Guided walk

The guided walk begins in front of the Galeria Kaufhof  1  . The three- storey building that opened in 1968 as a “Konsument“ department store with a surface area of 102 x 60 metres originates from the architects around Klaus Frauendorf. The vertical structuring of the exposed concrete slab curtain wall produces a delightful play of light and shadow. The few windows are concentrated on the north and south sides. In the upper level you can admire the mural “Cottbus im Jahre 1730“ by Kurt Heinz Sieger. A copper plaque on the west side commemorates the former Cottbus synagogue.

Afterwards, walk north along Stadtpromenade to the Stadthalle [i. e. civic centre]  2  . The building, which was constructed from 1970 to 1975 according to the design of the architect Eberhard Kühn, is based on a hexagonal 17 metre high hall structure surrounded by a one-storey construction. The civic centre is distinguished by its clear spatial disposition. The surrounding low-rise building with its large-scale panorama windows on the north and south sides is plain yet clear and concise in its design technique. The ceiling consists of an expressive folded Rabitz construction (an installation of wire-reinforced plaster) with smooth stucco surfaces. On the east side there is a prominent side entrance with images of crabs.

Crossing Berliner Straße and Mauerstraße you come to the HERON-Buchhaus  3  . The building planned by architect Gerhard Bear is dedicated in 1969 and houses the popular book store “Jenny Marx“ until reunification. The two- storey building is remodelled in 1999: a pitch roof replaces the former flat roof, a blue-coloured block pattern made out of anodised aluminium covers the window front in the upper storey and a continuous display window front with an awning looks out on to Heronplatz.


To the west near the book store is the former restaurant Am Stadttor  4  . The restaurant complex that was built according to plans by architect Gerhard Bear is incorporated into the 32 metre long city wall and follows its longitudinal axis. The westward-facing embedded flat roof building with its floor-to-ceiling horizontal tripartite ribbon windows and rooftop terrace is a captivating sight. A 6 x 3 metre large stone mosaic entitled Galeria Kaufhof Stadthalle “Cottbusser Bauernmarkt“ [i. e. Cottbus Farmer‘s Market] decorates the wall between the window front and the main entrance.

Afterwards, cross the Stadtpromenade heading west. After just a few metres you will reach the Punkthochhäuser and the Wohnscheibe Stadtpromenade  5  . Between 1968 and 1970, two ten-storey point- block buildings with a strong, vertically-aligned facade and a 174 metre-long residential segment with a row of shops are constructed. At the base of the east side of the point-block building Berliner Platz 1 is the 22 x 3.3 metre tall concrete relief “Geschichte der Arbeiterbewegung“ [i. e. History of the Workers‘ Movement]. This area, realised by the group of architects around Gerhard Guder, is regarded as the definitive model for a socialist city.