Main Content
Contemporary History and Archive
The Research Area addresses problems of design, planning and appropriation of spaces in recent history. The focus is laid on the history of urbanisation, architecture and urban planning in the GDR, the significance of materiality in the historical transformation of the built environment, and cross-border cooperation in spatial development. Research projects are focussing on the historical roots of current socio-spatial processes and opens the view for long-term continuities as well as for breaks and crises in spatial development. It also deals with current problems of preserving the architectural heritage and the value of the past in the present. Another focus is on questions concerning new forms of archiving and documentation of current processes in the fields of planning and building for future generations in times of digitalisation, such as digital architectural designs. Special interest is given to methods and approaches of digital history. Priority addressees are the broader public, civil society initiatives, and municipalities, ministries and museums. In addition, consulting services are developed for other archives, especially small ones.