Competition for the Design of a Freedom and Unity Memorial in Berlin
Submission date: 10. March 2009
On 9. November 2007 the German parliament decided that the Federal Republic of Germany will erect a Memorial to Freedom and Unity, in memory of the peaceful revolution of Autumn 1989, and as a memorial to movements and efforts undertaken over the centuries to achieve unity and freedom. The German parliament agreed on the main issues of the competition on 4. December 2008.
The German government is the official organiser, represented by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs. Coordination and execution is to be managed by the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning.
The Federal Government Commissioner, Bernd Neumann, emphasized: “After the decision made by the German parliament on 4. December 2008, the start of the competition for the Freedom and Unity Memorial is an important milestone in the realisation of this memorial project of national significance. An open competition renders possible broad participation, and is intended to contribute to wide, public acceptance for the memorial.”
The Memorial for Freedom and Unity is to be erected as a national symbol in the centre of the German capital. Its form and design are to express its special significance and effect.
The future Memorial for Freedom and Unity will be located at the plinth of the former national monument for Kaiser Wilhelm 1, at the ‚Schlossfreiheit’ in Berlin-Mitte.
The competition process is to be executed in 2 stages: The first stage is organised as an international open competition of ideas for visual artists, architects and other freelance creative minds, without any restriction on entitlement to participate. The jury will select approx. 20 participants from the works, which are assessed anonymously, to enter into the 2. stage. The 2. stage is executed as a competition for specifically invited entries, in the form of a cooperative process. The language of the process is German.
The public is included in the process by way of exhibition and information events after the 1. and the 2. stage.
The aim of the competition is to gain concept ideas in the first stage. The works selected should provide a base for development for further processing. The artists and creative groups selected in the first stage should be able to plan and erect the memorial.
A total of 10 million Euros has been set as the upper cost limit.
Further information, as well as application material and documents, are available at www.wettbewerb-denkmal.de
