The lease in Friedrichstrasse in Berlin was not extended by the property owner Tishman Speyer and expires at the end of the year. Around 190 employees are affected by the closure.
When it opened on February 29, 1996, the Galeries Lafayette was very popular with visitors as it was an attraction next to the KaDeWe department store in Berlin. The modern architecture is continued inside on all floors of Quartier 207, which, in addition to the Galeries Lafayette, houses further offices and exclusive living space. The area of Quartier 207 was put out to tender in an international architectural competition – the winner was a project consisting of twelve glass cones and cylinders, which lend the building a lightness and elegance, unlike the block development around it. The architect who won the competition and designed this visually striking glass palace was star architect Jean Novel.
The vacated premises could now become the new address for the Central and State Library. Berlin’s Senator for Culture Joe Chialo (CDU) has been campaigning for this for months as he has been looking for a suitable location for this facility for years.
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