Marking Ernst Neufert's 125th birthday, this exhibition explores the tension between simplicity and complexity, minimum standards and dimensions, material resources and material efficiency—examining these themes across disciplines and perspectives. It offers a critical reassessment of post-war modernism's architectural legacy in an era of construction transformation. Two landmark buildings by Neufert anchor the exhibition: the VDZ Building in Düsseldorf and the Eternit Factory in Heidelberg Leimen. Both embody the conflict between industrial modernism, ecological necessity, and cultural memory. Yet both face an uncertain future. Despite their protected heritage status, they suffer from continuous deterioration, neglect, and decay.

As these buildings physically decline, so too are fundamental questions about Neufert's legacy, architectural design methodology, standardization principles, and concepts like efficiency and optimization—all facing scrutiny and critical debate. A multimedia installation—combining photography, film collage, and sculptural elements—invites visitors to engage with the proportions underlying Neufert's influential octameter system. Curated by Astrid Bornheim, the exhibition is a collaborative effort between BDA Gallery Berlin, the PBSA Peter Behrens School of Architecture at Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences, and the AMM Architecture Media Management master's program at Bochum University of Applied Sciences.

Finissage:
Thursday, 22 January 2026, 7 p.m.
Curators' Talk with Prof. Astrid Bornheim

Exhibition dates:

25.11.2025 – 22.01.2026

www.bda-berlin.de