Two German Architectures 1949-1989

The touring exhibition “Two German Architectures 1949—1989” has been shown in various countries over the past 20 years, most recently in Berlin in 2021. After stops in Istanbul, Canberra and Singapore, among others, the show has been on display in Suhl, Thuringia, since May 7, 2023. Until the end of the year, interested parties can find out more about divided Germany from a building culture perspective in the plenary hall of the new town hall.

In the smallest district town of the former GDR, the town hall, the entire city center and the Centrum department store, which has been demolished since 2006 and converted into a shopping center, are testaments to East Modernism. Numerous accompanying events are taking place in Suhl in connection with the exhibition. For example, on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, a panel discussion with the photographer and architect Martin Maleschka and the journalist and author Danuta Schmidt in the city library.

Maleschka was born in Eisenhüttenstadt and experienced during his student days how different places of his childhood were gradually torn away. During this time he began to photograph GDR architecture and construction-related art. The chronicler has now documented over a thousand works of art, which are often acutely threatened with destruction or decay. As can be read in Baunetzwoche#526, in addition to building-related works of art from the GDR, he also photographs large housing estates and prefabricated buildings in Germany and abroad, gives lectures and organizes workshops at schools and universities.