Pop, Politics, and Propaganda

Over the last 50 years, the America House in Berlin has been the focal point of cultural and political discussions and international controversies. Protected by barbed wire, it was attacked with eggs and Molotov cocktails; Robert Kennedy and Willy Brandt visited; millions of Berliners gained access to information in its library and at screenings of films; Lyonel Feininger and Robert Rauschenberg exhibited their works there. In addition, the building is an architectural gem. Built in 1956-57 by Bruno Grimmek, the delicate, open structure is based on the concept of the "idea of space"--a fluid space that is borne by a transparent exterior membrane. In fall 2014 the building will be the new home of C/O Berlin, the exhibition center for photography and visual media. On this occasion, the book traces the rich history of the America House.