Gathering for a new literary event at the Academy of Sciences
The Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences (BBAW) has announced the winners of a student design project for a new literary salon at the Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin. The central feature of this project, known as "Language & Meaning," is the "Treasure Chamber of Language," which symbolises the depth of linguistic history with original Grimm's dictionaries.
Nine designs were created in the winter semester 2024/25 by students at the Detmold School of Design (Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippe, Hochschule für Gestaltung Detmold) under the supervision of Professor Carsten Wiewiorra. The jury for the project included Prof. Dr. Christoph Markschies (President of the BBAW), Prof. Sandra Richter (Director of the German Literature Archive Marbach), Kai Uwe Peter (CEO Sparkassenverband Berlin), Dr. Jörg Brauns (Architect and Director of the BBAW), and other experts in science, design, and architecture.
The jury selected Mayte Maier's design, the "Salon of the 4 Columns," as the winner, which will serve as the basis for further planning and contribute to the public perception of the project. The "Salon of the 4 Columns" aims to rethink the historic location as an open, inspiring literary salon and fill it with innovative ideas.
Greta Popova received an honorable mention for her "Lise-Meitner-Salon," a design focused on showcasing women's achievements in science. Other notable designs include Lisanne-Aimée Wächter's design, which includes a tea kitchen for employees, a public café, and the "Wunderkammer" as a central exhibition and connecting space.
Karla Helmke's "Literary Salon" features a harmonious interplay of communication, literature, and hospitality, while Hanna Ruth Dudey and Anna Luna Templin's design, "Language & Meaning," is an atmospherically open space for reflection and cultural dialogue.
The BBAW appreciates the commitment and creative input of all participating students and looks forward to the next steps towards a new place for dialogue in Berlin. The Academy collaborated with the Detmold School of Design at the Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences for the reorientation of this project.
If you are interested in learning more about the student design project for the new literary salon at the Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin, please contact the Detmold School of Design or Professor Carsten Wiewiorra directly for official information. You can also check student design platforms like Behance, Issuu, or university design blogs for project portfolios.
The winning design, "Salon of the 4 Columns" by Mayte Maier, envisions a reimagined space for the Gendarmenmarkt literary salon, focusing on promoting a stimulating literary environment. This project is part of an interior-design effort at the Detmold School of Design, reflecting a broader lifestyle perspective on home-and-garden improvement projects.
