Dresden hosts exhibition on East German modern architecture

The Center for Building Culture Saxony (ZfBK) in Dresden will host an exhibition titled “Ostmoderne. Kultur-Orte. UmBaukultur des industriekulturellen Erbes,” opening on November 6, 2026. The exhibition focuses on the transformation and preservation of East German modern architecture in the cities of Dresden, Chemnitz, and Leipzig.

Featured projects include the conversion of the Robotron canteen in Dresden into an art house, the relocation of the Pinguin-Café from the Dresden Zoo, and the repurposing of a Leipzig trade fair hall into a club. Other highlighted structures include the Stadthalle, Hotelhochhaus, and Schauspielhaus in Chemnitz, as well as the transformation of a former bowling alley in Leipzig into a natural history museum.

The exhibition utilizes archival materials, large-format photography by Louis Volkmann, and architectural models to trace the history, current state, and future of these industrial and cultural heritage sites. The event is a collaborative effort involving BDA Saxony, HTWK Leipzig, and the Dresden Office for Building and Real Estate Management.