House of World Cultures

In Berlin, a distinctive building nicknamed the “Pregnant Oyster” houses the Haus der Kulturen der Welt. This cultural center is dedicated to non-European art and has become an icon of the city. Originally constructed in 1957 during the Interbau International Building Exhibition, the hall was a gift from the United States.

Designed by Hugh Stubbins, a student of Walter Gropius, it symbolized collaboration between the U.S. and Germany during the Cold War. The building hosted cultural, business, and political events, including speeches by President John F. Kennedy in 1963 and Jimmy Carter in 1978. By the 1980s, it fell into disrepair but was later renovated. In March 1989, it reopened as the transformed Haus der Kulturen der Welt.

Today, it is part of Germany’s national cultural foundation, known for groundbreaking exhibitions and programs. Can you relate to why Berliners affectionately call it the “Fat Oyster”?