Established in 1957 in West Berlin, Interbau was an exhibition of buildings dedicated to countering Stalinalle and asserting dominance over East Berlin. Also known as the "city of tomorrow," it featured 601 apartments and amenities. The introduction will discuss broader architectural components, architects responsible for Interbau, and provide a broad historical context.
Interbau is an example of Cold War modernization. In this section, I will examine the architectural differences between Interbau and Stalinalle and what they reveal about the Cold War competition between the US and its allies versus the Soviets.
Interbau was an exhibit that included high and low-rise buildings but emphasized landscape and greenery. The exhibit is an example of large-scale modern refurbishment. No efforts were made to preserve the ruins. In this section, I will discuss architectural the inspiration behind Interbau.
Within the Interbau exhibit, there are 601 apartment units in addition to other buildings. Among these buildings, there are five that are more well-known.[1] I will touch upon these five buildings and why they are so significant. I will also address what these buildings can tell us about Interbau as a whole.
Since the exhibit in 1957 some alterations have been made to Interbau. Nonetheless interbau still remains a part of Berlins architecture today. In this section I will address some of the changes that were made to Interbau and what significance the exhibit holds today.
