Livre - The house, The cultures, The world

Hardly any other building in Germany encapsultes the history of the world over the last fifty years in the same way as the Congress Hall. For half a century, this Berlin landmark, now the House of World Cultures, symbolised German-American frienship and served as measure of changes in international relations. In the present book, renowned German and international historians of building and architecture, as well as journalists, political scientists, authors, sociologists and cultural scientists, examine the role played by the Congress Hall during the Cold War, the change in transatlantic relations, the signifiance of the building for both architecture and urban planning, the question of imparting culture in a globalised world, and more besides. The essays are supplemented by photographs illustrating the past and present history of the House.