Architect Prof. Dr. Wolf R. Eisentraut (BDA) marks his 80th birthday on December 1st. The Marzahn-Hellersdorf District Museum's new exhibition celebrates this milestone by exploring his life and legacy. His "dual" architectural practice—spanning both the GDR and reunified Germany—has been defined by an unwavering commitment to building and architectural culture. From the North Sea coast to Usedom, from the Brocken to Saxony, and especially throughout Berlin, his built works speak for themselves. Yet nowhere is his influence more visible than in Marzahn, where his distinctive and instantly recognizable structures have fundamentally shaped the cityscape.

Curated by architectural historian Dr. Oleg Peters, the exhibition unfolds across three thematic spaces, offering glimpses into Eisentraut's creative process while exploring how architecture emerges and the interplay between individual and collective vision. The first room centers on his biography, introducing three of his most significant works. The second examines his transformative role in shaping Marzahn's architecture and urban development—revealing how he turned industrial construction constraints into creative opportunities rather than limitations. The third room dedicates itself to housing, a thread running throughout Eisentraut's fifty-year career. The exhibition also illuminates a bittersweet truth: Eisentraut witnessed the demolition of important works after 1990, and many of his unrealized designs remained unrealized. This journey through an "architecture of possibilities" captures both the triumphs and the roads not taken—a reality few architects escape.

The exhibition brings together texts, photographs, documents, videos, and audio stations alongside a rich collection of objects—architectural models, design sketches, construction documentation, newspaper clippings, theatre posters, and stage designs. This comprehensive presentation is made possible through generous collaboration with the Berlinische Galerie, the German Broadcasting Archive, and the Association of German Architects (BDA) Berlin. Special gratitude goes to Eisentraut himself, whose decision to open his extensive personal archive made this exhibition possible.

www.kultur-marzahn-hellersdorf.de