Kosmos, Movie theater and entertainment centre in Friedrichshain, Germany.
Kosmos is a former large cinema at Karl-Marx-Allee 131, set back thirteen metres from the street. Its main hall has an egg-shaped plan, its pointed end facing the avenue, and held 1001 seats. A single-storey glazed entrance block with a rectangular plan leads in; the unglazed foyer walls are clad in light ceramic tiles with a silicate glaze.
Planned in 1959 by architects Josef Kaiser and Heinz Aust, the Kosmos was built between 1960 and 1962 by VEB Hochbau Friedrichshain at Karl-Marx-Allee 131 and opened on 5 October 1962. It served as the GDR's premiere cinema until 1989, hosting DEFA premieres such as Die Legende von Paul und Paula in 1973. UFA converted it into a multiplex in 1996 and ceased cinema operations in 2005; since 2006 it has been an event venue.
The name Kosmos refers to the cinema opened here in 1962, whose premieres drew Berlin audiences; DEFA films such as Die Legende von Paul und Paula (1973) were first shown in the 1001-seat hall. In the 1970s many Berlin schools held their Jugendweihe ceremonies in the large auditorium. Since 2006 the building has hosted party conferences, concerts and film premieres, including a 2006 SPD state party meeting that nominated Klaus Wowereit.
The building stands at Karl-Marx-Allee 131, set back thirteen metres from the street behind green areas, so it is reached through a single-storey glazed entrance pavilion with the foyer. The former main hall held 1001 seats; since 2006 the house has served conferences, evening events and theatre, so visiting depends on the programme of the respective organiser.
The main hall's oval plan is echoed by the outer shell, whose pointed end faces Karl-Marx-Allee; the foyer's unglazed walls are clad in light ceramic tiles with silicate glaze. The building stands thirteen metres back from the street, so it steps out of the surrounding row of buildings.
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