The Palast der Republik opened to the public in April 1976. It served as the seat of the East German parliament, the Volkskammer, but was also a palace for the people: it housed two large auditoriums, art galleries, a theatre, an espresso bar, restaurants and a bowling alley. Here is the full series of Klapsch’s photographs, many of which we feature in the current issue of icon (074), taken in an abandoned and Marie Celeste-like Palast in 1993. Alongside Klapsch’s photographs in the magazine, you can read you can read Jana Sholze’s reminisces about the Palast from her childhood in East Berlin, and her view of the controversies surrounding its demolition and replacement. Klapsch’s photos are currently part of an exhibition in Kulturhaus Mestlin, Mestlin, Germany.

www.thorstenklapsch.de