Berlin's Marx-Engels Forum gets a €34M redesign—but stays closed until 2027
Berlin (dpa/bb) – The Marx-Engels Forum in Berlin-Mitte will remain a construction site for more than another year and a half. The larger-than-life bronze statues of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, which have stood there since 1986 gazing toward the TV Tower, will likely remain inaccessible to the public until the work is completed—expected by the end of 2027. This was confirmed by the Senate Department for Mobility and the Environment in response to a dpa inquiry.
Currently, the square is enclosed by construction fencing. "No entry to the construction site!" warn the signs. "Parents are liable for their children." An excavator moves across the grounds, where towering piles of sand have been dumped. Dozens of stone slabs are stacked nearby, while Marx and Engels can only be glimpsed from a distance amid the activity.
What exactly is planned?
The 7.2-hectare open space between the TV Tower, St. Mary's Church, the Red Town Hall, and the Spree River—located in Berlin's historic founding core—is set to be transformed into a new Town Hall and Marx-Engels Forum.
How long has construction been underway?
The redesign is based in part on the results of an international competition. Ground was broken at the Marx-Engels Forum last June. At the time, Senator for Transport and the Environment Ute Bonde (CDU) outlined the vision: "We want the Marx-Engels Forum to become a favorite spot for Berliners." According to the Environment Department, work has so far progressed as scheduled.
What will be completed first?
The first priority is creating an accessible gathering place along the Spree River, directly behind the Marx and Engels statues. This area will offer views of the Humboldt Forum and Berlin Cathedral and will be reachable via a series of steps and ramps—where visitors are explicitly encouraged to sit. Trees will provide shade, and a water feature is also planned.
How far along are the works?
Excavation to prepare the ground for the steps and ramps has been completed. At the same time, the historic cellar walls and foundations in Berlin's founding core were archaeologically documented, uncovered, and subsequently removed.
What's next?
Work on the substructure for the steps has already begun, with further progress expected in May. This summer, construction is also set to start on a new 2,300-square-meter play area along Rathausstraße. According to the Environment Department, work on the forum's new pathways will begin in the fall.
What about climate protection?
A roughly 650-square-meter area is planned where rainwater can seep into the ground or evaporate instead of draining into the sewer system. Preparatory work for this began in the Spandauer Straße area over the winter.
What happens in phase two?
In the second phase, the Town Hall Forum will also be redesigned, creating a newly configured space between the TV Tower, St. Mary's Church, the Red Town Hall, and the Spree. Earlier statements from the Environment Department indicate that the total investment for redeveloping both areas will amount to around €34 million.
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