Our Vision
View on the both areas of the future place of remembrance © Alamy
The "Forum Checkpoint Charlie" will be built on two sites, one to the east and one to the west of the intersection of Friedrichstrasse and Zimmerstrasse. It will be a place where people from Berlin, Germany and around the world can come together, learn about the history of the site and the Cold War, and engage in dialogue. We want to bring together as many perspectives as possible, involving experts as well as visitors to the site, starting at a very early stage of development.
The "Forum Checkpoint Charlie" will be a place of learning, encounter and exchange. People will be able to talk to each other here and share their connection to the internationally known site of the Cold War. At the same time, the expectations of many visitors to see authentic remnants of the border installations must be met without reshaping the site through further reconstructions. In order to make the extent of the GDR border crossing from Zimmerstrasse to Krausenstrasse visible, design elements must also be developed in the urban space. Both squares will be given a much higher quality of stay and a free outdoor exhibition will inform visitors about the historic site as a hotspot of the Cold War.
An information centre will be the first point of contact for visitors that also will be used for seminars and events. With an exhibition area, it will offer the opportunity to explore and illustrate individual facets and sites of the Cold War in changing exhibitions. The forum invites visitors to engage in discursive reflection and participation. In addition to the informational level, there will be many participatory and dynamic elements.
Join in!
What ideas and wishes do you have for the “Forum Checkpoint Charlie”? Let us know your ideas and get involved!
Cultural Participation Process
In the summer of 2023, the Berlin Wall Foundation organised a cultural participation process on the new place of remembrance at Checkpoint Charlie. Interested people were able to contribute their ideas on site and digitally, as well as talk about their personal connections to the border crossing. At the same time, several workshops were organised with experts in the field. The results have been summarised in a final report and will be incorporated into the conceptual considerations.
Urban Planning Participation Process
In 2022, the Senate Department for Urban Development, Building and Housing organised a participation process for interested citizens on the urban design of the site. This resulted in a set of guidelines that form the basis for the design of the place of remembrance, as well as for new development on the surrounding land.
Here you can find information about the planning process of the state of Berlin at Checkpoint Charlie.