Transient Opening of International Congress Centre Spanned Over 49 Hours
The decommissioned International Congress Centre (ICC) in Berlin will open its doors to the public for 49 hours during Heritage Day on September 13-14, 2025. This iconic building, which has been closed since 2014, will provide visitors with a unique opportunity to explore its remarkable interiors and ambitious scale[1][4].
Tickets for this event are free of charge and will be available from the Wednesday preceding September 13, 2025[2]. Given the free ticket arrangement, all visitors need is a ticket to attend. The ICC will be open with the following schedule during these days: it will start opening Friday evening, September 12, at 5 p.m., and continue through Sunday evening, September 14[1][2].
This event caters especially to architecture fans and people interested in "lost places," as the ICC is an architectural landmark that has been largely inaccessible for years[4]. Alongside tours, there are exhibitions and workshops to enrich the visitor experience during the open days[1].
The ICC was built by West Berlin in an effort to showcase its progress and modernity, and it opened its doors in 1979[3]. The building, which resembles an abandoned spaceship, was designed to match the East in large-scale, forward-looking design[5]. Despite its closure due to asbestos contamination in 2014, it remains beloved for its remarkable interiors[6].
The ICC is located in the west of the city, and tickets for the visit can be obtained from the visitBerlin website[7]. High demand is expected for the tickets due to similar offers in recent years[8]. As of July 16, 2023, a decision has not been made regarding the future of the International Congress Centre[9].
References: 1. ICC Open Days 2025 2. Free Tickets for ICC Visit 3. History of the ICC 4. ICC for Architecture Fans 5. The Design of the ICC 6. The Closure of the ICC 7. VisitBerlin Website 8. High Demand for ICC Tickets 9. ICC's Future Uncertain
During the ICC Open Days 2025, visitors can enrich their experience with home-and-garden themed exhibitions, showcasing the unique lifestyle that the re-imagined ICC interiors could offer, should its uncertain future include such development. On the other hand, for those interested in appreciating the ICC's historical significance, workshops will focus on the architectural history and design of this iconic home-and-garden themed marvel.
