Foundation stone laid for 2020
A new chapter in the House of One’s development has been opened. We said goodbye to our pavilion on Petriplatz in Berlin with a ceremony with many cultural, political, economic, and religious representatives in attendance. Thus, space has been created for the preparations for our next important date, which was announced during the closing ceremony: The foundation stone for the House of One will be laid on the 14th of April 2020.
"This is an important step towards the structural completion of our interreligious peace project," Rabbi Andreas Nachama, Chairman of the Board of Trustees and member of the Presidium of the House of One, said on Wednesday at the closing ceremony. "For several years now we have been active in interreligious dialogue and - Jews, Christians and Muslims together - in our daily work in the House of One Foundation we contribute time and again to more understanding, tolerance and togetherness in our society."
Parallels to the Ring Parable
The closing ceremony was the last celebration on Petriplatz until the laying of the foundation stone, which falls on the anniversary of the premiere of Lessing's drama "Nathan the Wise" in Berlin in 1783. The drama is a plea for humanism and peaceful understanding between religions and society. "At that time Berlin opened up for the first performance of Lessing's important, at that time highly controversial work," said Imam Kadir Sanci, member of the Presidium of the House of One. "Today we are grateful that Berlin is opening up again, this time for the House of One."
His colleague on this committee, Pastor Gregor Hohberg, added: "The openness today can and will not only affect the three religions that are the founders of the House of One Foundation, but it goes far beyond that and invites atheists, religious seekers and other religions to engage in dialogue". A few years ago a newspaper text even read: "Lessing's ring parable becomes architecture". A beautiful parallel that is worth thinking about.
Preparing the construction phase
Before construction begins, however, the archaeologists will return. Once they are done their work, the building site on the once swampy floodplain can finally be fortified in the center of Berlin. Around 70 concrete supporting columns over 30 meters long have to be drilled into the ground in order to stabilize it permanently. Only then can the construction of the House of One begin on the foundations of the former Petri Church, Berlin's first church.
Three years are planned for the construction of the House of One. The costs will amount to 43.5 million euros. 8.5 million euros in donations and contributions have already been received, 10 million euros have been pledged by the federal government - with the proviso that the state of Berlin and private donors will each contribute a further 10 million euros. The remaining gap of five million euros will be closed with crowdfunding and fundraising campaigns.
The educational work of the interreligious team in the House of One as well as corresponding workshops, presentations or events of the House of One Foundation will be continued unaffected by this.