An eventful history has left its mark on the Kulturforum. At the beginning of the 20th century, it developed into a middle class residential neighborhood where many pioneers of the avant-garde found a home. In the 1930s, the National Socialists radically redesigned the district. Numerous houses were torn down in preparation for Albert Speer’s Nord-Süd-Achse (a north-south axis cutting through the city), destroying the composition of the neighborhood. An intensive planning and development phase for the Kulturforum began after World War II, when architect Hans Scharoun was the city council member in charge of construction and housing.
The Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz chose the Kulturforum as its main location during the era when Germany was divided. Most of the new buildings were constructed here. Now the Kulturforum is being developed further with the construction of a new museum for 20th century art.
After six years of extensive renovation by David Chipperfield Architects, the Neue Nationalgalerie was ceremoniously reopened on August 22, 2021. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's iconic building now shines in restored form and is once again the central venue for presenting the National Gallery's 20th-century collection.
On October 6, 2024, the Josephine Baker Garden was officially opened south of the Neue Nationalgalerie. The green space commemorates the dancer, singer, Resistance fighter, and civil rights activist. Speakers at the inauguration included SPK President Hermann Parzinger, Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth, and Klaus Biesenbach, Director of the Neue Nationalgalerie.
The area in front of the central entrance to the museums at the Kulturforum – formerly known as the “Piazzetta” – was ceremoniously renamed Johanna-und-Eduard-Arnhold-Platz on November 4, 2024. The city is thus honoring an important Jewish patron couple who made a lasting contribution to the promotion of art, science, and society. The renaming was initiated by the Association for the Remembrance of Johanna and Eduard Arnhold in cooperation with the Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz.
