Proposals for ex-parliament site.

22 Aug, 2006

While construction workers continue to dismantle East Germanys former parliament building the Palast der Republik the debate rages over the future of the site in central Berlin. The German parliament has backed a plan to rebuild the old Imperial Palace which once stood on the spot, creating a cultural and scientific centre to be named after German researcher Alexander von Humboldt. However, financial constraints mean that work would not start on the Humboldt Forum till 2012, leaving an open green space in the city centre. Other proposals include creating a temporary modern art gallery, a formal-garden-style labyrinth or a covered food market with retaurants and cafs or leaving the site empty for future generations to fill. If all goes to plan the Palast should be completely removed by next year.