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Foundation		 » History

In the late sixties, the Berlin business community proposed the creation of an international platform to join economical, cultural and scientific forces that should promote the idea of good design.

Initiated by the German Association of Industry (Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie) and supported by the former German Minister of Economic Affairs, Prof. Karl Schiller, on Dezember 10th, 1968 the incorporated society International Design Centre Berlin (Internationales Design Zentrum Berlin e.V) was founded. On the April 17th, 1970 it opened its doors in the Budapester Straße in Berlin-Charlottenburg.
Ansbacher Straße In 1975 the IDZ decided to move to Ansbacher Straße, where the premises offered better working conditions. The new site had more place for constant services like documentation, consultancy and seminars for people interested in design.

Ettore Sottsass and Fritz Bornemann made the draft for the IDZ extension, and visualised the idea of a design studio.

The IDZ got flexible, modifiable rooms that allowed a multifaceted way of use. One focus point lay on transparency: large windows and open workplaces provided visitors and pedestrians with a direct insight into the IDZ atmosphere.
Kurfürstendamm After working for four years in the Wielandstraße, 1988 the IDZ was ready to move back into larger rooms.

The premises on the Kurfürstendamm offered enough place for small exhibitions, large seminars and consulting rooms and also the IDZ library opened to the public again.

For ten years „Kurfürstendamm 66“ has been a popular meeting place for design-interested visitors.
Oberbaumcity The year 1997 was a year of changes and break-ups.

After beeing supported since its foundation as a non-profit-organization by the senate administration for economy, in 1997 the public funding for the IDZ came to an end.

The IDZ used this as an opportunity for a re-start in the eastern part of the reunited city of Berlin. In the historical buildings of the former Narva-factory in Berlin-Friedrichshain the IDZ found outstanding spaces for exhibitions, seminars, conferences and once again was able to retrieve its popularity at its new location.
Reinhardtstraße 1st of August 2005, the IDZ relocated in the Reinhardtstraße in Berlin-Mitte. Near the government place and just across the road of the federal press conference building, the new site offered attractive possibilities for exhibitions, congresses and events of all kinds.