Background
The exhibition “Blown Away: The Palace of the Republic” at the Humboldt Forum in the Berlin Palace, which was designed and realised by gewerkdesign, is based on an approach of many perspectives. It is not a one-dimensional narration but it holds space for different positions and enables the visitors to change the physical standpoint as well as the mental perspective. The museum that is standing on the ground of the former Palace of the Republic offers a space for the memory of, the reflection on and the discussion of the iconic building. The design makes use of the critical potential of the exhibition and transforms it into a spatial kaleidoscope. We have designed an open scenography that is not intended to function like a backdrop but rather like a participative whole with many special solutions.
Relations between the exterior and interior space, past and present
On their way from the exterior to the interior of the building, visitors traverse the traced contour of the Palace of the Republic’s ground plot and thereby get an impression of its former location in relation to the Berlin Palace. Upon entering the exhibition, visitors encounter a large floor graphic showing a reduced city map of Berlin’s centre, on which the ground plots of the Berlin Palace and the Palace of the Republic are both indicated. In a media installation on four stelas with four small screens each, an artistic video blends original film material from the Palace’s era with digitally created motion design.

Modular exhibition design enables perspective changes
The main space of the exhibition is not structured in a didactic and linear way, but instead, the visitors can decide freely what to view in which order. Several themed areas are distributed across the space. The components are modular like in a traveling exhibition and have a temporary character. The image of the Palace of the Republic constantly shifts: Objects become visible in varying constellations. In the middle of the room is the so-called Memory Room. Slightly elevated over the surrounding space, it is visually shielded and acoustically dimmed by a curtain hanging from the ceiling that is open at the bottom. Light and protected, it is a podium for the personal thoughts expressed in audio interviews by contemporary witnesses and for the listeners, it is a calm place to internalise and to discuss.
Tasks / Range of Services
Exhibition design, planning and implementation, exhibition production, concept development for the display, project management, exhibition graphics, concept and realisation of the media installation
Details
• Duration: 17 May 2024 to
F16 February 2025
• Location: Humboldt Forum, Berlin
• Client: Foundation for the Humboldt
FForum in the Berlin Palace, Berlin
• Area: 1.290 m²
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Press
• Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
• Mitteldeutsche Zeitung
• Neue Zürcher Zeitung
• Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg
• Sächsische Zeitung
• Süddeutsche Zeitung
• Südwestrundfunk
• Tagesspiegel
• WELT
• Westdeutscher Rundfunk
• Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen
• Die Zeit
• Jens Imig
• Stefan Rothert
• Birgit Schlegel
• Marlene Schaefermeyer
• Bianca Mohr
• Gabriel Tecklenburg
• Antoine Laurent
Installation
• Riepe Ausstellungsbau
• bbs production & design GmbH
Showcase Manufacturing
• Vitrinen- und Glasbau REIER GmbH
Media Development and Production
• Frank Schültge Blumm
• Crème
• Linon Medien KG
Media Technology
• Eidotech GmbH
Photography
• Christoph Musiol