Topography of Terror
The book impressed me. The exhibition along the fence did the same. Civilists pursue, deport, and humiliate others. I find it hard to believe what these images show me: A desire to humiliate others? That weighs on the conscience of those who merely observe. Scenes of pain, despair, and the humiliation of people by their neighbors in the village, in the small town? What has brought us (humans) this far?
With the establishment of the foundation in 1992, there was also an effort to set up a new building "Topography of Terror" (international exhibition and documentation center of SS crimes). Still in the same year, an architectural competition was announced, and in March 1993, the winner was revealed, Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. The fundamental idea behind the design, in line with the significance of the historic site, was "to create a container that speaks no other language than that of the materials used, the construction, and its singular function." This is a long building with two above-ground floors, whose structure corresponds to a bearing system of thin concrete columns and glass elements. The project received great understanding and international attention from the outset. The model and plans were exhibited at numerous international exhibitions not only in Germany but also in Paris and Venice. Construction work symbolically began on May 8, 1995, attended, among others, by the Federal Minister for Construction Klaus Töpfer and the chairman of the Central Council of Jews in Germany Ignatz Bubis. When detailing the plans, it soon became clear that the 36 million marks available from the state and association would be insufficient, and the amount had to be increased by an additional 9 million. Two failures that halted or delayed construction due to Berlin's financial distress were resolved through national and international protests, which continued no further. Meanwhile, construction progressed. The completion date was constantly postponed for various reasons: the unusual design of the building required a long series of testing and trial procedures, which led to significant overruns in the financial framework. Due to this increased cost calculation, the main committee of the Berlin House of Representatives halted all work on the documentation center in March 2000. All construction work was suspended in November 2000 by the Senate Committee for Urban Development until a final review of the project's cost. At the beginning of 2001, the main committee estimated the total amount at 76 million marks. State Minister Nida-Rümelin and his office would cover half of the final costs. On July 4, 2001, the main committee acknowledged the report: thus, the continuation of construction work and the completion of the documentation center were approved. The date for the ceremonial opening was set by the senator for science, research, and culture for the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II - May 8, 2005.
The exhibition program of "Topography of Terror" will be expanded with offers such as the sale of specialized literature, providing information about the foundation's activities and other memorials or commemoration sites in Berlin and Brandenburg. Two EDVs sponsored by "Topography" - "NS Addresses in Berlin" and "NS Crime Sites in Europe" - will offer visitors the opportunity to obtain individual addresses for locations and relevant factual information.
In the first above-ground floor of "Topography of Terror," visitors will be offered information to expand and deepen the knowledge gained from the exhibitions on the ground floor: there will be portable devices available with book titles related to each chapter and section of the exhibitions, making further exploration easy even for those who are not accustomed to navigating professional libraries. There will also be special workspaces for visiting scholars.
Ground floor: historical excavations, "Topography of Terror" exhibition
First floor: library, media center, lecture room
Second floor: science, research, administration
Total area: 45,600 m²
Floor area: 7,500 m²
On November 25, 2004, despite the efforts of various initiatives, a decision was made to terminate the construction according to Peter Zumthor's project and to announce a new competition. In December 2004, the demolition of the concrete towers began.
Peter Zumthor, November 11, 2002
With the establishment of the foundation in 1992, there was also an effort to set up a new building "Topography of Terror" (international exhibition and documentation center of SS crimes). Still in the same year, an architectural competition was announced, and in March 1993, the winner was revealed, Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. The fundamental idea behind the design, in line with the significance of the historic site, was "to create a container that speaks no other language than that of the materials used, the construction, and its singular function." This is a long building with two above-ground floors, whose structure corresponds to a bearing system of thin concrete columns and glass elements. The project received great understanding and international attention from the outset. The model and plans were exhibited at numerous international exhibitions not only in Germany but also in Paris and Venice. Construction work symbolically began on May 8, 1995, attended, among others, by the Federal Minister for Construction Klaus Töpfer and the chairman of the Central Council of Jews in Germany Ignatz Bubis. When detailing the plans, it soon became clear that the 36 million marks available from the state and association would be insufficient, and the amount had to be increased by an additional 9 million. Two failures that halted or delayed construction due to Berlin's financial distress were resolved through national and international protests, which continued no further. Meanwhile, construction progressed. The completion date was constantly postponed for various reasons: the unusual design of the building required a long series of testing and trial procedures, which led to significant overruns in the financial framework. Due to this increased cost calculation, the main committee of the Berlin House of Representatives halted all work on the documentation center in March 2000. All construction work was suspended in November 2000 by the Senate Committee for Urban Development until a final review of the project's cost. At the beginning of 2001, the main committee estimated the total amount at 76 million marks. State Minister Nida-Rümelin and his office would cover half of the final costs. On July 4, 2001, the main committee acknowledged the report: thus, the continuation of construction work and the completion of the documentation center were approved. The date for the ceremonial opening was set by the senator for science, research, and culture for the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II - May 8, 2005.
The exhibition program of "Topography of Terror" will be expanded with offers such as the sale of specialized literature, providing information about the foundation's activities and other memorials or commemoration sites in Berlin and Brandenburg. Two EDVs sponsored by "Topography" - "NS Addresses in Berlin" and "NS Crime Sites in Europe" - will offer visitors the opportunity to obtain individual addresses for locations and relevant factual information.
In the first above-ground floor of "Topography of Terror," visitors will be offered information to expand and deepen the knowledge gained from the exhibitions on the ground floor: there will be portable devices available with book titles related to each chapter and section of the exhibitions, making further exploration easy even for those who are not accustomed to navigating professional libraries. There will also be special workspaces for visiting scholars.
Ground floor: historical excavations, "Topography of Terror" exhibition
First floor: library, media center, lecture room
Second floor: science, research, administration
Total area: 45,600 m²
Floor area: 7,500 m²
On November 25, 2004, despite the efforts of various initiatives, a decision was made to terminate the construction according to Peter Zumthor's project and to announce a new competition. In December 2004, the demolition of the concrete towers began.
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