The Local Germany

Iconic creations of Bauhaus design, 100 years on

Sat, 19 Jan 2019 13:49:56 +0100

As Bauhaus, the most influential design school of the 20th century, marks its 100th birthday, examples of its keep-it-simple elegance can still be found across the globe.

How Bauhaus designed the world as we know it

Thu, 17 Jan 2019 11:07:00 +0100

Bauhaus celebrated 100 years this Wednesday. We explore how the school of art is just as groundbreaking as it was a century ago, with its ideas still shaping functional design today.

Bridge collapse “cannot be ruled out” in Germany, says expert

Wed, 15 Aug 2018 12:26:53 +0200

With Europe still in shock after the dramatic collapse of a motorway bridge in Genoa on Tuesday, experts have warned that some road bridges in Germany are also in “dangerous” condition.

German architect Speer, son of top Nazi, dead at 83

Sun, 17 Sep 2017 18:35:10 +0200

One of Germany's most prominent architects and urban planners of the post-war period, Albert Speer Jr., has died aged 83, local media reported on Sunday.

Architects, refugees team up to build tiny houses in Berlin

Mon, 07 Aug 2017 12:35:46 +0200

Troubled to see a long queue of asylum seekers shivering for hours on a winter's day outside Berlin's notoriously chaotic registration centre, Van Bo Le-Mentzel decided to take action.

Two swanky new high rises to tower over east Berlin’s river bank

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 12:53:12 +0200

The boom in luxury apartment blocks on the banks of the river Spree in east Berlin divide opinion. Now two new high rises and a hotel have been given the green light.

The mobile Berlin brewery made out of shipping containers

Fri, 21 Apr 2017 18:09:27 +0200

Part pop-up, part up-cycling, this new brewery in the German capital is using some of the city's most distinct traits of reuse and re-purposing to create something new.

Three German sites up for Unesco recognition

Mon, 29 Jun 2015 12:50:31 +0200

Three German sites are up for inclusion in the prestigious UNESCO list of world heritage sites as the organization's committee meets in Bonn to consider the nominees.

Star architect dies day after winning top prize

Wed, 11 Mar 2015 09:14:38 +0100

German architect Frei Otto was named publicly as winner of the prestigious Pritzker Prize on Tuesday, a day after his death at the age of 89, organizers of architecture's top honor said.

Town gets help to save Europe's wonkiest tower

Wed, 19 Nov 2014 16:45:00 +0100

Federal funding will save the famous leaning tower of Bad Frankenhausen in Thuringia, which is both taller and wonkier than the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

The architect behind 'eyesore' Dresden bridge

Fri, 30 Aug 2013 14:57:00 +0200

It took him 17 years, but after dealing with rare bats and a slew of court cases, the man who designed a bridge deemed so ugly by Unesco that it stripped Dresden of its world heritage status, finally saw it open this week.

Building begins of replica medieval town

Tue, 25 Jun 2013 11:00:00 +0200

One man's dream to start building a full-size medieval town using only authentic historical tools and techniques came true over the weekend as he embarked on a 40-year project of a lifetime.

Berlin begins costly palace reconstruction

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:24:00 +0200

Berlin Wednesday kicks off the reconstruction of its palace, a divisive €590 million project to recreate the baroque architectural jewel whose post-war remnants were razed by communist leaders.

'An unpaid internship was like an investment'

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:40:00 +0200

In the latest instalment of My German Career, The Local spoke with Costa Rican architect Roberto Ovalle about mastering the language, and how German bureaucracy can be both a blessing and a hindrance in the building world.

Algae façade makes house truly 'green'

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 08:32:00 +0100

An innovating new building in the northern German city of Hamburg is hoping to harvest heat from its algae-covered façade. Jeff Kavanagh reports.

Top architect attacked in Bangladesh riots

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 09:35:00 +0100

An award-winning German architect was attacked by opposition activists in Bangladesh during protests over the weekend that left two people dead and dozens injured, the German embassy in Dhaka said Monday.

Hamburg sues over pricey, late concert hall

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:08:00 +0100

Hamburg city is suing the firm building its landmark new concert hall for going tens of millions of euros over-budget and being at least four years late.

Berlin's TV tower to get €1 mln make-over

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 11:54:00 +0100

Germany’s tallest structure – the Fernsehturm in central Berlin – is to be renovated over the coming months to make it more attractive to visitors – and better able to cope with growing crowds.

Building a better house

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 14:03:00 +0200

What does Germany’s modernist Bauhaus movement have to do with the housing estate down your street? Siobhan Dowling heads to Dessau to find out.

Rail passenger group calls for end to Stuttgart 21

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:09:00 +0200

An advocacy group for German train passengers said on Wednesday the controversial plans to revamp Stuttgart’s main station could still be aborted in light of continuing protests against the mammoth rail project.