I love the HKW – “Haus der Kulturen der Welt” (House of the World’s Cultures). Such great architecture and such a great location for the presentation and discussion of international contemporary arts… and of course – during the BERLINALE Filmfestival – one theatre for great movies and shortfilms.
It was formerly known as the “Kongresshalle” (conference hall), a gift from the United States, designed in 1957 by the American architect Hugh Stubbins. But, in Berlin it is also know as the “Schwangere Auster” (Pregnant Oyster).

I was always fascinated by the Golden Flags, flying on the terrace at the HKW for several years. Finally I found this as an explanation. Instead of the national flags, golden flags have been flying in front of the house since 2020, representing a “golden-glittering rescue blanket”, the symbol of the “The Many” initiative, an association of cultural workers directed against right-wing populism.

Today, since June 2023 different flags are flying, colourful flags with the letters “DDR” – standing for: Decarbonize, Decolonize, Rehabilitate.