ICC Berlin: The Forgotten Spaceship That Still Captivates the World

In Berlin, where history lies around every corner, there stands a silver behemoth. A building that looks like it landed from another galaxy. The International Congress Center, or ICC Berlin, is one of the city’s most iconic yet most misunderstood landmarks. Once a celebrated symbol of modernity and innovation during the Cold War, the ICC today stands empty, frozen in time like a monument to lost futures. But its story is far from over.

A Child of the Cold War: Birth of the ICC

To understand the ICC completely, we must rewind to the divided days of Berlin in the 1960s and 70s. After World War II, Berlin became the epicenter of ideological rivalry. West Berlin, an enclave of capitalist democracy surrounded by communist East Germany, sought to project its resilience and progressiveness not only through politics but also through architecture. When East Berlin unveiled its glittering Palace of the Republic in 1976, it was a challenge to the West. The response came in the form of the ICC. Designed by husband-and-wife architects Ralf Schüler and Ursulina Schüler-Witte, who also designed Berlin’s iconic TV tower in Steglitz, the ICC wasn’t just a building — it was a statement of Western vision and vitality.

The vision was grand. Construction began in 1975, and by the time the building was completed in 1979, it had consumed over 1 billion Deutsche Marks (around €500 million today). At the time, it was one of the most expensive public buildings in West Germany. The scale and ambition of the ICC reflected a deep desire to demonstrate West Berlin’s international relevance in a divided world.

A Technological Masterpiece of Its Time

The ICC was the first of its kind in both form and functionality. Stretching over 320 meters, it was created not just to host events, but to completely reinvent the concept of a conference center. Its outer façade featured a modern post-industrial look, covered in aluminum and supported by massive steel beams — a design that led many to nickname it “the spaceship.” Futuristic in style, the ICC was both praised and criticized for its bold innovation. Inside, it housed more than 80 meeting rooms and two colossal halls capable of accommodating thousands of participants simultaneously. Beyond its vast size, the ICC was also one of the most complex structural designs of its time.

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The conference halls were constructed as soundproof structures, mounted on rubber bearings to minimize vibrations. This ingenious design allowed multiple events to take place at the same time without disturbances — an essential feature for a building intended to host everything from medical forums to tech fairs to political summits.

Technological innovation permeated every corner of the ICC. Following the specifications of Frank Herrmann, an impressive lighting system was installed, adding both style and functionality to the corridors. The elevators were computer-controlled, and the simultaneous interpretation systems could handle up to twelve languages at once — a level of sophistication that many modern facilities would still envy today.

Most significantly, the ICC was built with the spirit of public utility at its core. Unlike many elite conference venues, it was designed to be accessible to the people of Berlin. The architects envisioned not a wall separating it from the city, but a living, breathing part of Berlin itself — a space created for its citizens and its future.

A Cultural Hub and Global Stage

The ICC’s success during the 1980s and 1990s is evident in the major global events it hosted. It became a premier venue for medical and scientific congresses, international business fairs, corporate meetings, and political conferences. The ICC welcomed many prominent figures, including Mikhail Gorbachev, Angela Merkel, Bill Gates, and numerous Nobel Prize winners. Yet, it was never merely a place for offices and oratory — it was also a cultural powerhouse.

Legendary artists like Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, Ella Fitzgerald, and the Miles Davis Sextet performed here. Film festivals and comic cons also brought a diverse crowd, making the ICC a rare space where high diplomacy met vibrant pop culture.

Many Berliners fondly remember strolling through the impressive boulevard of the ICC, breathing in the atmosphere of its retro-futuristic interior, and admiring the immense sculpture known as “The Brain” — a tribute to the building’s intellectual spirit. With its intricate network of bridges, walkways, and passages, the ICC often felt less like a convention center and more like the set of a science fiction film.

A Slow Decline in a Changing City

However, as Berlin continued to develop in the 21st century, the ICC was gradually marginalized. After German reunification in the 1990s, the city’s focus shifted. The newly unified Berlin saw the rise of fresh urban developments, and newer, more glamorous venues like Messe Berlin, CityCube, and the Tempodrom began competing with the ageing ICC.

Adding to this was another problem: a structure of this size was becoming increasingly expensive to maintain. In 2014, after nearly 35 years of operation, the ICC was shut down due to asbestos contamination. Renovation costs were estimated at over 500 million euros, sparking public debate.

Some saw the ICC as a relic of the past — bloated, costly, and outdated. Others considered it a masterpiece of 20th-century architectural design, a cultural landmark that must be preserved at any cost. Despite various proposals over the years, the building has largely stood idle, its future uncertain.

A Building That Refused to Die

Even in abandonment, the ICC found new purpose. During the 2015 European refugee crisis, parts of the building were converted into emergency accommodation for asylum seekers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was repurposed as a vaccination center. Artists and filmmakers found inspiration in its vast, empty corridors. Photographer Tobias Zielony and the art collective Slavs and Tatars used the space to explore themes of isolation, bureaucracy, and future nostalgia.

Meanwhile, the ICC became an icon within architectural circles. Its Brutalist-meets-high-tech style gained renewed appreciation, especially among younger generations who found beauty in its raw, machine-like elegance. Urban explorers and architecture bloggers dubbed it a “forgotten treasure,” and calls to save it grew louder.

The Big Question: What Comes Next?

In 2022, the Berlin Senate made a bold move: it launched a public tender, offering a 99-year lease — for free — to anyone willing to restore and reuse the ICC, on one condition: its architectural integrity must be preserved, and the building must remain open to the public.

This sparked a wave of interest from architects, developers, artists, and urban planners. Proposals poured in: turning the ICC into a technology museum, a cultural center, a startup hub, or even a climate innovation lab. Some even suggested transforming it into a University for Urban Futures, where architecture, politics, and art could intersect.

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Yet challenges remain. The cost of renovation is enormous. The asbestos problem is serious. And political will is divided. Still, many believe that the ICC’s symbolic and cultural value outweighs its economic cost. After all, how many cities can claim to have a literal spaceship from the past still waiting to launch?

Why the ICC Still Matters?

The ICC Berlin is much more than a structure with four walls and a roof. It captures Berlin’s past, its Cold War ambition, its architectural daring, and its dreams for a brave new world — all in one place. It reminds us that cities are not built solely for function; they are built for imagination and hope.

While many modern constructions strive to be as logical and geometrical as possible, the ICC dared to be bold, complex, and even geometrically illogical. Its futuristic and defiant design continues to inspire generations of architects and designers. The ICC tells the story of Berlin — not just the Berlin divided by the Wall, but the Berlin of opportunity and reinvention. Today, the call for revitalization is louder than the call for demolition. Inspired by the ICC, people are reimagining transformation as a way forward, rather than destruction.

Conclusion

The ICC Berlin stands as a testament to a time when architecture was not just about utility, but about dreams. It reflects a Berlin that was bold enough to imagine the future during one of the darkest periods of division and uncertainty. Though restoration poses financial and political challenges, the spirit of the ICC — its boldness, its innovation, its vision — still captures imaginations today. In saving the ICC, Berlin would not just be preserving a building; it would be preserving a piece of its soul — a place where the past’s bold dreams can still inspire future generations.

Frequently Asked Questions About ICC Berlin

What is ICC Berlin known for?

It is known as one of the world’s largest conference centers, famous for its spaceship-like futuristic architecture and Cold War symbolism.

Why was ICC Berlin closed?

It was closed in 2014 due to asbestos contamination and the high cost of renovation.

What are the future plans for ICC Berlin?

Berlin is offering a 99-year free lease to any project that restores the ICC while preserving its structure and opening it to the public.