An entry for an open public art competition for Ernst-Thälmann Park Berlin.

In collaboration with Ana Filipovic and Philipp Mecke

Apart from the Soviet War Memorial in Treptowerpark, there is no monument from the GDR era that stands out more than Ernst Thällmans. Though it remains larger than life, when visiting the site today, it feels empty and deserted. The square has a sense of being too wide to make one feel comfortable in, and through the years, it has frequently been subject to vandalism and neglect.

The concept presented here attempts to break the sculpture’s monolithic presence in the square while still maintaining the monument itself as the main point of reference. Borrowing its silhouette from the original sculpture’s pedestal, the structure adds a “duplicated” plinth to the square - but one that visitors can step onto. Using different functions and materials, the second plinth is a functional tower. It allows a higher perspective on the monument, suggesting closer to the eye-level contact and a great observation point of the memorial and its surroundings.