Stasi Headquarters in Leipzig. Unwanted—so let's get rid of it?

The former site of the Ministry for State Security’s district administration is one of the last major examples of East German modernism in downtown Leipzig. Its architecture reflects the political, social, and urban planning ideals of the GDR and the profound changes that have taken place since 1989.

With its robust steel-frame construction, the existing building stock offers exceptional conditions for sustainable redevelopment. Rather than demolition, this presents an opportunity to preserve existing structures, conserve resources, and reinterpret a place that fosters a sense of identity.

The site thus has the potential to become a model project for dealing with postwar modernist architecture: as a place of transformation where built culture, memory, culture, and civic uses are interwoven. The future of this place lies not in spite of its history, but in the productive further development of its architectural heritage.