21 November 2019

Akademie der Künste discussion on the controversial reconstruction of Potsdam’s Garrison Church
With Thomas Albrecht, Wolfgang Huber, Saskia Hüneke, Detlef Karg, Philipp Oswalt, Hildegard Rugenstein, Matthias Sauerbruch and Ellen Schweda
Event on Wednesday, 4 December, Pariser Platz

The tower of Potsdam's Garnisonkirche, or Garrison Church, has been under reconstruction since 2017 under the auspices of the Bundespräsident. The public controversy surrounding this project, however, shows no sign of abating – on the contrary. Just last week, the budget committee of the Bundestag approved a further increase in funds, bringing the total budget to over 20 million euros. In an open letter published in August of this year entitled “Reconstruction of the Garrison Church in Potsdam: Break instead of continuity – What is needed is a place of learning rather than a place of identification”, numerous personalities from culture, science, politics and civil society call for fundamental changes to the project. They criticise a lack of distance to the right-wing and militaristic traditions of the historical site. As a result of the letter, the reconstructed carillon was deactivated because of its revisionist inscriptions, although questions remain about the architectural appearance, its future use and the sponsorship of the project. This is reason enough for the Architecture Section of the Akademie der Künste to bring together the various positions in a panel discussion.

Panel discussion with Thomas Albrecht, architect of the Garrison Church Potsdam; Wolfgang Huber, former bishop Berlin-Brandenburg; Saskia Hüneke, art historian; Detlef Karg, former state conservator Brandenburg; Philipp Oswalt, co-initiator of the petition, and Hildegard Rugenstein, pastor. The discussion will be moderated by the journalist Ellen Schweda.
Welcome address: Matthias Sauerbruch, architect and Director of the Architecture Section of the Akademie der Künste
Introduction: Wolfgang Huber and Philipp Oswalt

Event information
Reconstruction Garrison Church Potsdam: Place of Learning or Place of Identification?
Panel discussion
Wednesday, 4 December 2019, 7 pm, admission € 6/4
Akademie der Künste, Pariser Platz 4, 10117 Berlin
Tickets: www.adk.de/tickets
Reservations at: Tel. 030 200 57-2000, ticket@adk.de
>> Press tickets at presse@adk.de, Tel. 030 20057-1514