The architect Prof. Peter Eisenman told the Foundation on 21.01.2002 that he withdrew his proposal that the Memorial’s 2700 steles be finished in natural stone. He emphasised that his main concern had always been to achieve optimum quality for the concrete steles and stressed once more his wish to keep within the time schedule and budget approved by the Foundation’s board of trustees. The chairman of the Foundation, Bundestag President Thierse, welcomed the architect’s decision: »Every artist has the right to express his or her ideas; however, I am delighted that with this decision Peter Eisenman will not be jeopardising the prompt realisation of his ambitious project.«
Over the next few weeks, the Foundation will be working with the architect and the department within the Berlin administration responsible for the construction of the project, the Senatsverwaltung für Stadtentwicklung , to drive forward the invitation to tender and award of contracts for building work for the concrete steles.
At its next meeting on 31 January, the board of trustees will hear Mr. Eisenman’s report on the current status of the architectural planning. The latest developments in designer Dagmar von Wilcken’s exhibition concept for the Information Centre are also on the agenda.
