To mark the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, the Hotel de Rome, a Rocco Forte hotel in Berlin, will be hosting an extraordinary photo exhibition.

Starting on October 8, 2024, the renowned photographer Daniel Biskup will present 45 of his striking works, including some previously unpublished photographs documenting the emotional period of the fall of the Berlin Wall and Germany’s reunification. Iconic images, such as the first joint New Year’s Eve at the Brandenburg Gate or an encounter with Udo Lindenberg at the newly reopened Potsdamer Platz border crossing. Through this exhibition, Biskup encapsulates the emotions, relief, and joy of the people in the days following the fall of the Wall.

The Hotel de Rome, housed in a building of deep historical significance, offers the perfect backdrop for this exhibition, honoring these defining moments in German history. Located at Bebelplatz in what was once East Berlin, the 135-year-old building is deeply connected to the country’s turbulent history. Built between 1887 and 1889, the building was designed by architect Ludwig Heim. It served as the headquarters of the Dresdner Bank until 1945, after which it became the State Bank of the GDR. The Hotel de Rome opened in October 2006, following extensive renovations. Great care was taken to preserve the historical traces of the former bank building. For example, the spa is located in the former jewelry vault, the historic suites were once the directors’ offices and the bank’s grand hall has been transformed into an impressive ballroom. As one of the few buildings to survive World War II relatively unscathed, it stands today as a symbol of change and rebirth - fittingly aligned with the theme of the exhibition.

“It is a great honor to present my photos in such a historically significant place,” says Daniel Biskup. “The Hotel de Rome represents not only Berlin’s architectural splendor but also its storied history. There is no better place to keep the memory of the fall of the Wall alive and to remind new generations of what was at stake back then.”

At the age of 17, Bonn-born Daniel Biskup took his first photographs of East Berlin and the border installations in the divided city in 1979. In the summer of 1989, Biskup began documenting the East German refugees in Budapest. He was present on November 4 at the first major demonstration at Alexanderplatz in East Berlin and, five days later, at the fall of the Berlin Wall.

The concierge team of the Hotel de Rome is offering a range of experiences around the city, from biking tours along the “Berlin Wall Death Strip”, and tours in an East German Trabant car (“Trabi”) to private guided tours of sites commemorating divided Germany.

The exhibition “35 Years of the Fall of the Wall” at Hotel de Rome will be open to the public from October 8, 2024, to March 31, 2025. Admission is free, and the photographs can be viewed daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM with a brief registration at the hotel reception.

The photos provided are available for publication with proper credit to the photographer: ©Daniel Biskup.