Map for a Central Learning and Memorial Site on German colonialism
© Moses März
9 Treptower Park
Central Site of Learning and Remembrance
Between 2022 and 2025, a conceptual framework addressing Berlin’s colonial history was developed in close collaboration with civil society from Berlin, Germany and beyond. The commission for developing this framework originated from the Berlin House of Representatives, which in 2019 resolved to draw up a city-wide remembrance framework. The conceptual framework as it was developed is the result of intense and fruitful collaboration between numerous committed individuals and organisations from civil society, academia, the arts, culture and practitioners in the field. A key proposal of the concept is the establishment of a central site for learning and remembrance dedicated to German colonialism in the centre of Berlin. According to the concept, such a site is essential for a critical engagement with Germany’s colonial past, as well as for coming to terms with, documenting and educating the public about German colonialism.
Through exhibitions and multimedia, the aim is to convey content that is critical of colonialism and sensitive to racism as well as fostering knowledge expressed in language that is sensitive to discrimination and accessible to a wide public. Furthermore, the site is intended to serve as a community centre. A library and an archive would also be set up to promote academic research. This central site of learning and remembrance is to be complemented by a decentralised landscape of remembrance that highlights places of significance in colonial history across the entire city. Both forms of remembrance – centralised and decentralised – are intended to enable and support one another. The city of Berlin has not yet responded to the call for the establishment of a central site of learning and remembrance dedicated to German colonialism.
Read the concept: konzept.kolonialismus-erinnern.de
Map for a Central Learning and Memorial Site on German colonialism
© Moses März
For What If Berlin, Akira Takayama transposes unrealised projects from the archives of the Berliner Festspiele and other Berlin cultural institutions, as well as from architects and artists, into the present and asks us which vision we want to realise in the future.
The future vision for the project Central Site of Learning and Remembranc, that will be presented in the frame of What If Berlin from 28 August 2026 onwards, will respond to the following question: What if Berlin would actually build the central learning centre about the history of German colonialism?
Which of the 27 visions for the future is the most exciting? Which project does Berlin need in future? Which idea should actually be realised?
Until 30 September 2026, you can vote for up to three of the 27 visions for the future. The results will be displayed live to give the latest impression of the public’s reactions.