Rügen hosts themed week celebrating engineer Ulrich Müther

The seaside resort of Binz on the island of Rügen is hosting a themed week dedicated to Ulrich Müther (1934–2007), a renowned East German structural engineer known for his futuristic concrete designs. Starting September 28, the event includes bus tours of Müther’s structures across Rügen, a theatrical performance at the Binz visitor center, and periodic openings of his UFO-style rescue tower located at the beach entrance.

A new permanent exhibition titled ‘Müther – Grenzgänger der Ostmoderne’ is also open, offering insights into his life, his unique constructions, and the political environment of his era. Notable works on the island include the ‘Taucherhelm’ (Diver's Helmet) bus shelter in Buschvitz—a wind-resistant structure designed after a 1973 storm—and a mushroom-shaped pavilion in Baabe.

Müther gained international recognition for his hypar shell constructions, which are thin concrete structures capable of spanning large distances. His architectural legacy includes the ‘Teepott’ in Warnemünde, the dome of a planetarium in Berlin, and various buildings in Libya, Jordan, and Cuba.