Berlin: area by area – Tiergarten – Haus der Kulturen der Welt

In the former Congress Hall, the House of World Cultures is a forum for dialogue between the multifarious cultures alive in the world today.
The emphasis is on contemporary arts from Africa, Asia and Latin America.
The house offers a platform for theatre and dance, film, literature, conferences, exhibitions and series of events. The building was designed by the American architect Hugh Stubbins for the International Building Exposition in 1957. Construction was partially financed by the American government.
The Congress Hall was seen as a symbol of German-American friendship and as a contribution to freedom of speech. The curved and suspended roof of the building was an architectural wonder; open on both sides, it appears to float in mid-air without support. But 23 years later, errors in the original planning and construction led to the sudden partial collapse of the roof. Only in 1987 was reconstruction completed, just in time for Berlin's 750th birthday celebrations. In 1989, the faithfully-restored Congress Hall became the House of World Cultures and home to art from all corners of the globe.
Nearby the Haus der Kulturen der Welt the Carillon, the largest carillon in Europe, was inaugurated in 1987 to commemorate the 750th anniversary of Berlin. Four towers are covered by a pavilion roof where 68 bells are installed.