An exhibition by Vitra Design Museum in cooperation with
the Goethe Institut Inter Nationes

Vitra Design Museum Berlin, Berlin: 02.05.2003 - 22.06.2003
Vitra Design Museum, Weil am Rhein: 05.07.2003 - 14.09.2003
CUBE, Manchester: 12.11.2003 - 22.02.2004
Museum of Architecture, Moscow: 25.03.2004 - 16.04.2004

More than a decade since reunification, the creative scene in Berlin has achieved a reputation as the new avant-garde, with projects characterised by myriad ideas, unconventional approaches and an international spectrum, while also addressing local urban issues in a variety of different ways. The Vitra Design Museum exhibition “Design Berlin!” introduces the most innovative young designers and architects in Berlin with this presentation of their most important projects.

“Design Berlin!” displays works from the fields of furniture and product design, graphic design and architecture, with documentation in the form of original objects, architectural models, videos, spatial installations, drawings and photographs.

The exhibition demonstrates that few places can compare with Germany's capital when it comes to innovation in such a wide variety of forms. Designers such as Werner Aisslinger or Vogt+Weizenegger have established an international reputation with objects that combine technical and aesthetic innovation. Among the architectural examples presented in “Design Berlin!” are uncompromising and prescient projects by architects such as Grüntuch/Ernst, Hoyer & Schindele, abcarius burns, Hamann Pott Architekten and others, including the futuristic development of attic and roof space as well as floating houses for the river Spree. They show that much of the most innovative architectural work in Berlin during the past years is to be found outside of the large-scale central projects, and that Berlin has kept pace with international developments in other architectural metropolises thanks to individual projects such as these.
 

The most typical Berlin projects, however, have emerged in the border area between architecture and design, between reality and utopia — when creative thinkers from extremely varied disciplines address situations such as industrial ruins, undeveloped land resulting from the Berlin Wall, construction sites and residential spaces. They often arrive at radical or humorous solutions, such as a camouflage facade for the yet to be built “Stadtschloss” and other unpopular buildings (RedesignDeutschland), an open-air swimming facility at the “Kupfergraben”, a do-it-yourself balcony (realities united), or legendary clubs and bars with furnishings from the ex-GDR (Fred Rubin).

 

Taken together, these projects represent a vital and comprehensive summary of Berlin's creative scene in the second decade since the fall of the Berlin Wall, particularly the unconventional and provocative projects with roots in Berlin's sub-culture and club scene - these have made the city into one of today's most vibrant and interesting international locations for designers and architects, whether as a permanent workplace, an inspirational travel destination, or for visitors of the exhibition “Design Berlin!”.

Images:
Top Table, osko + deichmann, 2002
Chapel of Reconciliation, Reitermann + Sassenroth, 1999
Rein Raus, Realities United, 2001 
Floating Homes, Grüntuch/Ernst, 2002 
Floating Homes, Grüntuch/Ernst, 2002
Sinterchair, Design Vogt + Weizenegger, 2001




Curated by Mateo Kries
Organised by Graeme Russell