From September 12 to 14, 2025, the legendary International Congress Center (ICC) Berlin will reopen its doors to the public for 49 hours, as part of Germany’s Heritage Day celebrations. The visit is free of charge but requires advance online booking via VisitBerlin. After standing vacant for over a decade, this rare opening offers an exclusive opportunity to explore the futuristic landmark that once symbolized West Berlin’s international ambitions. This was first reported by G Business, citing REnewz.de and information from the Berlin Senate.
Ticketing Begins on July 16 – Free but Limited
Tickets for the public opening become available from 10:00 AM on July 16, 2025. Reservations can only be made online. While entry is free, no walk-ins will be allowed.
The event will include architectural tours, art installations, light performances, and live music — running continuously for 49 hours, one hour longer than the 2023 debut under the banner "48h ICC".
📍 Reserve tickets via VisitBerlin
Icon of West Berlin: Once a Hub of Global Events
The ICC was not only a venue but a political statement. Built with nearly one billion Deutsche Marks, it hosted EU summits, global medical congresses, political party conventions, and TV galas like the Bambi and Echo Awards. In the 1980s and 1990s, it was considered the crown jewel of Berlin’s international outreach.
The building’s nickname, "Spaceship Berlin," was not metaphorical — it represented the belief in controlled, rational progress through modernist design and engineering.
Decline and Uncertainty
After German reunification, the building's significance declined. Competitors in Frankfurt, Leipzig, and abroad eroded its relevance. By 2014, the ICC was closed due to fire safety concerns and lack of economic viability. Maintenance alone costs the city several million euros annually, while renovation is estimated at over €200 million.
Despite being placed under historic preservation status in 2019, no viable plan has yet emerged to reactivate the space long-term. Proposed ideas have ranged from technology and research hubs to creative campuses, but none have been realized.
Over 300 Locations Across Berlin to Open for Heritage Day
The ICC event is one of over 300 openings across Berlin scheduled for Germany’s national Heritage Day on September 14, 2025. Visitors will also gain access to sites including the former gasworks in Prenzlauer Berg and hidden Gründerzeit villas in Steglitz — spaces typically closed to the public.
Senator Giffey: “Living Piece of City History”
At the official announcement, Berlin’s Senator for Economy, Franziska Giffey, stated:
“The ICC is a Berlin icon. I am pleased that we are once again making this extraordinary piece of city and architectural history accessible to the public.”
The Future Remains Open: Investor Still Sought
Now 45 years old, the ICC remains in limbo. The city has extended the timeline for its utilization concept due to the complexity of the project. A financially strong private investor is still being sought — one capable of bringing the building into sustainable use while respecting its heritage status.
For now, “49h ICC” offers Berliners and guests a chance to reconnect with one of the most distinctive buildings in Germany — and to imagine what its future might still hold.
Background: Berlin’s ICC – A Monument of West German Ambition
When the International Congress Centrum (ICC) opened in 1979, it wasn’t just a building—it was a political and architectural declaration. Designed by Berlin architects Ralf Schüler and Ursulina Schüler-Witte, the massive structure reflected the Federal Republic’s belief in progress through technology. Stretching 320 meters long, with over 200,000 square meters of floor space and 80 conference halls, the ICC was one of the largest and most advanced congress centers in Europe. Its construction cost nearly one billion Deutsche Mark.
Built to elevate isolated West Berlin to a global stage, the ICC hosted world medical congresses, party conventions, EU summits, and television galas. Its spaceship-like aluminum exterior, tunnel-like corridors, and separation of public and logistics flows earned it the nickname “Raumschiff Berlin.” Functionally ahead of its time, it was a symbol of technocratic optimism.
After reunification, the ICC’s prominence faded. In 2014, it was closed due to high maintenance costs and outdated fire protection. Though designated a protected landmark in 2019, the building now stands largely unused, requiring over €200 million in renovation and generating millions in annual upkeep. Despite numerous proposals, no viable redevelopment has yet been realized.
And yet, visiting the ICC is not just about architecture—it’s a walk through the ambitions of postwar West Germany. The building embodies a unique historical moment: bold, cold, and visionary. To enter its halls today is to experience both the past and the potential of a still-unwritten future.
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