Demolishing Modernism: GDR and Neo-Prussian Architecture in Berlin

Recent architectural transformations in Berlin and Potsdam reveal a deliberate effort to reshape urban memory through the demolition of modernist structures and their replacement with neo-Prussian replicas. Notably, the 2006 demolition of the Palace of the Republic—a symbol of GDR-era politics—was followed by the construction of an eighteenth-century replica, now housing the Humboldt Forum, a museum dedicated to non-Western art. This pattern of iconoclasm and revival suggests a broader strategy to redefine Berlin's historical narrative, blending political symbolism with architectural nostalgia. The study examines these demolitions through the lens of iconoclastic precedents in art and architecture, highlighting their implications for urban identity and memory.

Costa, X. (2022). Demolishing Modernism: GDR and Neo-Prussian Architecture in Berlin. European Review, 30(S1), S102–S107. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1062798722000369