Doors Open Days for historical monuments on 12th and 13th September 2020

The theme of the Doors Open Days for historical monuments on 12th and 13th September 2020 was “Denk_mal nachhaltig” – a play on words that could either be translated as “Think sustainable!” or “Historical monuments & sustainability”. Bötzow Berlin marked the occasion by opening up the listed Bötzow Brewery site to the public. Visitors had the chance to enjoy guided tours offered by David Chipperfield Architects and restoration experts Restauration am Oberbaum and discover traces of the past or learn about master approaches to developing listed sites mindfully and sustainably. Alternatively, they were free to explore the idyllic gardens at their leisure and enjoy the sunshine. Doors Open Days for historical monuments have been a national event in Germany since 1993 and are part of the European Heritage Days programme. Every year, on the second Sunday in September – and in the case of Berlin, on the preceding Saturday too – history enthusiasts and owners of historical monuments give people the opportunity to visit buildings, sites and gardens which are not normally accessible to the public. The Doors Open Days are one of Europe’s largest and most popular cultural heritage events.

Picture: © Marion Schoenenberger for David Chipperfield Architects