The SEZ, legendary sports and recreational paradise and architectural icon of the Ostmoderne / modernity Eatern style is now in municipal hands again after a lengthy period of private owners. For more than ten years, citizens have fought for this, but acting senator of building and construction, Christian Gaebler, now calls for the demolition of the building to be able to create a new development area on its grounds.“No need for another swimming pool”, he says. Schools and apartments are more needed instead. But resistance is forming against these plans, as petitions are calling for the SEZ to be renovated and reopened. There is , in fact, not a single swimming pool left in the Friedrichshain area, and there is a huge lack of social infrastructure for sports and recreation. Architects have emphasized the unique character and the quality of the construction. The demolition of a completely intact mulitfunctional building should also be opposed for ecological reasons.

So there is an urgent need for discussion about and around the SEZ. We want to address these issues and talk with panel guests and audiences. We are going to present the arguments of those in favour of the demolition and invite all of you to put them to the test: are they really valid? Expect artistic interventions in the course of the action.

With Theresa Keilhacker, president of Berlin’s Chamber of Architects; Carl Waßmuth from the movement Gemeingut in BürgerInnenhand, and Niloufar Tajeri, architectural theorist and activist, Daniel Fuhrhop, economist, Susanne Zapf, violinist, Milena Arne Schedle, actress. Moderation: Jorinde Schulz.