C/O Berlin is a young but already iconic venue for photography related exhibitions, workshops and lectures. It moved several times, now being located in the Amerika-Haus close to the Zoo station and the Ku-Damm, West Berlin´s former show-off consumer strip.

The Amerika-Haus used to be a German-American meeting place since 1957, provided by the United States Information Agency, with a library and many cultural activities. Anti American sentiments and violent demonstrations from the beginning of the Vietnam War to the US led invasion of Iraq in 2003 have led to a demise into irrelevance. Since then heavily guarded, only invited guests had access, until the Americans completely lost interest and gave up the building, handing it over to Berlin authorities. But Americans didn´t give up on the idea of supporting a cultural meeting place, thus the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy are now involved into keeping the Amerika-Haus idea alive.

Architecturally the building is a typical post-war modernistic and functional setting. It´s the kind of uninspired and nightmarish architecture which most people attributed with the speedy rebuilding efforts after the war. "Break with the imperialistic Wilhelminian and the brutal Nazi architecture, make a cut and start with a sober and simple beginning" was the credo, without realizing that a new unpopular style was created. But it´s en vogue again, 50s and 60s building styles celebrate a come-back. The building was restored into it´s original 1957 condition before C/O Berlin moved in.

A covered window with a note hanging on it, is not part of any exhibition,

but the light spot gives it the impression.

Taking a picture of someone taking a picture of someone looking at a picture.

Taking a picture of someone handling a camera.

Visitors viewing.

Reflection of an exhibition room in a window looking out on a terrace of the Amerika-Haus.

The adjacent building is also 50s/60s functional style, seemingly uninteresting.

The restored 50s staircase. This reminds many Germans of their school years,

as many new schools have been built in this style until the 80s.