Berlin: Completion of the unit monument at risk - general contractor demands additional federal funds of 2.5 million euros

The completion of the freedom and unit monument in Berlin is at risk without additional federal funds. The Stuttgart office of Milla & Partner asked the Federal Institute for Building and Spatial Planning as well as the house of Minister of Culture Claudia Roth for a follow -up financing of 2.5 million euros, since the construction is endangered without this funds. The monument is being built in Berlin in the immediate vicinity of the Humboldt Forum and the former GDR state council building at the location of the former national monument for Kaiser Wilhelm. The construction of the monument was delayed by various reasons and was originally supposed to be inaugurated on the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 2019, but this date failed due to financing questions.

The monument has a controversial story, but was described as a "social sculpture", which represents the image of a lived democracy. The architect and creative director Sebastian Letz emphasizes that the sculpture wins life when visitors come together, communicate and move together. Sebastian Letz describes the monument as a picture for lived democracy.

From the Milla & Partner's point of view, the project is "on the home stretch", since the socket of the monument in front of the Humboldt Forum is only waiting for the installation of the shell. Managing Director Johannes Milla is optimistic that the completion of the monument will not fail on 2.5 million euros.

effects on Berlin

The risk that the unit monument in Berlin will be at risk due to a lack of federal funds has an impact on the cityscape and the planned memorial. The delays and financing issues of the monument have already led to delays and could continue to have an impact on the planning and construction of important national and cultural projects in the future. This could also influence the image of Berlin as a cultural capital and center of German reunification.

further information

The unit monument is only one of many construction projects in Berlin that experience delays and financial challenges due to various reasons. The complexity of the construction project and the political debates about the design and financing of such monuments reflect the challenges that Berlin has to face with regard to its historical and national identity.

according to a report by www.bz-berlin.de ,