‍

‍

Berlin is known and quite popular with international visitors for its chaotic creativity, but there is not much sign of economic or technological optimism anymore. By hosting Expo 2035 — the Exposition Universelle Internationale — the German metropolis hopes to regain the image of a future-oriented modern city. The impetus for this came three years ago from a social initiative led by Berlin tech entrepreneur and former Chamber of Commerce (IHK) president Daniel-Jan Girl. An interdisciplinary concept team of architects and creative agencies has now presented initial drafts. According to these, a possible World Fair should be spread across the entire city, integrate science, sport, business and society and create space for ideas as an “exhibition in motion.”

‍

According to a press release from Expo Berlin 2035 GmbH, the concept does not envisage a classic large exhibition area but an expo area with international country pavilions and urban satellites in several districts of Berlin, such as in Tegel, Tempelhof, Marzahn or at the former headquarters of GDR radio in Treptow-Köpenick. Each of these locations has a thematic focus, such as energy & mobility, circular economy & urban production, digital education or culture & creativity. In between, so-called “Kiez labs” will be created — temporary and permanent places where Berlin initiatives and start-ups present their ideas for sustainable living in the city. The architecture of these places is modular, reusable and designed to be low-emission. After 2035, many structures should be able to be used for other purposes, for example as educational centers, workshops or neighborhood centers.

‍

‍

‍

Growth spurt for the capital

‍

According to calculations by management consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers, the World Fair could also be economically successful and generate 2.1 billion euros in turnover and trigger an overall economic growth effect in the tens of billions of euros by 2035. The funding includes public funding paired with private partnerships and international cooperation. As the first shareholder of Expo 2035 Berlin GmbH, the Berlin Chamber of Industry and Commerce invested 250,000 euros. By the end of the year, the project company intends to raise start-up capital of 2.5 million euros. In 2022, its chairman of the supervisory board, Girl, took the initiative to apply for Berlin with the Global Goals association. According to its own statements, the association has now collected around 850 projects that are working on ways to implement the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals in the city. The concept team includes Prof. Lutz Engelke, a successful designer of various international trade fairs, exhibitions and events.

‍

The Expo initiators want to build on the tradition of the famous Berlin trade exhibition of 1896. At the time, it was regarded as a substitute for a World Fair, at which Berlin presented itself as a modern European metropolis after Paris and London. It was driven primarily by Berlin merchants. However, there are still a few hurdles to overcome before the German capital can host Expo 2035. Although Berlin's Minister of Economic Affairs Franziska Giffey (SPD) and Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) spoke out in favour of the Expo in their city, the latter even in combination with the Olympic Games in 2036, the Federal Government has yet to agree. She must submit the official application to the Bureau International des Expositions in Paris by the end of 2026. A decision is then expected to be made in 2028. The last German Expo took place in Hanover in 2000; in principle, the cycle for world exhibitions is five years. The first ever took place in London in 1851. gd

‍

More information at www.expo2035-berlin.com | www.globalgoalsberlin.de

‍