On a sunny morning on 2 March 2026, the Architecture group members gathered at Bebelplatz in Berlin’s historic centre. Architect Ulf Meyer described the square’s layout, highlighting its historic buildings and modern additions. After a detour to the light-filled extension of the German Historical Museum by I. M. Pei, we crossed Gendarmenmarkt and continued to the Konzerthaus Berlin.

Originally designed by Schinkel as a theatre in 1821, the building was largely destroyed during the Second World War, leaving only its outer walls standing. For many years it remained derelict. As Berlin marked its 750th anniversary while the city was still divided, it was decided to reconstruct the Konzerthaus as the “Philharmonie of the East.” The restored halls are  a perfect adaptation of Schinkel’s original design in both form and colour scheme. The sole exception is the Werner Otto Hall, added in 2003 by Dresden-based architect Peter Kulka. With its modern, black multifunctional design, the architect intentionally creates a striking contrast to the reconstructed halls based on Schinkel’s original design.