichstag Cupola (46A)

Television Tower (Fernsehturm) (23)

Bellevue Palace (44)

Charlottenburg District (33)

Friedrichshain District (55)

Mitte District (2)

Potsdamer Square (48)

Saint Nicholas District (Nikolaiviertel) (28)

Tiergarten District (41)

Berlin Cathedral (21)

Checkpoint Charlie (49)

Gendarmenmarkt (7)

New Guard (11)

Red Town Hall (Rotes Rathaus) (26)

Siegessäule - Victory Column (43)

Zehlendorf District (52)

INTERESTING

Auditorium (Konzerthaus) (7C)

Church of Saint Nicholas (Nikolaikirche) (29)

Friedrichswerdersche Church (31)

Humboldt University (10)

National Library (12)

Saint Hedwig's Cathedral (9)

Unter Den Linden Street (6)

Berlin Sculpture (37)

Ephraim Palace (30)

Funkturmz (40)

KaDeWe - Department Store (38)

National Opera House (Staatsoper) (13)

Soviet Monument (Sowjetisches Ehrenmal) (51)

Berlin Zoo (42)

Fountain of Neptune (Neptunbrunnen) (25)

German Church (Deutscher Dom) (7B)

Kurfürstendamm Avenue (39)

New National Library (Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin) (50)

The Holocaust Monument (5)

Church of Saint Maria (Marienkirche) (24)

French Church (Franzoischer Dom) (7A)

House of World Cultures (45)

Marx-Engels Forum (27)

Pfaueninsel Palace (53)

The New Synagoge (32)

MUSEUM

Alte Nationalgalerie (19)

Island of Museums (15)

Pergamon Museum (18)

Altes Museum (16)

Jewish Museum (Jüdisches Museum) (58)

Zeughaus and German History Museum (14)

Anne Frank Centre (60)

Neues Museum (17)

Bode Museum (20)

New National Galery (47)