Message by Ute Bonde

What a great idea to show an exhibition about Berlin’s streets in the course of the last two centuries in the middle of a street! And not just any street, but Unter den Linden. In other words, on the central reservation of the street that is often referred to as a “magnificent boulevard”.

This description was not always appropriate. We have not forgotten the long years of apparent and depressing lack of prospects in a dead end of world history that ended at the wall that divided us and our city. We must never forget the torchlight processions in our darkest historical period and the eerie events of the book burning on 10th May 1933, which still cast a shadow over this special street in German history. Today it is once again our street, which undoubtedly reaches its climax at the magnificent and unifying Brandenburg Gate.

So the open-air exhibition literally in the middle of Unter den Linden is a wonderfully appropriate way to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Architekten- und Ingenieurverein zu Berlin-Brandenburg. I would like to congratulate the members of this association, which is one of the oldest and most active professional associations in Germany, on their special anniversary.

And I would like to thank you! For your contributions to the modern, but not history-forgotten further development of Berlin’s streets, which must meet today’s mobility needs in harmony with architecture and the environment. In this respectful and considerate coexistence of the people of our city, your ideas can and will certainly make outstanding contributions for all of us.

As highly committed architects and engineers who continue to educate themselves throughout their lives and are open to innovation, you make your daily contribution to a functioning, forward-looking city worth living in, Berlin. Thank you once again and congratulations on your anniversary.