Graft & TU Delft student research unbuilding walls

UNBUILDING WALLS BERLIN

GRAFT & TU Delft Chair of Complex Projects MSc1 2017 | 2018

U W B

COLOPHON

GRAFT in collaboration with Delft University of Technology Chair of Complex projects MSc1

Supervisors Lars KrĂźckeberg Wolfram Putz Thomas Willemeit Henri van Bennekom

Lay-out Sophie Hengeveld

Students Rosanne Alkema Sjoerd Beemster Matthew Bevan Hugo Bolsius Eveline van de Bovekamp Stefan van den Eshof Ignaz Hameetman Sophie Hengeveld Maud Klein Horsman Danlei Huang Anna Dobrava Kicinska Rik Meijer Charlie Roelse Andy Tsui Gina Vermeeren Fikri Yalvac

Complex Projects

UNBUILDING WALLS BERLIN

2017 | 2018

TABLE OF CONTENTS

8 CASE STUDIES

BERNAUERSTRASSE

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MAUERPARK & PARK AM NORDBAHNHOF REGIERUNGSVIERTEL POTSDAMMER PLATZ CHECKPOINT CHARLIE ZIMMERSTRASSE KREUZBERG GREENBELT & IRON CURTAIN

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CONTEXT & BACKGROUND To skip to this section click this LINK

POLITICS ECONOMY

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SOCIAL CULTURE STRUCTURAL ORGANISATION DENSITY DEMOGRAPHICS NATURE ARCHITECTURE

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Walls are a symbol for division, a manifestation of power, a built form of exclusion and inclusion, but also of protection.

Walls are often built as a final resort, when all other options and any kind of communication fails. In the age of globalization and increasing connectivity throughout the world across nations, cultures and continents, the physical borders seem to diminish. We live in times of global trade between global villages and the access to anything anywhere anytime. Yet we have to acknowledge the emergence of structures, that divide people from each other. As mankind realizes, that it can only solve its problems together, nations start looking for protectionism, extend walls or build entire new ones.

The physical existence of a wall has a long lasting urban echo, even after it has been overcome and disappearance.

This is especially exemplified in the Berlin Wall as this year it faces an interesting mirroring effect: the wall be gone 28 years – exactly the time that it existed. This wall that split the world in two, also divided a country and divided the city of Berlin with an almost impenetrable physical brutality.

History can teach us that each wall can will overcome by time, but also that its spatial mark and stain might endure longer than its existence and be written into the urban palimpsest of a city and landscape.

The disappearance of the Berlin Wall left an unprecedented linear freespace in the center of the German capital. For a long time the focus of Berlin had been to fill this void as much as possible with urban normality, before realizing, that there should be an urban memory of the

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cities radical history: projects had been conceived and commissioned not to fill the void, but to heal the wounds in turning the last open spaces into projects of connection and landscapes of inclusion and communication – the opposite of division.

In the intelligent creation of communicative public spaces lies the power to heal wounds that are still decipherable in the fabric of Berlin. We want to categories these projects, analyze their methodologies and build a catalogue of criteria of success or failure of these interventions. We will than apply the found principles on a specific and well known open site in Berlin that is still looking for the right use and urban answer. We will design a project that will define open and built space, combine past and future, form the free space into a new architectural thesis of connectivity.

- GRAFT [KRĂœCKEBERG, WILLEMEIT, PUTZ]

8 CASE STUDIES

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BERNAUER STRASSE

CASE STUDIES: 1 BERNAUER STRASSE

1

2

3

4

5

9

5

4 3 1

2

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Landmarks/ Elements Axis

Zones

Concept of the Berlin Wall Memorial The memorial is split up in four zones, connected by one axe: the Bernauer Strasse. On these axe several elements of the memorial are situated as a route of landmarks. Via this way the visitor is challenged to play and discover on an interactive way, to find the elements.

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CASE STUDIES: 1 BERNAUER STRASSE

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Concept of Zone D (Currently in development) In Zone D there’s is another way of ‘healing the wound’ of the Berlin Wall. The Kolonnenweg is kept as an axe by foot. It thinks about the future with the building of housing. Each block opens to the East or West by creating a setback and view lines.

Unbuilding Walls Research book

1862 | The Bernauer StraĂ&#x;e existed early on as a industrial, commercial and military connection road (railway) between Berlin and locations in the Margraviate of Brandenburg. It’s name refers to the town Bernau situated in 1920 | Greater Berlin The street itself belongs to Wedding, nr 1-50 to Mitte and nr 51-121 to Wedding.

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1939 1945

1892 | Building completed of Reconcilation Church, here seen from the Bernauer Strasse CP 2017.2018

1955 | A foto of the street; belonging to the French sector.

CASE STUDIES: 1 BERNAUER STRASSE

1961 | Building the Berlin Wall, starting with wires, later concrete

1985 | Demolition

blocks.

Reconcilation church to enlarge the Deathstrip

2014 | Opening of the Documentation Centre (the museum) 1963 | The people start digging tunnels, from

2000 |

the 30 made, just 3 were

Reconcilation

succesfull to flee

Chapel 13

1961

1989

1965 | Because of many flee

2017

atemptions, like jumping out

2009 | 2010

of the windows, they demolish

Adding of Visitor Centre and

some apartment blocks to enlarge the ‘Death Strip’

the Fenster des Gedenkens 1994 | The Government decides there need to be a Berlin Wall Monument. The German Historical Museum organizes the competition. The German office Kohlhoff & Kohlhoff wins.

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1911

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1963

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CASE STUDIES: 1 BERNAUER STRASSE

1990

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2017 In 1862 the Plan of Hobrecht got resolved, a

modern city ‘Capital Berlin’. During the 70s the

plan of large areas of dense urban city blocks

buildings in the Brunnenviertel (West) where

known as ‘blockrand structures’, with mixed-use

demolished in order to build housing with

buildings reaching to the street and offering

balconies, public green and lifts.

a common-used courtyard, later during the Grunderzeit often overbuilt with additional court

Because of many fleeing attempts during the

structures to house more people. This can be

building of the Wall (1961-1963) one decided to

seen in the first map.

demolish blocks at the border. After reunification the plan got a bit denser, in particular the East

After WWII the reconstruction became a political

side. Today, the East is being developed into a

statement of each side to build the best society.

hipper, modern housing in contrast to the West

In 1957 there’s a competition to build a new

with it’s social housing.

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Source: Charlie Roelse, 2017, Bernauer Strasse street view

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Source: Google Images, Berlin Wall Memorial

Source: Google Images, Berlin Wall Monument

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CASE STUDIES: 1 BERNAUER STRASSE

BERNAUER STRASSE WALL MEMORIAL

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Source: Google Images, Aerial view of a part of the Berlin Wall Memorial

In 1994 the Government of Germany decided

people trying to escape to West Berlin by jumping

that the Berlin wall needed to be memorized.

from the windows and rooftops of houses on

A competition was held to find a design for a

the border. They show the border houses being

memorial on the Bernauer Strasse.

walled up and later torn down. There are pictures of successful escape tunnels and also of the East

The border on Bernauer Strasse ran between two

German policeman jumping over barbed wire.

city districts and drew a line right here between

The very first victims of the border regime died

West Berlin and East Berlin. The boundary line

on this street. And this is where the Reconciliation

created an unusual situation: The buildings on

Church was blown up. After the Wall was built,

the south side of the street still belonged to East

the church was unreachable, isolated in the death

Berlin, but the sidewalk right in front of these

strip between East and West.

buildings was already a part of West Berlin. The photographs taken at Bernauer Strasse at this time were seen all over the world: They show

The street became a symbol of German division.But on the other hand it was the first

Unbuilding Walls Research book

Source: Berlin Wall Foundation, Berlin Wall Monument

Source: Charlie Roelse, 2017, Berlin Wall Monument

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Berlin wall monument, Kohlhoff&Kohlhoff

The slits are not original, but later added for

In 1994 competition was held to design the

the monument. The outer part of the steel walls

Berlin Wall Monument. This competition led

are made from Corten steel, with the following

to a controversial discussion about how to

inscription:

commemorate the Berlin wall. After a year of discussion it was decided that Kohlhoff&Kohlhoff

“In memory of the division of the city from

made the best design. The opening of the

August 13, 1961 to November 9, 1989 and in

memorial was on the 13th of August 1998.

commemoration of the victims of Communist tyranny.�

The idea is to integrate the remaining evidence of the original border fortifications at the Bernauer

The design approach for this monument is to

strasse. The monument consists of 70 meter of

really preserve the original death strip, instead

the original death strip that was preserved. Two

of making a new memorial. It seems like the

steel walls enclose the strip and are intended

architects really want you to move around the

to mirror the death strip do it appears to go on

strip, to experience the scale, before you can get

for much longer. From the outside you can not

a glimpse of the inside. The idea to mirror the

see anything of what is happing on the inside,

wall, even tough it is hard to really experience

only from the inner wall, where there are small

this, is probably to show the impact of building a

slits to provide a view of the former death strip.

wall of this size.

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CASE STUDIES: 1 BERNAUER STRASSE

Bernauer Strasse Memorial Masterplan, Sinai In 2007 a competition was held to complete the

the wall. Here the memorial is intergrated into a

memorial for the Bernauer Strasse.

more residential area.

It was won by Sinai Landscape Architects.

In 2014 the memorial was completed. Sinai

The exhibition level on the historic death strip

worked together with ON architektur and

focuses on a series of theme stations with

Mola+Winkemuller.

carefully metered information. Event marks point to the many hundreds of individual events on

The idea behind the design was to show the wall system by reclaiming the missing

Bernauer StraĂ&#x;e. The signs with information are all made with Corten steel. Probably to match

elements. The wall is translated into Corten steel

the Berlin wall memorial and because it changes

poles. This gives you the experience of a wall,

slowly overtime. Original relics of the border

but one to walk trough. On the original spots of

installations were released as archaeological

the watchtowers, steel replicas are placed.

windows or marked by steel inscriptions on the ground. The multiple escape tunnels are also

The masterplan consist of 4 parts, A, B, C and

marked with steel plates on the ground.

D. Part A is dedicated to the Wall and the death strip. This is the part were the Besucherzentrum

The place stands for the existence of the wall but

and the original Berlin Wall Memorial is. Part B

also its overcoming. It stands for the permanent

is dedicated to remember the destruction of the

city scar of the death strip, but it also tries to serve

city. This is were the Chapel of Reconciliation

as a grass-green meeting space for the socially

stands. Part C focusses on the construction of the

estranged districts of Mitte and Wedding.

wall. Part D is about the everyday life around

Source: Google Images, Berlin Wall Memorial

Source: Charlie Roelse, 2017, Berlin Wall Memorial

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Source: ON architektur, Fernster des Gedenkens

Source: Berlin Wall Foundation, Fernster des Gedenkens

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Fenster des Gedenkens, ON architektur

niches. The pictures of the victims are printed on the

The competiton for the extension of the Berlin Wall

back of glass tiles. A text engraved under each niche

Memorial included the task to design a memorial for

describes the names and data of the individual victims.

the deaths of the Berlin wall. ON architektur won this

Some of these niches serve as so-called “blind niches”.

price, working together with Sinai. The memorial was

The columbarium - an urns grave - was the guiding

realized in 2010.

principle for the design of this memorial sculpture.

Columbaria are places of grief and silent remembrance.

The “Window of Remembrance,” is on the grounds of

The relatives have the possibility of doing memorial

the former Sophien Parish cemetery. It is the central

rituals such as bringing flowers or the candles. The

memorial for the 136 deaths that were caused by the

portrait glass panels were placed over a multilayer,

Berlin Wall. It is located on the premises of the Berlin

translucent screen printing process so that when

Wall Memorial between Berg- and Ackerstraße parallel

looking through the glasses for the visitor next to the

to the remains of the former front wall.

portraits of the victims also the Background silhouette of the memorial becomes recognizable: The view on

The window of the memorial consists of a 12.80 m long

the faces of the victims overlaps with the remains of the

and 2.70 m high freestanding steel body made of rusty

former wall, the cause of fate, suffering and grief.

Corten steel. In this steel corpus, there are 165 opening

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CASE STUDIES: 1 BERNAUER STRASSE

Besucherzentrum

Gedenkstätte

Mauer, Mola + Winkelmüller

Berliner

Wall Foundation. The building occupies the corner of Bernauer Straße and Gartenstraße and

Mola Winkelmüller Architekten BDA, Berlin,

marks the bend of the former wall to the north.

designed the Besucherzentrum for the extension

While the lower level of the pavilion aligns with

of the Berlin wall memorial. In the visitorcentre,

the street and the wall, the upper volume of the

basic information about what the visitor expects

building turns to the grounds of the memorial

on the premises with the future outdoor

and slides into the street space of Bernauer

exhibition is given. The building was finished in

Strasse. The upper floor has meeting rooms with

2012.

floor to ceiling windows to overlook the Berlin Wall memorial. To match with the robust exterior,

The two-story-high structure consists of a mixed

robust exposed concrete surfaces were also used

construction of concrete and steel. The outer skin

in the interior.

of the building is again made of Corten steel, to match with the rest of the memorial grounds.

The concept for the building seems to be more

This to show the visitor, arriving from the S-bahn

about creating a whole together with the rest of

station Nordbahnhoff, where the exhibition

the memorial, than to make a statement. The

building is about making clear to the visitor

starts.

where information can be found and to invite The visitor centre consists of a museum shop,

them in to learn more about the history.

meeting spaces and it also houses the Berlin 21

Source: Google Images, Besucherzentrum

Source: Berlin Wall Foundation, Bezucherzentrum

Unbuilding Walls Research book

Chapel of Reconciliation, Rudolf Reitermann

The material of the interior wall anchors the

and Peter Sassenhof

building to the site, both its past and present. It

On the Bernauer Strasse there used to be the

is rough and unfinished giving a direct reference

Church of Reconciliation that mostly served the

to the surrounding land. The material was meant

people from West Berlin. When the wall was put

to evoke a contrasting feeling from the harsh

up, the church ended up in the death strip zone,

concrete of the Berlin Wall. The outer oval is

isolated by the walls. Since the wall was put up,

made from wooden louvers, and swings freely

all houses over time got demolished that were in

around the centre structure. It is meant as an in-

the death strip zone, until only the church was the

between space to invite people to take a break

only building left. This was done so the guards

and have a moment away from everyday life. The

had the best overview of the area. In 1985 they

two ovals each have their own axis. One axis is

decided that the church should go as well, so

a reference to original east-west orientation of

they demolished it. The pictures became a well-

churches. The other axis is parallel to the centre

known symbol around the world for the situation

axis of the former church. In the centre of the

in Berlin.

chapel is a window in the ground that provides a view into a small section of the basement of the

After the fall of the wall, the ground was given

original church, to create awareness for it’s past.

back to the Parish, and they were left with the

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question of what should be done with the land.

The design approach in this design is very

They decided to organize a competition that was

symbolic. They used a completely new form,

won by two Berlin architects, Rufdolf Reitermann

scale and materialization for the chapel, but

and Peter Sassenhof to make a new design for a

everything is referring to its history. As the Parish

chapel. It was realized in 2000.

describes: “ it’s meant as an international sign of gratitude for overcoming of the division of

The plan consists of 2 ovals; the outer wall

Berlin”.

of wooden louvers and an inner oval of thick rammed-earth that defines the prayer room.

Source: Charlie Roelse, 2017, Interior of Chapel

Source: Google Images, Chapel of Reconciliation

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CASE STUDIES: 1 BERNAUER STRASSE

Source: Google Images, Documentation Center

Source: Charlie Roelse, 2017, Interior of Documentation center

Berlin

Wall

Documentation

Gesellschaft von Architekten

Center,

ZHN

tower allows visitors to look out over a part of the Berlin wall and the visitor’s centre includes

On November 9, 2014, on the occasion of the

a digital archive with original documents, audio

25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall,

stations and other historical exhibits.

the new permanent exhibition “1961-1989.

The Berlin Wall” was opened in the remodeled

The design approach of this building is not really

Documentation Center of the memorial.

clear. The only object that really stands out is the observation tower that seems like a transparent

The office ZHN Gesellschaft von Architekten

interpretation of the original watchtowers. The

mbH was commissioned with the architectural

materialization looks similar to that of the Chapel

work for the reconstruction of the documentation

of Reconciliation.

center. The task was to create exhibition

space, offices for the Berlin Wall Foundation and to renovate the original building.

Overall analysis The Berlin Wall memorial site is a memorial formed over time and designed by multiple

The exhibition is dedicated to the history of the

architects,

each

of

them

using

different

division of Berlin. It explains the political and

techniques to commemorate the wall. The first

historical background from the construction of

observation is that they all tried to make a whole

the Berlin Wall to the fall of the Berlin Wall and

of all the different elements, even tough each

reunification. The multimedia exhibition showa

part is designed differently, it is still really clear

numerous objects, biographical documents and

that it is one memorial. Another observation is

audiovisual media. The exhibition combines

that none of the architects used replicas of the

political event history and everyday history and

wall or sites. Everything is either original or an

shows the consequences that the brutal division

artistic impression of what used to be.

of the city had for the people. The observation

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Source: Charlie Roelse, 2017, Mitte, former East Berlin

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Source: Charlie Roelse, 2017, Brunnenviertel, former West Berlin

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CASE STUDIES: 1 BERNAUER STRASSE

CURRENT SITUATION

Twenty-eight years after the fall of the wall it is

you look at the Brunnenviertel today, it seems that

time to reflect on how the area is developing.

not much has changed. It is still a social housing

The Bernauer Strasse is a dividing road

district, with mostly immigrants living there. The

between two areas: Brunnenviertel and Mitte.

area used to be surrounded by wall, but is now

Brunnenviertel lays in the former West Berlin and

surrounded by gentrified neighborhoods.

Mitte is in former East Berlin. The neighborhoods developed in very different ways.

Why did these two neighborhoods develop so differently? Firstly it is important to point out

Mitte

are

that the space of the wall is still ‘empty’ in this

currently the more upper class areas of Berlin.

together

with

Prenzlauerberg

area. The former dead strip is turned into parks:

Gentrification hit these areas in the nineties and

Nordbahnhoffpark, Berliner Mauer Memorial

turned the neighborhoods into fancy residential

and Mauerpark. This results in a clear division

areas with organic supermarkets and coffee bars.

between the two neighborhoods. The other

The buildings in the area are all old structures but

important factor is the building structures. The

renovated and nicely maintained.

concrete social housing structures are so rigid, that it is hard to implement other functions.

Brunnenviertel was during the wall time almost

The old building structures in Mitte were easily

surrounded by the wall. Nobody wanted to live

adaptable into the needs of the current upper

there, so it was turned into a social housing district.

class. Now the question is, is it a bad thing

In the 70’s all the old buildings were demolished

that there still is a clear division?

to make place for new concrete social housing. It became an area were mostly immigrants lived. If

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Escape attempts

In some cases it was a member of the border

Besides the memorial on Bernauer Strasse,

police or a construction worker that worked on

the buildings and artefacts that are connected

the wall site that attempt to flee. The people

to the Wall, there are dozens of copper plates

they worked with were often held responsible

submerged in the pavement with numbers,

for their actions and were interrogated by the

dates and names written on them. These

secret police.

plates refer to stories of known and unknown

The Sophien Parish Cemetery was often used

individuals and groups that attempt to flee from

for fleeing attempts as it brought the person

East to West.

close to the wall while the trees and graves on

The stories being told differ from attempts by

the cemetery protected them. To have access to

car through Ackerstrasse, when the fortifications

the cemetery, the person needed a special card,

only consisted out of barbwire, people jumping

without you were quickly suspected of a fleeing

from windows, escape attempts over roofs

attempt.

and escapes through the deadzone. Due to

The West-Berlin police and fire department

the techniques the border police used, such

came to help in several attempts with holding

as detection wires, most of the attempts were

up safety nets for jumping people and bringing

restrained. The persons that made it to the other

injured people to the hospital. In some cases

side, were often injured by the drop from the

they even threw gas grenades to the East Berlin

wall, the building they jumped off or by bullets

police to prohibit them of catching an escapee.

fired by the police.

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FOTO: Horst Siegmann FOTO: A. Waidmann, ullstein bild

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CASE STUDIES: 1 BERNAUER STRASSE

FOTO: Hans-Joachim Tilleman

FOTO: IMAGO

Tunnels

people managed to escape through this tunnel

Besides fleeing attempts from buildings and

before being detect by the border police. In the

over the wall there were, as in other locations

encountering between the police and the tunnel

of the wall, tunnels, which were, or tried to be

builders, Sergeant Egon Schultz was killed by

used for escape route. The location of Bernauer

friendly fire. The SED concealed what actually

Strassse included in total 11 tunnels, which were

happened and presented the incident as

dug at several locations. One of the successful

‘planned murder’, he was made into a hero and

tunnels dug was ‘Tunnel 29’, is led from ruins of

streets, and schools were named after him.

a factory at Bernauer strasse 78 to Schönholzer

Tunnels as the successful ‘Tunnel 29’ and ‘Tunnel

Strasse 7. This tunnel helped escape 29 people

57’ led to action by the East German secret

to the West. When the tunnel builders dug

police. The dug tunnels diagonal to suspected

another tunnel from the same location they

tunnels or areas and were installed with high-

were betrayed and when they broke through the

end listening devices to intersect any ‘tunnel-

ground in 1963 the secret police was waiting

movements’.

for them. Another, one of the most famous

Most of the tunnels or attempts weren’t

tunnels dug, in the time of the wall was “Tunnel

successful due to betrayal or interceptions by

57”, this tunnel was dug, same as one failed

the East German police. Some of the tunnels

attempt, from the bakery on the West side

are still there as some might even not been

of Bernauer Strasse 97 to Strelitzer Strasse at

exposed yet.

the East side. In 1964 on october 3 and 4, 57

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PARK AM NORDBAHNHOF

Source: https://gruen-berlin.de/projekt/park-auf-dem-nordbahnhof

MAUERPARK

Source: https://www.visitberlin.de/en/mauerpark

PARK AM NORDBAHNHOF

1

30

3

2

1

Source: Google maps

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CASE STUDIES: 2 MAUERPARK & PARK AM NORDBAHNHOF

MAUERPARK

3

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Source: http://www.iheartberlin.de/2016/04/02/ mauerpark-a-berlin-institution/

Source: https://www.facebook.com/mauerparkmarkt/

1

2

Source: http://www.iheartberlin.de/2016/04/02/ mauerpark-a-berlin-institution/

3

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Source: https://divisare.com/projects/194409-fugmann-janotta-landschaftsarchitekten-park-am-nordbahnhof

Park am Nordbahnhof The park, situated at the beginning of the Bernauer Straße, owes its name to the function the area used to had. From 1842 till 1952 this area was used as a trainstation: The Stettiner Bahnhof, that later was renamed by the name Nordbahnhof. The trainstation got demolished and became in 1961 part of the Berlin Wall. After the Berlin Wall fell in 1989 the area became a place for birch trees, tall grass and a lot of small animals and birds.

In 1995 the Polish architect Romuald Loegler won the international town and landscape planning competition for Park am Nordbahnhof. The design resembled the idea of the “large meadow at the former Northern Station“ with large, open lawns. These were framed by woodland as well as a planned railway system.

It is an area steeped in history, right in the heart of the city.

There are three historical layers visible in the park. One layer consists of the remains of the railway system of the Stettiner Bahnhof. That exists out of parts of the railway that are still visible nowadays, but also the old bridge, called the 32

Liesenbrücke that connected the train tracks from Stettiner Bahnhof to the main railroad. The second historical layer is the former border construction, the Berlin Wall, which once covered the complete area. A part of the Wall and also the place where the watchtowers used to stay are still visible.

The third and most recent layer is the town wasteland, which has been reclaimed by the fast evolving urban nature.

The landmarks of this park are those three historical layers.

Source: https://divisare.com/projects/194409-fugmann-janotta-landschaftsarchitekten-park-am-nordbahnhof

Source: https://divisare.com/projects/194409-fugmann-janotta-landschaftsarchitekten-park-am-nordbahnhof

Source: https://divisare.com/projects/194409-fugmann-janotta-landschaftsarchitekten-park-am-nordbahnhof

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CASE STUDIES: 2 MAUERPARK & PARK AM NORDBAHNHOF

Source: http://www.darlingberlin.de/mauerpark.html

Mauerpark The area of the Mauerpark, located at the end of the Bernauer Straße, was used as a parade ground, untill it became part of the Nordbahnhof in 1877. It was a station used for freight. I few years before the Nordbahnhof station was demolished the station at the Mauerpark was already out of order. In 1946 it losts its function as a trainstation. In 1961 it became, just like the park am Nordbahnhof, a part of the Berlin Wall.

After the fall of the wall this area became an empty space, Source: http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/events/mauerpark-2017

similar to the park am Nordbahnhof. The commitment of many residents from surrounding areas and funding from the Allianz Umweltstiftung enabled sections of the former border strip to be developed into today’s Mauerpark.

In 1994 the first phase of the Mauerpark’s construction, designed by the landscape architect Professor Gustav Lange, was completed. It offers facilities for all kinds of use: an amphitheatre, sunny spots on the hillside and spacious lawns for sport and games. Sitting on the high swings on the top of the hill you have a wide-ranging view across the heart of Berlin. One of the historical layers in this park is the Berliin Wall that is still visible on top of this hill. Another historical layer of the Mauerpark is the cobbied road that was discovered in 1993. This road became the main pathway of the design of the Mauerpark, and connects the areas north and south of the park with eachother.

During the week this park is just like other parks, but on sundays it changes into a festival terrain, with karaoke and perfomances. In the West part of the park is a flea market that is also very crowded during the weekends.

Source: http://www.doppelberlin.com/flohmarkt-am-mauerpark/

The landmarks of the Mauerpark are the cobbied road during the week and the amphithatre on the hill during the weekends.

Source: https://gruen-berlin.de/en/projekt/mauerpark

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Source: Google Earth pro

1877 | The Mauerpark area became part of the Nordbahnhof station, it was

MAUERPARK

1946 | End of the trainstation because of the division of Berlin into four occuation zones.

The land of Mauerpark

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PARK AM NORDBAHNHOF

1900

1939 1945

1950 | The station was renamed as Nordbahnhof

Source: http://www.app-in-die-geschichte.de/documents/1310 Source: http://www. stadtbild-deutschland.org/forum/ index.php?thread/1086-foSource: http://www.eisentos-aus-der-nachbahnstiftung.de/bildergalerie kriegszeit/&pageNo=4

Source: http://www.bilderbuch-berlin.net/Fotos/stettiner_bahnhof_historisch_390195

1842 | Building of the Stettiner Bahnhof.

With the increase of train travel, a bigger station was built in 1876

1952 | Demolishing of the station due to heavy structural damage and the fact that the train tracks that led through Nodrbahnhof also led through West Berlin

CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 2 MAUERPARK & PARK AM NORDBAHNHOF

Source: https://www.mauerpark.info/history/deathstrip/?lang=en

1994 | the first phase of the Mauerpark’s

Source: https://www.morgenpost.de/berlin/article207738871/ Wie-der-Berliner-Mauerpark-einmal-aussehen-soll.html

construction was completed

1993 | A cobbled road was uncovered, which was the former Schwedter StraĂ&#x;e. This became the main pathway in the new design of Mauerpark by Prof. Gustav Lange 1961 | Building

2017 | Plans for the western part of

1992 | The progress of making

of the Berlin

the Mauerpark, this will be completed

and designing the Mauerpark

Wall, Mauerpark

Source: http://berlijn-blog.nl/mauerpark/

started

becomes a part of the Berlin Wall Source: https://www. berliner-zeitung.de/berlin/--1190804

Source: https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/berlin/--1190804

2004 | The eastern half of the Mauerpark became a fleymarket 1989 | Fall of the Wall, Mauerpark

1961

35

1989

2017

1989 | Fall of the Wall, Nordbahnhof became an empty and space with birch trees and tall grass giving shelter to a small habitat of animals and birds 1995 | Plans for Source: http://www.1961-1989.de/mauerbilder/

making a park started coming up Source: https://divisare.com/ projects/194409-fugmann-janotta-landschaftsarchitekten-park-am-nordbahnhof

1961 | Building of the Berlin Wall, Nordbahnhof becomes a part of the Berlin Wall

2004 | Nordbahnhof became, with a cost of almost 3 million Euros, the park what is is today. The old railways are still visible in the park Unbuilding Walls Research book

COMPARISON BETWEEN THE PARKS PARK AM NORDBANHOF

MAUERPARK

36

Connection between the park and the surroundings As you can see in the pictures above, there´s a big difference between the connection with the surroundings in both parks.

Park am Nordbahnhof has a closed connection with its surroundings because it is elevetad. From the park itself you can overview the city and you have a great connection with the city. But from its surroundings it looks like a closed area. The high walls with fenches on it also seperates the CP 2017.2018

park with its neighbourhood. You can´t see what´s happening in the park from the surrounding roads.

The Mauerpark has a total opposite connection with its surroundings. The park flows into the surrounding. The only border that is visible is the change in from nature to buildings. You can look into the park from the surrounding roads.

Mauerpark is way more open to its surroundings than Park am Nordbahnhof.

CASE STUDIES: 2 MAUERPARK & PARK AM NORDBAHNHOF

PARK AM NORDBAHNHOF

MAUERPARK

37

Entrance Because of the big difference between the

Mauerpark is also elevated in some parts,

connection with the surroundings between those

but the entrances are at the same level as its

parks, there´s logically also a big difference

surroundings. This makes entering the park not

between the entrances of those parks.

only easier but it also feels safer. Without this elevation in the entrance you can see what’s

Because the elevation of Park am Nordbahnhof

happening in the park.

the entrances of this park always consists out of stairs or ramps. This makes it way more difficult and less attractive to enter the park.

Mauerpark is safer and easier to access because of the elevation of Park am Nordbahnhof.

Unbuilding Walls Research book

PARK AM NORDBAHNHOF

MAUERPARK

38

Roll of the Berlin Wall In Park am Nordbahnhof the remains of the Berlin Wall are still visible but hard to access in comparison to the Berlin Wall in Mauerpark.

There are plants on front of the remaingings and sometimes they made a path to the Berlin Wall.

But those paths aren’t easy to find. The only place where the Berlin Wall is very accessable is where the basketballcourt is (the lowest picture).

In Mauerpark the Berlin has a mainroll. It is almost like it is placed on a platform. The Berlin Wall

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stands on the highest point of the hill. You can see it from a big part of the Mauerpark. The Wall is easy accessable, the landscape architect made a place to sit in front of the Wall so you can enjoy the view over the city but also to take a moment to look at the Berlin Wall.

The Berlin Wall has’nt got a big roll in the design of Park am Nordbahnhof in opposite to Mauerpark.

CASE STUDIES: 2 MAUERPARK & PARK AM NORDBAHNHOF

PARK AM NORDBAHNHOF

MAUERPARK

39

Landmarks The landmark of Park am Nordbahnhof is one of the historical layers. Namely, the old bridge at the north of the park. This bridge dates from the time that the park was still a trainstation. It is remarkable that this landmark is only visible from the north side of the park, because this is actually the back of the park. The mainentrance is located on the south of the park. This entrance can be recognized by the stairs. You can say that this is the landmark for the south side of the park.

There are different types of landmarks for the Mauerpark too. The cobbled road during de week and the amphitheatre with the basketball court during the weekends. But also the flea market, which is nowadays not really visibly connected with the Mauerpark, is also a landmark for the park during the weekends.

Unbuilding Walls Research book

PARK AM NORDBAHNHOF

MAUERPARK

40

Functions

The Mauerpark has a way more functions or

Park am Nordbahnhof exists mainly out of

different places where you can go. There is a big

grass fields where you can walk with your dog

field where you can play with your dog or kids on

or where you can hike. The field nearest to the

the east side behind the stadion. In the north is

mainentrance has stone tiles where you can jump

a petting zoo, a playground, a garden and and a

on from the one to the other. On the west side

small forest. The rest of the park looks like most

of the park, next to the Berlin Wall is a basketball

people know it. Here is the big open green field

court. There is also a playfield for kids where they

with the hill with the Berlin Wall on top and also

can climb on a rock and jump on the trampoline.

the amphitheatre and the basketball court.

CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 2 MAUERPARK & PARK AM NORDBAHNHOF

41

Unbuilding Walls Research book

REGIERUNGSVIERTEL

CASE STUDIES: 3 REGIERUNGSVIERTEL 6.3 REGIERUNGSVIERTEL

REGIERUNGSVIERTEL

4

1

2 3

2

4

3

5

241 43

5

6 2

3

4

1

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1938-1941 | Welthauptstadt Germania. In Hitler’s plan for a “world capital Germania”, the

1910 | Alsenvertel - Residence of the the

“Great Hall” in gigantic scale was

upper bourgeoisie. Due to its central location,

planned to be built in the location

especially after the building of the Reichstag,

of Alsenviertel.The houses of

many members of the government,

the Alsenviertel were largely

parliament and diplomacy settled here and

demolished in 1939-1941.

the district got the character of a well-known residence and embassy place.

1945

242 44

1900

1939

1945 | Raising a flag over the Reichstag. After very bloody and fierce combat within its walls, the Soviets finally captured the Reichstag on 2 May 1945, drawing closer to the end of World War II.

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CASE STUDIES: 3 REGIERUNGSVIERTEL 6.3 REGIERUNGSVIERTEL

11 November 1989 | Fall of the Wall

1992 | International urban design competition for Spreebogen The winner of the first Prize was “Band des Bundes” by Berlin Architects Axel Schultes and Charlotte Frank.

13 August 1989 | Erection of the Wall

2001 | Opening of MarieElisabeth-Lüders-House

1961

1989

243 45

2017

1991 | Capital city resolution. German Bundestag decided on June 20, 1991 to move its headquarters from Bonn to Berlin.

2001 | Opening of Federal Chancellery and Paul-Löbe-House

Unbuilding Walls Research book

1939

A city of monuments, avenues, grand buildings, fountains and statues.

244 46

1945

A district destroyed by bombings and demolition for Albert Speer’s Welthauptstadt.

1961

Reconstruction stagnated during negotiations of the cold war

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CASE STUDIES: 3 REGIERUNGSVIERTEL 6.3 REGIERUNGSVIERTEL

1989

Demolition for the wall and reconstruction in both East and West (mostly housing).

245 47

2000

2017

Reconstruction of the reunified Berlin according to Schultes’ plan.

The government district and surroundings in its current state.

Unbuilding Walls Research book

1900

1939

For Berlin, the 20th century had a prosperous start for the city had become the capital of the newly united Germany in 1871. The industrial revolution had transformed the city’s economy and Berlin became one of the largest industrial and financial centers in Europe.

With growth came ambition. Kaiser Wilhelm II wanted the city to be the most beautiful in the world and started building monuments, avenues, grand buildings, fountains and statues. The historic styles suited his ambition, resulting in many eclectic, neo-romanesque, neobaroque and neo-renaissance landmarks.

In 1871 the Reichstag building was constructed in eclectic style, to 246 48

house the parliament of the then new Germany. After the first world war, in 1918, the institution of a German republic was proclaimed from one of its balconies and the building continued to be the seat of the parliament of the Weimar Republic (1919–1933).

On the south side, the Reichstag building was located in the green of the Tiergarten, while at the north side it bordered a residential neighborhood in the Spreebogen. The charming Wilhelminian building blocks were filled with upper class bourgeoisie. Higher politicians chose to live there, close to their beloved Reichstag.

CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 3 REGIERUNGSVIERTEL 6.3 REGIERUNGSVIERTEL

247 49

Unbuilding Walls Research book

In 1933, at the eve of the second world war, the

248 50

Reichstag building caught fire, what gave pretext for the Nazis to suspend most rights and key civil liberties of German citizens.

During the war Albert Speer, Hitler’s favourite architect,

made

plans

to

reconstruct

Berlin

on a grand scale. The crownwork of Speer’s “Welpthauptstadt”, the humongous dome of the “Volkshalle”, was planned right in the middle of the government district. Except for the Reichstag, the complete neighborhood was demolished to make place for Speer’s plans.

The war had left its scars throughout Berlin.

The demolition combined with the bombings had destroyed the government district almost completely. But even then, the final major offensive of the second world war took place in this area; the Battle for the Reichstag, also known as the Fall of Berlin. ‘Raising a flag over the Reichstag’ became a historic photograph that became a symbol of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.

CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 3 REGIERUNGSVIERTEL 02 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

1939

1945 249 51

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250 52

When the second world war had come to an end in 1945, the negotiations of the cold war started to cause oprisings throughout the country.

Ernst Reuter was elected as mayor of Berlin in 1947, but the Soviet Union did not agree with his appointment. This led to the political split of East and West Berlin. In the elections in 1948 Reuters SPD achieved the highest result ever in free elections in Germany: 64.5% of the votes. His Grosse Rede in front of the ruined Reichstag building made him a symbol of West Berlin.

CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 3 REGIERUNGSVIERTEL 6.3 REGIERUNGSVIERTEL

1945

1961 251 53

Unbuilding Walls Research book

1961

1989

The political division between East and West Berlin was turned into the physical split in 1961 and, overnight, the Berlin wall was raised right through the government district.

The

Reichstag

building

was

physically within West Berlin, but only a few metres from the border of East Berlin.

The power was divided and the district, including the Reichstag building, fell into disuse.

The parliament of the DDR met in the Palast der Republik in East Berlin, while the parliament of the DBR met in the Bundeshaus in Bonn.

252 54

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CASE STUDIES: 3 REGIERUNGSVIERTEL

253 55

Unbuilding Walls Research book

254 56

After the fall of the wall in 1989, the scars of the

The goal of the competition was to create a

war became clearly visible and the city had to be

Parliamentary and Government Quarter, which is

rebuilt. After German reunification in 1990, Berlin

integrated in the city and open for its citizens.

was again designated as the capital of newly

The winners of the first Prize were the Berlin

united Germany. The International Competition

Architects Axel Schultes and Charlotte Frank and

for Urban Design Ideas was held in 1992 in order

the central concept in their plan is the “Band

to find a concept for the Government District,

des Bundes� (a board of goverment buildings)

with around 800 entries being submitted.

running through the river landscape.

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CASE STUDIES: 3 REGIERUNGSVIERTEL 6.3 REGIERUNGSVIERTEL

1989

2017 255 57

Unbuilding Walls Research book

BAND DES BUNDES

In Shultes’ plan, the “Band des Bundes” creates a symbolic connection between the East and West of the formerly divided city. It crosses the Spree twice and while doing so, the Band cuts through the axial planning of Albert Speer. The “Band des Bundes” is bordered by 48 meter-wide representative four-rowed oak avenues.

An important symbolic decision for the plan is the opposing positioning of the legislative buildings (parliament) and their executive counterpart (chancellery).

They are planned to be connected by 256 58

the central “civic forum”, to counterpose the somewhat fortress-like apprearancce of the Band.

This

citizen’s

forum,

Schultes

felt,

would be the most important space in the federal district; it was to contain a varierty of architectural spaces, including a library, bars and cafes.

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CASE STUDIES: 3 REGIERUNGSVIERTEL

257 59

Unbuilding Walls Research book

WEST

EAST

258 60

In October 1994, the Munich-based architect Stephan

Braunfels

won

the

realization

competition for the parliament building. His architectural concept had to be incorporated into the “Band des Bundes”. He designed a 22-meter-high, seven-storey new building right next to the Reichstag building - the Paul-Löbe-Haus.

The architectural concept already described that the Paul-Löbe-Haus should continue in the Marie-Elisabeth-Lüders-Haus, which was completed in 2003. Both buildings are connected across the Spree by a bridge that has a public and an internal level. The bridge linking the Paul-Löbe-Haus on the western side and the Marie-Elisabeth-Lüders-Haus

CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 3 REGIERUNGSVIERTEL

on the eastern side of the Spree is therefore also a symbol of the new Germany after the reunification in 1989.

The parliament complex was planned on the the exact location of former Berlin Wall.

The architects used this explicit gesture trying to stitch together the once separated city. A significant piece of the former wall still visibly cuts through the building.

It now serves as a memorial site within the govenment building and is publicly accessible.

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260 62

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CASE STUDIES: 3 REGIERUNGSVIERTEL

THE REICHSTAG DOME

The Reichstag was renovated and once again became the meeting place of the new parliament. The transparent design and public accessibility of the new Reichstag dome symbolizes Berlin’s attempt to move away from a past of Nazism and towards a future with an emphasis on democracy, tranparency and unity.

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Unbuilding Walls Research book

GOVERNMENT KEY GOALS

1. Convenient parliamentary functioning by concentrating capital facilities in the area around the Spreebogen, the north bank of the Spree and Spreeinsel.

2. Equitable integration of parliament and government, state offices and other capital related institutions into the centre of Berlin, accompanied by the development and advancement of key cultural, academic and commercial facilities.

3. Construction and expansion of traffic and technical infrastructure befitting a capital city.

4. Improvement to environmental structure, as well as

262 64

preservation, restoration and linking of inner-city green spaces.

5. Integration of federal offices into the historically established and varied city structure, in order to avoid single-function, desolate districts.

Since the beginning of the relocation debate

Bundestag on WilhelmstraĂ&#x;e and Unter den

in 1990, Berlin has attached importance to

Linden have integrated rooms for service facilities

the creation of lively urban quarters. “Urban

that contribute to the revitalization of the streets.

diversity� was the goal - at least in the ground

The demand for an open government district

floor area of the parliamentary and government

accompanied the discussion of the construction

buildings, shops, restaurants and other services

and design concepts in the Spreebogen and on

should have been given space. The Federal

the Spree island from the beginning.

Foreign Office and the buildings of the German

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CASE STUDIES: 3 REGIERUNGSVIERTEL

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Unbuilding Walls Research book

REALITY CHECK

The integration government buildings in the city meant that Berlin’s citizens and visitors would be allowed to use and

experience

this

newly

created

area. According to Schultes, public life should not stop at the periphery of the government quarter. For this reason a mixed-use of buildings made was planned and

to create additional venues

infrastructure

for

citizens

and

parliamentarians.

In the case of the Reichstag (the historic building which houses the German Parliament) this concept was implemented

264 66

with great success: The Reichstag’s dome attracts millions of visitors each year and allows them a bird’s-eye view from the German Bundestag. A majority of the federal ministries, however, decided against public areas within their own buildings because of extreme security requirements and demanded properties without public access.

It is debated that the government quarter is a “ghetto” when one sees the sheer amount of citizens and visitors that explore and use this newly created urban area. This urban no-man’s-land, a scar of the country’s division, has in fact very limited public engagement. The “Civic Forum” in Schultes plan, which was supposed to bring together citizens and trigger public life, was never realized.

Thus a connecting center piece is missing in the current urban area.

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CASE STUDIES: 3 REGIERUNGSVIERTEL

FUNCTIONS AND TRANSPORT

265 67

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266 68

200.000 m2

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CASE STUDIES: 3 REGIERUNGSVIERTEL

THE SCALE

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Unbuilding Walls Research book

Architects Demand: Revive the Government District!

15 years after the construction of the “Band des Bundes”, the government district in the middle of Berlin is a desolate country, not a pulsating city. The complaints about it are getting louder.

28.02.2015

268 70

Merkel's front yard is - much like the Platz der Republik

construction site: Senate building director Regula

in front of the Reichstag - a bleak meadow, furrowed

Lüscher fills the construction areas around the main

by the dirt tracks of the rolling suitcases hurrying

station. The federal government has opened two new

to the main train station. A "hodgepodge of street

houses in the neighborhood but nobody has a view of

fragments" is how the urban planning emergency

the bigger picture.

around the band of the federal government is described by the Association of German architects.

Especially on the back of the Swiss Embassy and

They demand that a "holistic planning" will be

Paul Löbe House, the wasteland can be visited:

resumed for the area.

there is a beautiful view of the large buildings of the government district and the main train station on the

Architect Bernd Albers calls for “radical urbanization

other side of the Spree. But because there is nothing

and intermingling” of the Spreebogen and has

to linger, hardly anyone comes here.

provocatively conjured up blocks of houses in the Spreebogen on the computer in order to enable

“Monolithic federal buildings and trails instead of

“bourgeois urban culture” again. Anyone who bothers

living city, it can not stay that way,” says Stefan Evers,

about the unfamiliar sight is just a child of our time -

deputy fraction leader of the Berlin CDU. The fact

and no longer has in mind the charming Wilhelminian

that cafés and cultural institutions could be a success

blocks that were sacrificed to the gigantic plans of

here is out of the question for him: “The beach bar

Albert Speer for Germania’s “Volkshalle”.

on the south bank is also packed in the summer.” The Swiss Embassy is now part of this defiant solitaire,

CP 2017.2018

“That there is no debate about this in the city is an

but wouldn’t it also be good for an urban planning

indictment,” says Albers. Everyone works on his small

framework?

CASE STUDIES: 3 REGIERUNGSVIERTEL

More life in the government district Mittes Baustadtrat wants to drive the wasteland between federal authorities and offices with housing, cafes and shops. Many good ideas are in the conversation, but still missing a contact person from the Federal Ministry of Construction.

11.02.2011

269 71

The main station, the government district, its

The federal government buildings, should be

extension at Schiffbauerdamm - all is planned

open through cafes or shops on the ground floor.

and built, but it remains a piecemeal. In order to

Despite security requirements, this is possible with

stop the threatening “monotonous use by hotels,

the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “even if visitors

offices and federal authorities”, Mittes Baustadtrat

first have to walk through an X-ray machine”. The

Ephraim Gothe and the Bundestag member Eva

federal government should also grant citizens

Högl, both SPD, have developed a “six-point

access to the unused library of the Bundestag.

plan”. Core idea: Authorities and office buildings

The second largest parliamentary library in the

should not isolate themselves from the people, the

world could relieve the crowded Gebrüder Grimm

center should be greener and livelier, for example,

library of the Humboldt University. The bypass

through a larger range of apartments.

of the Chancellery at the Swiss embassy, the so-called Michael Schumacher chicane, should

Gentrification still takes its course. In the quarter

be dismantled. And the Wilhelminian-style old

around the German theater and also in the nearby

building on Schiffbauer Damm, which is in the

Rosenthal suburb Berliners are displaced by the

way of the completion of Axel Schultes’ “Band des

pressure on the rents. The federal government

Bundes”, should become part of the planned new

could dampen this development by providing land

building. And another thing: on the northern bank

for housing construction. Shops on the ground

of the Spreebogen, pastures are to be planted along

floor and really expensive market rents on the top

the paths. From an atmosphere “like in Paris”, says

floors, in between apartments “for 7.50 euros per

Gothe, with anglers on the shore.

square meter warm”, is Gothes proposal.

Unbuilding Walls Research book

Government district should be “kieziger” Too much concrete, too little life. Confederation and country are calling the fight to tristesse in the center of power. They want to bring urban life into the void.

20.05.2012

270 72

Although the “Band des Bundes” has impressive

A group of students from Kiel is resting on benches

buildings and fascinating views, the planners have

at the Paul-Löbe-Haus. “Every architect has done

neglected the things that would invite you to linger

his own personal showpiece,” says their teacher.

and feel good and would make the government

“But obviously only had his solitaire in mind.”

district a bit more lively.

A lack of imagination surrounds the buildings. In First of all, gastronomy is missing. Many visitors

the evening, the area is as dead as the Town Hall

also miss small shops, galleries, street art forums.

Square in Tristenfeld. The only splash of color is

“In the parliamentary and government district,

the flag at the Swiss embassy. On the eastern edge

you should actually feel invited,” argue critics. Also

of the parliamentary district, it’s fun to let your

senate building director Regula Lüscher misses “an

legs dangle over the Spree or rest on the steps and

urban atmosphere”.

benches, but why is there not even a small café?

Emptiness and space also have their charm, but

Berlins city development senator Michael Mueller

after sunset it means desolation.

(SPD) expressed the wish that the federal government should open its finished or under

When the architects Axel Schultes and Charlotte

construction buildings on the ground floor for the

Frank planned the “Band des Bundes”, they

general public. The federal and state governments

planned a “Citizens’ Forum” between the Paul-

now want to jointly discuss how to create a more

Löbe-Haus and the Chancellery, with cafes,

urban feel. The exchange is urgently needed. As

galleries, shops. For cost reasons, the project was

soon as the sun is hiding behind clouds, it quickly

then rejected, today it is missing...

becomes drafty among the imposing buildings.

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Unbuilding Walls Research book

THE FIRST TRAFFIC LIGHT IN EUROPE

POTSDAMER PLATZ & LEIPZIGER PLATZ

CASE STUDIES: 4 POTSDAMMER PLATZ

Section A

1

2

3

4

75

https://www.google.nl/maps/place/Potsdamer+Platz/@52.5096488,13.37375 01,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x47a851c97891ea21:0x4ca1983c254de1 aa!8m2!3d52.5096488!4d13.3759441?hl=nl

Unbuilding Walls Research book

1838 | Berlin Potsdam Railway Station was opened. Potsdamer Platz turned into a huge cargo transshipment point.

1924 | Potsdamer Platz was the busiest traffic knot in Europe with rapid transit train, underground, 26 tram and five bus lines. The five-cornered traffic tower was erected – Europe’s first traffic light.

76

1900

1939 1945

1871 | Founding of the German Empire. Restaurants and big buildings were brought into the area of the Potsdamer Platz. A big boom happened 1945 | Potsdamer Platz was almost completely destroyed during World War II. It became the ‘border triangle’ where Soviet, American and British sectors met.

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CASE STUDIES: 4 POTSDAMMER PLATZ

1961 | The construction of the

2017 | Potsdamer Platz is again one of

Berlin Wall marked the start of 28

the most attractive locations in Berlin.

long years of division. Potsdamer

With underground, rapid transit train

Platz became part of the border

and railway connections, Potsdamer

zone and the widest point in Berlin’s

Platz is one of Berlin’s main transport

death strip.

hubs.

1998 | DaimlerChrysler Areal completed

2001 | Park Kolonnaden completed

1961

1989

77

2017

2004 | Beisheim Centre completed 2000 | The Sony Centre completed

1989 | Berlin Wall fell on 9th November 1989. A makeshift border crossing was created at the Potsdamer Platz on the 12th November.

1990 | Potsdamer platz quickly turned into E urope’s largest construction site. https://potsdamerplatz.de/en/history/

Unbuilding Walls Research book

1939

http://www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/planen/stadtmodelle/de/innenstadtplaene/sp/index.shtml

78

1945

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http://www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/planen/stadtmodelle/de/innenstadtplaene/sp/index.shtml

CASE STUDIES: 4 POTSDAMMER PLATZ

Weinhaus Huth Hotel Esplanade

1989

http://www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/planen/stadtmodelle/de/innenstadtplaene/sp/index.shtml

Weinhaus Huth

79

2015

http://www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/planen/stadtmodelle/de/innenstadtplaene/sp/index.shtml

The area around the Potsdamer Platz and

Leipziger Platz became part of the border zone

Leipziger Platz has changed a lot over the last

and the widest point in Berlin’s death strip for 28

couple of years. Before the war, the Potsdamer

years. During this period West Berlin started to

Platz was one of the most busiest traffic

built the Kulturforum on the western side of the

intersections in the world. Five busy roads came

wall.

together in front of an end train station. The area

After the fall of the wall, the area has been

had a very high urban density.

redeveloped according to different masterplans.

During the last period of the World War II, a lot

This happened very quickly because of the

of the buildings were destroyed. There were

attractive location.

made new plans for this area after the War. These

At this moment, the area developed itself and

plans got interrupted when they started to built

turned into one of Berlin’s most popular tourist

the Berlin Wall in 1961. Potsdamer Platz and the

hotspots and business center.

Unbuilding Walls Research book

OVERVIEW MASTERPLANS

Renzo Piano Masterplan Kulturforum

Sony Center

Leipziger Platz Former Berlin Wall

80

During the period of the wall, the Western part of

that you can notice nowadays.

Berlin started to redevelop the area with their first masterplan: Das Berliner Kulturforum. A cluster

Hilmer Sattler Architekten won the competition,

existing out of museums, a library, an opera

for the new urban masterplan for the Potsdamer

and a theater. This specific location was chosen

Platz, in 1992. The former wall area is barely

because it was near the ‘Mitte’ district and close

noticeable nowadays due to this new masterplan.

the wall. This gave the West the opportunity to show the East how far they developed theirselves

This masterplan has been divided in four different

in terms of building impressive buildings.

plans; the reconstruction of the Leipziger Platz,

The edge on the east side of this masterplan, is

the masterplan of Renzo Piano, the Sony Center

the ‘new border’ between the East and the West

and the Kulturforum.

Source:

CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 4 POTSDAMMER PLATZ

HILMER SATTLER MASTERPLAN Each urban block is accentuated by high-rise towers Atrium-Tower

Piano-Hochhaus Kollhoff Tower

Sony Center

Beisheim Center

81

All the other buildings have a maximum height of 35 meter Five radiating streets divided the masterplan

As mentioned before, the masterplan for the

historical urban blocks

Potsdamer Platz was won by Munich-based office ‘Hilmer and Sattler’. The selected proposal

The choice of office towers on the east side is

divided the area between five radiating streets

also not incidental, as Wolf and Sonne state.

referring to the site’s historic arrangement and

‘A skyscraper in today’s society gained a similar

accentuated its forefront by high-rise towers.

meaning to the one that gothic cathedral towers

The rest of the buildings were broken into blocks

had for their periods—to underline its power

with a maximum height of 35 m referring to the

over its surrounding’

Source: Potsdamer Platz: The Reshaping of Berlin Małgorzata Nowobilska Quazi Mahtab Zaman

Unbuilding Walls Research book

HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS THAT ACCENTUATE THE FOREFRONT OF EACH URBAN BLOCK

82

CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 4 POTSDAMMER PLATZ

LEIPZIGER PLATZ

1939

1965

2017

https://www.flickr.com/photos/macswitch/8578103283/

Berlin Wall

https://www.saak.nl/battlefield%20tour/2008%20berlin/ berlin%20history/berlin%20wall/berlin%20wall%20nl.htm

83

https://forums.planetcoaster.com/showthread. php/21939-Leipziger-Platz-Berlin-Park

Leipziger Platz was built between 1731 and 1734

When they built the wall, a part of the Leipziger

according to the plans of the architect Philipp

Platz became part of the death strip. The other

Gerlach. Due to its octagonal shape, the square

part stayed unbuilt for a long time.

was initially called “Octagon at Potsdamer Tor”. In 1814, the square has been renamed to

After the wall, the city decided to rebuild Leipziger

Leipziger Platz. In the 19th century, magnificent

Platz according to it’s historical structure. The

palaces lined up along the square. The square was

reason of this is that Leipziger Platz is part of the

especially known for the Wertheim department

three classical squares that used to define the

store and the “Palace Hotel” which was facing

south western city border. The other two squares

the Potsdamer Platz. During the Second World

were Pariser Platz and the Mehringer Platz.

War most of those buildings were destroyed.

Source: Potsdamer Platz: The Reshaping of Berlin Małgorzata Nowobilska Quazi Mahtab Zaman

Unbuilding Walls Research book

LEIPZIGER PLATZ

https://wohnen.leipzigerplatzquartier.de/home.html?L=1

84

https://forums.planetcoaster.com/showthread.php/21939-Leipziger-Platz-Berlin-Park

#RECONSTRUCTION

Nowadays, Leipziger Platz is a green square that

them are just passing through. You rather see

is intersected by a busy road with buildings lined

people lying on the grass during summer. We

up next to it. The buildings form an ensemble

think that an improvement of the quality of the

because they have the same building height

park could stimulate people of using the green

and a setback in the facade. Hotels, offices and

space and make them stay there for a longer time

a shopping mall are situated in the buildings.

instead of only passing through this area.

Because of these programmatic functions, you see lot of people on the square, but most of

Source:

CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 4 POTSDAMMER PLATZ

POTSDAMER PLATZ

First traffic light in Europe

1939

https://frenchquest.com/2015/12/25/my-art-reviewpotsdamer-platz-1914-by-ernst-ludwig-kirchner/

Liepziger Platz, part of the Death Strip

Berlin Wall Potsdamer Platz, West Berlin

1965

http://www.bruhaha.de/potsdamer_platz/seite12.html

85

Leipziger Platz Kollhof Tower Sony Center

2017 Potsdamer

http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=151

Platz

has

undergone

a

major

transformation since 1939. It went from busiest

Potsdamer Platz stands alone, rising much higher than its surroundings.

traffic knot in Europe to part of the border zone of the Berlin Wall for 28 years, and finally to

The period of the 1990s resonates a massive

biggest construction site in Europe in 1990.

acceleration by innovation, globalization and economic growth manifested mainly in the form

Nowadays, Potsdamer Platz stands out in Berlin’s

of commercialization. This is also visible in the

cityscape as a group of skyscrapers clustered in

new development of the Potsdamer Platz. It

the middle of the city. It does not continue or

looks like that the architect completely ignored

evolve from other similar structures around it,

the past.

as sites like Manhattan or central London do.

Source: Potsdamer Platz: The Reshaping of Berlin Małgorzata Nowobilska Quazi Mahtab Zaman

Unbuilding Walls Research book

Buildings with historical courtyads along the Linkstrasse

POTSDAMER PLATZ

86

#RENEWAL When you dive deeper into this masterplan there

blocks. This can be clearly seen at the designs of

can be concluded that the selected proposal

Richard Rogers along the Linkstrasse.

is not completely ignoring the past. The new masterplan of the Potsdamer Platz divided the

The competition’s brief called for ‘a recreation of a

area between five radiating streets referring to

mixed use design that would function as a bridge

the site’s historic arrangement and accentuated

between East and West Berlin, a new centre,

its forefront by high-rise towers. The rest of

consisting of retrieved character of pre-war urban

the buildings were broken into blocks with a

life with traditional block pattern, spaces to stroll

maximum height of 35 meter, referring to the

and relax’. Furthermore, it was calling for a place

historical urban blocks. Also the traditional

‘of high visual quality for staging public life that

courtyards come back in the new developed

citizens could identify with’’ Source: Potsdamer Platz: The Reshaping of Berlin Małgorzata Nowobilska Quazi Mahtab Zaman

CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 4 POTSDAMMER PLATZ

LANDMARK Sony Center

Beisheim Center

Bahntower

Kollhoff Tower

https://www.archdaily.com/173305/flashback-sony-center-berlin-murphy-jahn

87

http://www.trendelkamp.com/sony-center-berlin-germany.html

Potsdamer Platz has a lot of potential landmarks.

by Helmut Jan, because of the well known,

Especially the Kollhoff tower, Piano-Hochhaus,

iconic shape of the parasol. t’s one of Berlin’s

Beisheim Center and the Sony Center are building

most popular tourist attractions. The parasol

who accentuated the Potsdamer Platz. According

protects the square beneath it from rain, snow

to the dictionary, the following definition is

and wind. It’s an impressive structure that catches

given to a landmark: “a building or place that

your attention directly while seeing it. The Sony

is easily recognized, especially one that you

Center exists out of four elements: the buildings

can use to judge where you are.” (Cambridge

around the square, parts of the hotel Esplanade

Dictionary).

According to this definition there

that weren’t destroyed, a cinema under the

can be concluded that the ultimate landmark of

square and the umbrella. The architect tried to

the Potsdamer Platz is the Sony Center, designed

refer to the rich history of this area by implanting Source:

Unbuilding Walls Research book

PUBLIC SPACE Private courtyards Historical urban blocks had a maximum height of 35 meter.

Public spaces were outdoors

1. Outdoor spaces available for all kind of traffic flows,

Cars, pedestrians, cyclist and public transport.

2. Green spaces around Potsdamer Platz.

88

1939

1.

http://transpressnz.blogspot.nl/2013/03/traffic-in-berlin-potsdamer-platz-1.html

By

the

mid-nineteenth

century,

2.

https://kreuzberged.com/2016/02/26/back-to-the-past-and-then-back-again/

Potsdamer

Platz had become a central public square in an

There was a lot happening at the public spaces

expanding Berlin. For the next one hundred years,

of the Potsdamer Platz.

Potsdamer Platz functioned as the transportation

overloaded by streetcars, automobiles, trams

and commercial hub for the rapidly modernizing

and hectic pedestrian traffic, and it became the

country.

busiest public space in Europe in 1924.

Potsdamer Platz was

As such, the square was considered to be the visible symbol of a progressive, industrial and

Potsdamer Platz was accessible for everyone, not

cosmopolitan

only for fast traffic flows, but the area was also

Germany.

Early

photographs

suggest that movement was the main feature of

very attractive for pedestrians.

Potsdamer Platz.

Source: Berlin Traditions and Potsdamer Platz: Architectural Reconstruction and the Transformation of a PublicPlace.

Anna M. Dempsey, Dartmouth

CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 4 POTSDAMMER PLATZ

PUBLIC SPACE Semi public courtyards Outdoor public spaces are for ‘fast’ traffic flows, less attractive for pedestrians.

1. Indoor public spaces

2017

1.

This street seperates the Kulturforum and Potsdamer Platz.

‘New border between the east and west’.

https://www.potsdamer-platz.net/sony-center/

2. Indoor shopping street

Arkaden

2.

Tilla-Durieux Park

http://www.mygola.com/potsdamer-platz-arkaden-p34135/images

When you compare the public spaces of

For example, the Sony Center. This building

Potsdamer Platz in 1939 with the public spaces

frames a place that is entirely commercial and

nowadays, there can be concluded that Potsdamer

“inward-oriented in character.” It is in no way

Platz has undergone a major transformation in

reminiscent of a traditional shopping area “with

terms of public spaces. As said before, in 1939

its classic sequence and hierarchy of streets,

there were a lot of attractive public spaces for all

open areas and building structures”

kind of traffic flows. Nowadays the outdoor area’s

Finally, Tilla-Durieux Park is more like a barricade

are more focussed on the fast traffic flows. A lot

than a public, multipurpose park. It is a space

of cars are passing through this area all day long.

that is meant to be viewed from the sidewalk

The outdoor spaces are not that attractive for

or, more likely, from behind an apartment glass

pedestrians anymore. The area’s for pedestrians

window, instead of really using the green space.

have been moved inside the buildings.

Source: Potsdamer Platz: The Reshaping of Berlin Małgorzata Nowobilska Quazi Mahtab Zaman

Unbuilding Walls Research book

89

PUBLIC AREA UNDERNEATH THE UMBRELLA

90

CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 4 POTSDAMMER PLATZ

91

Unbuilding Walls Research book

CHECKPOINT CHARLIE

CASE STUDIES: 5 CHECKPOINT CHARLIE

1

2

3

4

93

3 4

2

1

Source: Google maps

Unbuilding Walls Research book

TIMELINE CHECKPOINT CHARLIE JUNE REVOLUTION - 17 JUNE 1953

YALTA CONFERENCE - FEB 1945

The first mass uprising in the Soviet Union’s sphere of power took place. In East Berlin and throughout East Germany, more than a million people held strikes and demonstrations against political repression and arbitrary justice.

The US, Britain and Soviet Union discuss the post-war order in Europe. They agree on the occupation zones of Germany and the borders of the Berlin sectors.

94

1945

1948

1953

1958

THE BLOCKADE - 24 JUNE 1948 The Soviet Union closed all access routes to West Berlin, which was located in the middle of the Soviet-occupied zone. The blockade was the Soviet Union’s response to the introduction of the Deutschmark.

CP 2017.2018

SECOND BERLIN CRISIS The head of the Soviet state and communist party, Nikita Khrushchev, demanded negotiations with the western allies on a peace treaty and a proposal to turn West Berlin into a demilitarised “free city”. Otherwise, he threatened to sign a unilateral peace treaty with East Germany. It was another of his attempts to force the western powers out of Berlin.

CASE STUDIES: 5 CHECKPOINT CHARLIE

DEATH STRIP HAS BEEN CREATED A turning point in the Cold War. The East German government continued to fortify the border with West Berlin by building a security strip. It also declared East German citizens who wanted to escape traitors and claimed the right to shoot to kill.

DRAMATICAL DECISION The political leaders of East-Germany and the Soviet Union, Walter Ulbricht and Nikita Chroesjtsjov decided in 1961 that there should be a wall around West-Berlin.

SUNDAY 13 AUGUST 1961 East-Germans are starting to build the Berlin Wall.

AUGUST 1961 Checkpoint Charlie is one of the three checkpoints where people could cross the wall.

27 OCTOBER 1961 Stand-off between Soviet Union and U.S. tanks at Checkpoint Charlie.

1961

1962

1963

1967

19 OCTOBER 1962 Haus am Checkpoint Charlie has been created. The first exhibition opened on 19th October 1962 in a 2,5-room flat.

PROTEST AGAINST THE GDR BORDER Peter Fechter got shot by the East German border guards.

An huge demonstration follows at Checkpoint Charlie where West Berlin riot police push back the angry croud.

THE ONLY WAY TO GO FROM EAST TO WEST By 1962, Checkpoint Charlie was the only place where foreigners could pass from West-Berlin to East-Berlin and vice versa.

PROTEST AGAINST VIETNAM WAR In the US and western Europe, a mass protest movement formed against the war in Vietnam, which expanded in 1970 with military action in Laos and Cambodia. In West Germany and especially in West Berlin, the East German Ministry for State Security (Stasi) tried to influence the protest movement.

Unbuilding Walls Research book

95

96

FOUR POWER AGREEMENT

GRENZMAUER ‘75

West Germany tolerated the international recognition of East Germany. But East Germany never achieved the state of recognition by West Germany or recognition

by Bonn of a seperate citizenship. Thanks to the Four Power Agreement, Berlin gradually lost its importance on the world stage of the international East-West confrontation.

Nevertheless, the continuing existence of the border regime prevented any kind of normality.

From the year 1975 the 3rd generation of Berlin Wall was replaced by the 4th generation. New concrete segments were used which were easy to build up and more resistant to breakthroughs and escapes.

1971

1973

1975

1984

REPLACEMENT CHECKPOINT CHARLIE The original wooden guardhouse was replaced by a larger metal building in the 1980s.

INTERNATIONAL STABILITY The two seperate German nations are both admitted to the United Nations.

CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 5 CHECKPOINT CHARLIE

22 JUNE 1990 Checkpoint Charlie is removed from its original location.

TEAR DOWN THIS WALL! On 12 June 1987 U.S. president Ronald Reagan told the leader of the Soviet Union, Michail Gorbatsjov, to demolish the Berlin Wall.

HAUS AM CHECKPOINT CHARLIE Haus am Checkpoint Charlie was expanded in 1990 and tells the story of both Checkpoint Charlie and the Berlin Wall.

1987

1989

1990

2000

WATCH TOWER The watch tower, which was also part of Checkpoint Charlie, was broken down in 2000 and replaced by shops and offices.

9 NOVEMBER 1989

REPLICA CHECKPOINT CHARLIE

A new travel regulation was announced by the SED. The same evening, more and more citizens of East Berlin gathered at the border crossings to West Berlin for demonstrations.

On that night, the Berlin Wall came down.

Since 2000 a replica of Checkpoint Charlie is back in its historic place.

Unbuilding Walls Research book

97

98

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CASE STUDIES: 5 CHECKPOINT CHARLIE

CROSSING CHECKPOINT CHARLIE

99

FriedrichstraĂ&#x;e Border Crossing, widely known as Checkpoint Charlie, was a symbol of the conflict between the world powers during the so-called Cold War. It became one of the most (in)famous innercity border crossings. At the end of October 1961, Soviet and American tanks faced one another in front of the wall. In violation of the city’s Four-Power status, the East German leadership had tried to inspect members of the Allied armed forces just before they entered East Berlin.

The memorial to Peter Fechter is located nearby. Fechter was an 18-year-old young man who was shot at and wounded by East German border guards as he tried to flee on 17 August 1962. He was left to bleed to death, because nobody dared to come to his aid.

Unbuilding Walls Research book

Building situation

Friedrichstraße, the crossing from West

Under a decree issued by the East

to East Berlin.

German interior ministry, diplomats, foreign citizens and members of the

(Un)successful escapes

allied forces were ordered to use the

By closing the border in Berlin in 1961,

border crossing at Friedrichstraße as of

the SED government was able to stop

22 August 1961.

the mass exodus from the GDR. But is was not able to stem it entirely. Many

Over the years, the East German

people succeeded in fleeing through

leadership transformed the crossing

the border grounds, especially during

from a simple checkpoint to a ten-

the first months after the Wall was built.

lane border facility. Members of the

But they were risking a great deal.

East German Ministry of State Security

The border soldiers had the order to

(Stasi) carried out the controls and the

do whatever was necessary to stop

searches.

an escape, even if this required firing direct shots.

100

On the Western side, allied troops

As border surveillance increased and

registered members of the American,

the border fortifications expanded,

British and French troops at Checkpoint

fleeing across the border became

Charlie before they could visit East

nearly impossible. Despite the risk,

Berlin.

people continued to seek and find

Foreign

inform

new ways of escaping. An arrest often

themselves there about staying in East

tourists

could

led to a many-year prison sentence for

Berlin.

both those attempting to flee and their helpers.

Checkpoint Charlie took its name

On

from the NATO phonetic alphabet.

Friedrichstraße border crossing people

Members of the allied forces could

repeatedly

reach Berlin via:

release of friends and relatives.

Checkpoint A (Alpha) near Helmstedt,

Despite all the improvements to the

the crossing from the Federal Republic

barrier system, as well as the spying

to East Germany.

and repression, people repeatedly

Checkpoint B (Bravo) near Dreilinden,

managed to escape to West Berlin at

the crossing from East Germany to

Friedrichstraße border crossing.

West Berlin.

Checkpoint

CP 2017.2018

C

(Charlie)

at

the

West-Berlin

side

demonstrated

of for

the the

CASE STUDIES: 5 CHECKPOINT CHARLIE

Assisted escapes

its control over entry into the GDR.

After the Wall was erected, many

It prohibited West Berliners from

people spontaneously helped others

entering the east side of the city. Travel

to flee. They often helped friends

permit measures introduced from 1963

and family to cross to West Berlin.

to 1966 only allowed visits to relatives

At the same time, people organized

in East Berlin on certain holidays. It was

themselves to assist East Germans who

not until the early 1970s, after the Four

wanted to escape to the West.

Power Agreement on Berlin and the Transit Agreement were passed, that

Quite sophisticated escape strategies

travel to the East became easier for

were

FriedrichstraĂ&#x;e

West Berliners and West Germans on a

Escape-helpers

permanent basis.

employed

border

crossing.

at

smuggled refugees with passes from

Travelers entered and exited the East at

states and international organizations

official border crossings (GĂœSt). This was

that did not exist. In this way, almost

where passport control units (PKE) of

400 East Germans were able to cross

the Stasi inspected travelers. Fourteen

the checkpoint for foreigners to West

border crossings for passenger traffic

Berlin unrecognized between 1962 and

existed in Berlin in 1989. Each one

1964.

was assigned to serve specific types of transport and travelers. The control

Diplomats were also willing, often for

procedures at the different crossing

a fee, to smuggle refugees into the

varied strongly. According to the Transit

West in their car boot. This was a very

Agreement, vehicle inspections could

expensive but safe way of leaving East

only be conducted when a reasonable

Germany.

suspicion existed. As a consequence, the Stasi increased its surveillance of

Border control procedures

the transit routes in its search for GDR

The SED governments denied its

citizens trying to flee.

citizens the right to free movement.

By closing the border, it also asserted

Unbuilding Walls Research book

101

Checkpoint Charlie

The heavily constructed inspection

The border checkpoint at

process would have made it almost

Friedrichstraße/Zimmerstraße is 120

hearth stopping for people who

m long and 70 m wide. The entrance

(legally) wanted to cross the border

and exit each have three lanes for

because of several unsuccessful

passenger cars, two for heavy-goods

escape attempts at the checkpoint.

vehicles and two footpaths.

Various attempts of crossing the border in a US uniform or driving/

The inspection process mainly

hiding in a diplomat’s car ended up in

consisted of three steps, pre-

an arrest. Therefore, the PKE stringent

inspection by passport control

their passport and identity checks.

units (PKE), custom checks and final (identity) check (PKE).

102

CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 5 CHECKPOINT CHARLIE

Border crossing

German currency out of the East, but

On 13 August 1961, the border

leftover money could be stored at the

crossing

Charlie

border in case of future visits. Tourists

at FriedrichstraĂ&#x;e was opened. This

crossing from West to East Berlin had

checkpoint was strictly meant for

to pay DM 5 for a visa, West Berliners

foreigners (non-Germans), diplomats,

could cross the border for free.

point

Checkpoint

Allied military personnel and GDR citizens.

Between 26 August 1961 and 17 December 1963, West Berliners could

West Germans and citizens of other

not visit East Berlin or East Germany

Western countries were in general

because

allowed to visit East Germany. This

closed. Negotiations between the East

required an application of a visa at

and West led to a limited possibility

an East German embassy several

for visits during Christmas season until

weeks before visit. A visa for a daytrip

1966. The Four Power Agreement on

to East Berlin could also be issued

Berlin in 1971 allowed West Berliners

without previous application through a

to enter East Berlin and East Germany

simplified procedure at the checkpoint.

regularly with a visa application. This

Nevertheless, East German authorities

was similar to the regulation that was

could refuse entry permits without

already applicable to West Germans.

explanation. In the 80s, West Berliners

Nevertheless, East German authorities

who wanted to visit East Berlin had

could still refuse any entry permits

to exchange a minimum of DM 25

without reason.

all

crossing

points

were

(Deutsche Marks) into East German currency at an indigent exchange rate of 1:1. It was prohibited to export East

Unbuilding Walls Research book

103

Until the fall of the wall, the regulation

Although

that was in force prohibited East

application, an approval was never

Berliners and East Germans to travel

entirely guaranteed. Besides, even if

to West Berlin or West Germany. Over

travel was accepted, GDR travelers

the years, various exceptions to this

were only allowed to exchange a very

regulation was introduced, the most

small amount of East German Marks

important being:

into Deutsche Marks (DM). Therefore,

- Old age pensioners were allowed to

every

visit

needed

limiting the financial resources to travel

travel to the West from 1964

in the West. West Germany decided to

- Visits of relatives for important family

grant a small amount of DM annually

matters

(BegrĂźĂ&#x;ungsgeld, or Welcome money)

- Traveling to the West for professional

to GDR citizens who visited West

purpose (e.g. artists, truck drivers etc.)

Germany or West Berlin in order to resolve their financial situation.

104

CP 2017.2018

an

CASE STUDIES: 5 CHECKPOINT CHARLIE

Checkpoint Charlie today

caused the demolition of the East

The fall of the wall in 1989 led to

German

the decommissioning of Checkpoint

till then the last remaining original

Charlie in 22 June 1990. In 2002, a

structure belonging to Checkpoint

replica of the booth along with the sign

Charlie. Unable to protect its historic

that marked the border was placed

significance in order to be classified as

at the original site. It was created

a landmark, the location was replaced

to resemble the first guard booth

with modern offices and convenience

from 1961. However, adjustment to

shops.

the location, design and layout over

Nearby the checkpoint booth, the

the years, resulted nowadays with a

private Haus am Checkpoint Charlie

minimal resemblance of the original

Museum is located which is nowadays

checking station.

an inevitable part this historic area. This

watchtower,

which

was

is one of the most frequently visited Besides, the surrounding area (context)

museums of Berlin with 850.000 visitors

of the border cross has also changed

in 2007.

dramatically.

In

2000,

developers

105

Unbuilding Walls Research book

1939 1940

1

1953

1

106

1945

CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 5 CHECKPOINT CHARLIE

1989 1989

107

2017 2017 How did the area around Checkpoint Charlie

the Berlin Wall was built (1950-1961), after that

developed through different time periods? This is

the period during the Berlin Wall (1961-1989)

the main question which the above five diagrams

and finally the years after the fall of the wall

will focus on. Each diagram covers a different

until today (1990-2017). On the next pages each

time period. First of all the period before the

diagram will be explained on different topics,

second world war (1900-1939), Secondly, the

such as infrastructure, density and the reasons of

period which covers the post-war period (1946-

these changes.

1949), the next diagram is about the years before

Unbuilding Walls Research book

1900-1939

1940

108

The history of the FriedrichstraĂ&#x;e station dates

filled with bars and clubs. Almost every second

back to 1878. It was built adjacent to the point

building housed some sort of entertainment

where the street crosses the Spree River. Since the

venue,

including

numerous

brothels.

nineteenth century the area has been renowned for

the

dense

conglomeration

of

theatres.

Looking at the diagram, the density of the

The diversity in the FriedrichstraĂ&#x;e is huge.

area is huge. A lot of buildings in a strict

From classical works at the Berliner Ensemble to

grid. The three small images below gives an

political cabaret at the Distel Theatre. The most

impression of the atmosphere in the area. A

northern section of FriedrichstraĂ&#x;e was an area

lively and vivid area where many events happen.

CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 5 CHECKPOINT CHARLIE

1946-1949

1953

109

The Friedrichstraße was badly damaged during

area. The Friedrichstraße only partly rebuilt during

World War II. As seen on the diagram the

the division of Berlin. The section in West Berlin

devastation

important

was partly rebuilt as a residential street. In the East

street how it was before can’t even be recognized

Berlin section, plans were put into place to widen

anymore. Life on the street has been decreased

the street to four lanes as was done to the Leipziger

tremendously. The three images above shows an

Straße; were the only structures built during this

impression of the atmosphere in this area. For the

time with the wider profile of the street in mind.

was

enormously.

The

Berlin people it is time to rebuilt this important

Unbuilding Walls Research book

1961-1989

1989

110

The Berlin Wall that was erected in 1961

no man’s land was literally a death zone which

divided

and

was designed to prevent any escape attempt.

East. The intersection at Friedrichstraße and

The border patrols were trained to shoot and kill.

Berlin

into

two

parts,

West

Zimmerstraße became one of the most important and

famous

crossings

points.

Checkpoint

The division that took place for 28 years

Charlie was assigned as the crossing point for

had

foreigners and members of the Allied forces.

developments on both sides of the wall. The

a

tremendous

effect

on

the

urban

West developed much faster while the East The Berlin Wall consisted of two walls, the Inner

was

wall and the Border Wall. The border wall was

previous diagram to the diagram above, this

developed and enhanced over the years. The fourth

slow progress in density can clearly be seen.

and last generation border wall was designed and

During the Berlin Wall, the atmosphere in this

started in 1975 and took 5 years to complete.

intersection became rather tense. Looking at

In the late 60s and early 70s the inner wall was

the images, one could say that you did not

erected creating the so called ‘Death Strip’. This

want to come near this place if not necessary.

CP 2017.2018

rather

neglected.

By

comparing

the

CASE STUDIES: 5 CHECKPOINT CHARLIE

1990-2017

2017

111

The Friedrichstraße is a major business and

and created a lot of commercial buildings. Even

shopping street in central Berlin, forming the

random people on the street are trying to sell

core of the Friedrichstadt neighbourhood. It runs

touristic souvenirs in order to make use of the

for three and a half kilometers through the heart

touristic trap. Concluded can be stated that the

of the city in north-southerly direction from the

once so important Friedrichstraße where a lot

old Mitte to the Hallesches Tor in the Kreuzberg

of entertainment program was built, went to a

district. The second important street in the current

devastated zone where no life was taking place.

Checkpoint Charlie area is the Zimmerstraße.

After trying to rebuild the site, the intersection

This intersection forms the current spot of the

between

touristic attraction called Checkpoint Charlie.

became one of the most important spots in Berlin

During the division between East- and West Berlin,

again; because of the border crossing. After

Checkpoint Charlie was the only place where

reunification of Germany this area remained as one

people cross the border. After the fall of the Wall,

of the most important spots in Berlin. But this time

a lot of tourists came to this spot. The government

for a different reason; commercialism and tourism.

Zimmerstraße

and

Friedrichstraße

and investors noticed this development as well

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CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 5 CHECKPOINT CHARLIE

LANDMARKS

Source: USAMHI (1961). US Army tanks face off against Soviet tanks, Berlin 1961. Photo found on https://www.army.mil/article/46993/standoff-in-berlin-october-1961/ on 16-11-2017.

113

The Berlin studio “Unbuilding Walls” is about

The representation of an area is valuable when

landmarks. To find out what the landmark at the

people recognizes it and are able to define

site of Checkpoint Charlie is – and to find out if

their orientation. This image of the area can be

there is even one – the definition of a landmark

analyzed by three different components: identity,

must be clear. According to the dictionary, the

structure and definition. First of all, the image of

following definition is given: “a building or place

value requires recognition of an object, which

that is easily recognized, especially one that you

distinct itself from its environment. Besides a

can use to judge where you are.” (Cambridge

recognizable object, the representation requires

Dictionary). This means that a landmark gives

a clear urban relationship between the object,

information about where the person is at that

the visitor/user and the other objects in the area.

moment. Urban spaces and buildings should be

Finally, the object should mean something to the

recognizable, readable and understandable. This

visitor/user, either on a practical or emotional

means the representation of the complete area

base.

is important.

Unbuilding Walls Research book

If the representation of an area wants to be valuable and defined as a landmark, then it should meet some qualities.

The object in this area which wants to be a landmark should be accessible where the visitor is able to experience the object within its area. When we talk explicitly about a building; a visitor must be able to experience the building and its vision and atmosphere within the urban space. The difficulty in judging these qualities is the different opinions of each person. One would say the object and urban spaced could be defined as a landmark since the urban space recognizable and the object is different than all others.

Others would say the object doesn’t fit in its urban space and can’t recognize the definition of the building, and therefor won’t judge it as a landmark.

(Lynch, K. The Image of the City. 1960).

114

Looking at the current situation, one would say easily that the small booth, where the actors are standing, is the landmark of the site of Checkpoint Charlie. However, the place is still recognizable when the booth gets removed. This means that the booth on itself isn’t a landmark. Thus, the same question is standing: what is the landmark at the Checkpoint Charlie area? There’s a lack of one clear

1. Paths

CP 2017.2018

landmark in this area. The landmark of this area is a combination of multiple aspects. If we look into the theory behind a landmark, it will show us that these multiple aspects can be made explicit by sorting them into five different categories.

The first one is paths. This obviously means the roads, canals, rails and sidewalks, wherever the movement of the visitors happens. For many people these are the most dominant elements in the representation of an area. People observe the environment by moving through it and based on these paths the rest of the categories can be sorted.

The second category is borders. These are usual linear elements which can’t be used as a path for the visitors. These borders are separating two areas by using walls, coastlines and crossing rails. These borders are for many people important since it defines the size of the scope. The third category is districts. Districts can be defined as medium-sized parts of the city. People know ‘they are somewhere’. This means this medium-sized part of the city has a character since the visitors can orientate themselves. Also, these districts give the people an orientation and reference point to the rest of the city.

2. Borders

CASE STUDIES: 5 CHECKPOINT CHARLIE

The fourth category are nodes. These are spaces where a visitor is able to go to and where they are focused on where from and where to travel to.

Primarily, these nodes are connections, intersections or points where one structure ends and a next one starts.

Some nodes are the center of multiple

Checkpoint Charlie. Earlier mentioned, things have been said about the lack of a real landmark, the fifth category.

Even though this object isn’t clearly existing, the landmark can be defined with these five categories. The paths can be related to the Zimmerstraße and the Friedrichstraße. Important roads

THUS, WHEN LOOKING AT THE FIFTH CATEGORY LANDMARKS, THE SMALL BOOTH WITH ACTORS COULD BE SEEN AS A LANDMARK. BUT, IT CAN BE STATED THAT THERE’S A LACK OF A STRONG LANDMARK.

areas. Mostly these nodes are the most recognizable elements in their environment.

The last and fifth category are landmarks. These are objects where visitors don’t necessarily need access to go inside. These objects are elements in the city and sometimes can be noticed from a far range. Landmarks don’t always have to be buildings, landmarks can also be defined as mountains, the sea or even the sun.

Smaller landmarks can be defined as trees or plants. Even an empty space can be seen as a landmark. Important to be aware of, is the fact that the five categories mentioned above aren’t stand alone. They influence each other, they strengthen each other – or weaken each other when there went something wrong in design – and therefor these five categories should always be thought through. (Lynch, K. The Image of the City. 1960). The five categories can be related to the current situation of

3. Districts

4. Nodes

which are related to the area and the representation of Checkpoint Charlie.

The second category borders are very clear. Even though the Berlin Wall isn’t there anymore, the cobblestones on the ground gives a clearly direction of where the border used to be. The third category district can be linked to paths.

These important roads give the visitors a clear idea of where they are which creates a reference point for them.

The fourth category node can be seen as the intersection of the two streets mentioned before. At this intersection all categories come together. The nodes, paths, cobblestones of the former border and the district itself gives a clear orientation towards the visitors. Thus, when looking at the fifth category Landmarks, the small booth with actors could be seen as a landmark. But, it can be stated that there’s a lack of a strong landmark.

5. Landmarks

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CHECKPOINT CHARLIE MUSEUM PETER EISENMAN, 1985

1

116

Source: Zägel, J. (2012). Haus Am Checkpoint Charlie. Visited on 27-10-2017 at https://commons. wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Berlin,_Kreuzberg,_Friedrichstrasse_43-44,_Haus_am_Checkpoint_Charlie.jpg

On FriedrichstraĂ&#x;e 43 in the Berlin district of

reference to the historical location when designing

Kreuzberg the Haus Am Checkpoint Charlie

new buildings. The historic city ground plan, with

Museum is designed. Originally this building was

its typical block perimeter development, was

designed as a residential building. The building

to be advanced creatively. On the opposite of

was designed by Peter Eisenman and built as

the street is another building designed for the

part of the International Building Exhibition (IBA)

International

in 1987, a few years before the Wall fell. Peter

Charlie Apartments by OMA. As said, from origin

Eisenman was part of the architecture group the

the building was built for social housing in Berlin

New York Five. The competition on Block 5 in

from 1981 until 1985. Today the building houses

the southern Friedrichstadt quarter was won by

a museum about the GDR and the Berlin Wall.

Peter Eisenman. IBA-Neubau called for a critical

CP 2017.2018

Building

Exhibition;

Checkpoint

CASE STUDIES: 5 CHECKPOINT CHARLIE

1939

1945

117

1989

2017

The appearance of the building at Checkpoint

by Andrea Oppenheimer Dean explains the

Charlie works on interaction of a differing square

program of the building. “The first and second

grid, the meridian and the urban spaces. Since the

stories of the building’s side-street elevation are

site is situated on the border of two different urban

given over to a museum memorializing the Berlin

patterns, the excise wall and the Berlin Wall, it is

Wall, with exhibitions focusing on various forms

symbolized as the red ribbon in the facade of the

of resistance to tyranny. The displays extend

19th Century. One grid refers to the rectangular

through a warren of undifferentiated galleries

historic city structure of Friedrichstraße, while a

reaching from Eisenman’s main building into

second grid stands for the Mercator geodesic

the sliver beside it and then into the adjoining

grid – a symbolic connection between past

19th-century building.” - Oppenheimer Dean,

and present. Originally a garden was to be

A. (1988). In terms of architecture history, the

built, according to plans by Eisenman, but this

building

was not realized after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

important contribution

The idea of the design was to create a bright face

of the 1980s and 1990s deconstructivism and

in a grim neighborhood. The following quote

became one of the flagships of IBA Berlin.

completed

in

1986 for the

represents

an

development

Unbuilding Walls Research book

CHECKPOINT CHARLIE APARTMENTS OMA, 1990

2

118

Source: Adam Eastland Art + Architecture. (2016). House at Checkpoint Charlie. Visited on 27-10-2017 at http://www.alamy.com/ stock-photo-berlin-germany-house-at-checkpoint-charlie-friedrichstrae-207208-designed-132420445.htmlCheckpoint_Charlie.jpg

The Checkpoint Charlie apartments, located at

officials, allied forces and non-residents. The plot

Friedrichstraße 207-208, was a project for the

remained vacant until the competition announced

International Building Exhibition Berlin 87 (IBA

by IBA in 1980. OMA won the competition

87). The building was designed to accommodate

to design apartments along Friedrichstraße.

the

customs

officials

and

allied

forces.

The building is 7 stories high and consists

Until the beginning of World War II in 1940, this

26 apartments which occur as three types:

plot was occupied by a high density building

penthouses, double-height gallery and garden

block. Friedrichstraße was a true bustling

access maisonettes. The apartments sit on

location with various bars and clubs and was

a podium floating above the ground level

renowned

conglomeration

which created space for customs workers and

of theatres. At the end of the war in 1945,

Allied forces. The ground floor also contained

most of this block was completely destroyed.

space for the equipment from the border

for

the

dense

inspection post “Checkpoint Charlie”. The During the Berlin Wall from 1961 to 1989, this

skeleton of the structure was elevated from the

location was kept mostly undeveloped and the

block edge between two existing buildings.

area became a border crossing point for customs

The apartments were lifted off the ground,

CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 5 CHECKPOINT CHARLIE

1939

1945

119

1989

2017

separating the housing from the Checkpoint

was

replaced

with

enclosed

retail

spaces.

and left the street level to activities related to

In 2010 the building underwent a few minor

border control, which penetrated to the back of

changes but was mainly preserved with its structure

the site and included an underground car park.

and appearance. Due to the abolishment of the border control operations at Checkpoint Charlie,

In 1987 the project broke ground and the

the control facilities were redesigned but the major

construction took roughly 3 years. When the project

elements of the design remained untouched. The

(specifically designed to house customs officials

ground floor underwent an extension in order

and allied forces) was finished in 1990, the Wall had

to house a giant McDonalds. This closed the

already fallen (1989) and Germany was reunified.

recessed façade gesture of de original design and

This (happy) miscalculation led to an obligatory

creating a terrace on top. This decision received

revision of the program mainly on the ground

critique by many Berliners and even Vernon

floor. The open ground floor contained a

Pike (a former US army colonel) who called this

turn-around for allied vehicles and customs

transformation

facilities.

This

was

changed

in

1994

“an

unacceptable

spectacle”.

and

Unbuilding Walls Research book

BLACK BOX KALTER KRIEG 2006;2012

3

120

Source: Berliner Forum für Geschichte und Gegenwart e.V. (2012). Black Box Kalter Krieg. Visited on 27-10-2017 at http://www.zeithistorische-forschungen.de/2-2014/id%3D5110

Blackbox Kalter Krieg is surrounded by the well

When the Wall was erected in 1961, a large

known streets; Friedrichstraße, Zimmerstraße

portion of Block 200 was positioned in the Death

and Schützenstraße. This plot is called Block 200.

Strip and the remaining part was situated in

Back in 1916 up until the beginning of World War

the inspection area. The gradual development

II in 1940, this plot was occupied by a high density

of the Wall, along with the Death strip and the

building block. At the end of the war in 1945,

inspection area led to a long period of vacancy.

most of this block was completely destroyed

In 1989, political changes arose in the Soviet

and the remaining block was devastated.

Union.

The

mass

influx

of

citizens

from

East Germany and the growing number of In 1961, Berlin was divided into two parts.

demonstrations put the ruling East German

Friedrichstraße Border Crossing, became widely

communist party (SED) under great pressure.

known as Checkpoint Charlie. The confrontation

More than half a million East Berlin demonstrators

of the two world powers that happened in

gathered at the border crossing to West Berlin

1961 between the streets Zimmerstraße and

insisting on exercising the new right immediately

Schützenstraße became a symbolic conflict.

what ultimately resulted in the fall of the wall.

CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 5 CHECKPOINT CHARLIE

1939

1945

121

1989

2017

In the early 90s Block 200 remained unoccupied.

The fall of the wall created possibilities for

Also the fact that the building permit was expired

redevelopment of the border. In 1992 an

in 2000 led to another decade of vanancy.

architecture

competition

was

announced

which was open exclusively to German and US

Until 2006 this unbuilt lot continued to house

architectural offices. Within two months JĂźrgen

mere

Engel proposed the Checkpoint Charlie museum

for

showplace with offices and commerce on Block

unfortunately unsuccessful. However, since 2012

200. However, despite the design that respected

an exhibition space about the cold war, called

the historical importance and value of its location,

BlackBox Kalter Krieg is (temporally) placed on this

the building was never executed due to a number

location. The structure is dedicated to the Cold

of reasons. The threat of bankruptcy kept the

War with an exhibition that shows the connections

developer back from investing in this project

between the Berlin Wall and international events

and the further development of this focal area.

such as the Korean War and the Cuban missile crisis.

temporary

development

structures. were

Many

proposed

initiatives but

were

In 2003, the developer declared insolvency.

Unbuilding Walls Research book

PANORAMA ASISI

YADEGAR ASISI, 2012 4

122

Source: Tripadvisor. (2012). Panorama Asisi. Visited on 27-10-2017 at https://www.tripadvisor. co.uk/Attraction_Review-g187323-d6353067-Reviews-Asisi_Panorama_Berlin-Berlin.html

Friedrichstraße 205. Quartier 105. It’s a site

the only designs which attempted to memorialize

located nearby Checkpoint Charlie. The site

the crossing at Checkpoint Charlie. In one of

was filled with residential buildings in the past.

these two, David Childs attached the symbol of

These got bombed and destroyed during World

a raised gate, strapped prowlike to the façade

War II. This place never really got its life and

of the building. (Stephenson, M. (2013). Building

vitality back. During the time of the Wall this

Walls and Dissolving Borders: The Challenges

spot was used as a part of the enormous security

of Alterity, Community and Securitizing Space).

check which happened at the border crossing at Checkpoint Charlie. After the fall of the wall

Currently, in a huge circular warehouse, in the

only temporarily buildings where made and

middle of the empty area near Checkpoint

located on this spot. By the time the Wall fell,

Charlie in Berlin Mitte, is the Panorama Asisi

the GDR had initiated a building program of its

established. Since September 2012 is the design

own to restore the once vibrant Friedrichstraße

of a huge painting of Yadegar Asisi exposed.

as a commercial and entertainment nexus. But

The extremely detailed painting with dimensions

because of the decreasing power of the GDR and

of 15 meter x 60 meter, exposes the artist an

the destroying of their own buildings, these plans

ordinary day somewhere in the autumn of 1980s.

were lacking execution. In 1992, the Central

It shows the bizarre situation of that time. Two

European Development Corporation (CEDC),

countries so close-by orientated, but still so

bought five acres at this point and divided it into

differently. It shows how the daily life of both East

five building sites. David Childs, of SOM New

and West Berliners continued but everyone knew

York, won the competition for Block 105. In the

and felt the tension. The Cold War didn’t stop.

end three sites were build, Block 105 wasn’t one of them ironically, the two unbuilt designs where CP 2017.2018

The Panorama at Checkpoint Charlie shows the

CASE STUDIES: 5 CHECKPOINT CHARLIE

1939

1945

123

1989

2017

daily life of lives during the time of the Wall. It was

the period of the Berlin Wall and the days of

created by the artist Yadegar Asisi’s. The reason

its fall in 1989 attune the visitor to the project.

of his creation is clear. Asisi visited Kreuzberg during the period of the Wall and was so shocked

The contrast between West and East can’t be

of the impact of the Wall, that he decided to

expressed clearer than in this creation of Asisi.

eternalize this scene. His Panorama displaces

The daily life in West Berlin continues, at the

the visitor into the daily life in the district of the

wall, nearby the wall, with the wall. Even the gas

Berlin Wall on a fictitious autumn day in the 1980s.

station is open. The West Berliners are walking

The alternative life in the SO 36 district of West

one by one to the watchtower, to catch a view of

Berlin with its punks and squats in Kreuzberg is

the East. Graffiti-artists are busy with designing

completely separated from the life in East Berlin,

the Westside of the Wall, neon-light commercial

even though the distance isn’t more than a stone

boards are coloring the façades. Meanwhile

throw away. The Wall, including the death strip

on the other side of the wall, East Berlin, the

divides not only East and West Berlin, but also

people are living in poverty. There’s no work,

East and West Germany and the Capitalism from

not much food and the urban space plus its

the Communism. The Panorama shows both the

buildings are getting impoverished. Again, two

banal routineness and subtle horror of normality

parts of Berlin which have such a huge contrast,

in the divided city. In the foyer, over a hundred

it can be experienced in the Panorama of Asisi.

photo motifs from contemporary witnesses of Unbuilding Walls Research book

ZIMMERSTRASSE

CASE STUDIES: 6 ZIMMERSTRASSE

1

2

3

4

125

4

3 2 1

Unbuilding Walls Research book

ZIMMERSTRASSE

2

5 3

4

1 7

6 9

8 11

10 12

13

126

1. Detlev-Rohwedder-Haus

CP 2017.2018

2. Martin-Gropius-Bau

(Bundesministerium der Finanzen)

(excibition hall)

1935

1881, reopened in 1981

East Berlin

West Berlin

3. Topographie des Terrors

4. Berlin Wall Memorial

(former Gestapo’s headquarters)

(memorial site)

(first excibitions in 1987), 2010

1935

West Berlin

East Berlin

5. Abgeordnetenhaus Berlin

6. Die Mauer Panorama

(state parliament of Berlin)

(film excibition)

1899 (first sitting in 1951)

2012

East Berlin

West Berlin

CASE STUDIES: 6 ZIMMERSTRASSE

7. Checkpoint Charlie

8. Quartier Schützenstraße

(Berlin Wall crossing point)

(housing)

1947 - 1991

1998

East/West Berlin

East Berlin

9. Rocket Tower Conference

10. Leipziger Strasse Hochhäuser

(Rocket Internet SE Headquarter)

(housing)

1962, 1990

1969 - 1982

West Berlin

East Berlin

11. Axel Springer Passage

12. Axel Springer Hochhaus

(addition to Axel Springer Hochhaus)

(offices of publishing house)

2004

1964

West Berlin

West Berlin

12. Axel Springer Campus

Wall going along Zimmerstrasse was

(new offices) under construction on the Wall’s site

one of its thinnest parts. It didn’t separate different neighbourhoods, but cut right through baroque district of Berlin. This is why Zimmerstrasse healed itself like a cut, naturally, by itself, gradually.

The site for Axel Springer new campus is more of a wound that can not heal by itself. It also bares a significance for the neighbourhood and is a promise of new local centre that (unlike Checkpoint Charlie) will adress Berlin’s identity.

Unbuilding Walls Research book

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1939

128

1945

1961 CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 6 ZIMMERSTRASSE

1989

129

2017

Before the war, Zimmerstrasse was a site where

Two years after construction works on the tower

many newspapers had their offices.

begun, a wall was built. Even though he was

After destructions of World War II it became

encouraged by two sides to move the future

an artificial border, an undesirable dead end.

building elsewhere, Springer did not change his

When all of press companies were taking their

mind about the gold tower standing right on the

offices outside Berlin, Axel Springer moved his

edge of the Wall, facing the East. Moreover,

firm from Hamburg and decided to build a new

some of the escape tunnels from East Berlin had

building on Zimmerstrasse. He had a need to

their ends emerge right at the construction site.

make this symblic gesture to express his belief

After the Wall fell, new buildings emerged. It

in unified Germany, with Berlin as its capital.

almost seems like the Wall was never there.

Unbuilding Walls Research book

Leipziger Strasse Hochhäuser

Axel Springer Hochhaus

Site choice for Axel Springer’s building was not

buildings not only proved that DDR can

only a symbolic gesture, it was also provocation

build skyscrapers too, but also managed to

towards DDR. The gold skyscraper was

‘cover‘ Axel Springer Hochhaus from different

sybolically facing the east and was easily visible

directions. Furthermore, western skyscrapper

from East Berlin and its strategic buildings and

was not even visible from the buildings

urban axes, such as Grunerstrasse.

‘covering‘ it, as they were facing each other

DDR responded to this problem with its own architectural

130

show-off.

Multiplied

instead of west.

housing

Charite Hospital

Hotel Stadt Berlin

Museum Island

Gruner Strasse (Alexanderplatz)

riverbank

view from Gruener Strasse

CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 6 ZIMMERSTRASSE

ARCHITECTURE SHOW-OFF

AXEL SPRINGER HOCHHAUS / LEIPZIGER STRASSE HOCHHÄUSER

131

QUALITY / QUANTITY

INDIVIDUAL / PUBLIC

PROVOKE / WITHDRAW Unbuilding Walls Research book

WINNING: OMA’S PROPOSAL

Source: https://www.designboom.com/ architecture/oma-structures-axel-springer-campus-around-digital-valley-12-19-2013/gallery/ image/oma-axel-springer-media-campus-deisgnboom-4/

132

OMA has been chosen to undertake the

by a diagonal atrium that opens up to the

construction of axel springer‘s media campus in

existing Springer buildings, the essence of

central Berlin.

the design is a series of terraced floors that together form a ‘valley’ that creates an informal

#digital publishing #fluid and integrated

stage at the centre - a place to broadcast ideas

working environment #two contrasting areas

to other parts of the company. (...) We therefore

of workspace #transparency and integration

propose a building that lavishly broadcasts

#east-west connection symbolism

the work of individuals for shared analysis.

The new office block is injected with a central

Proposal

atrium that opens up to the existing Springer

‘Axel Springer has launched a move from

buildings - a new centre of the Springer

print to digital media. Its new building on the

campus. (...) The public can experience the

campus in Berlin will act both as a symbol and

building on three levels - ground floor lobby,

a tool in this transition - a building to lure the

meeting bridge, and roof-top bar.’

elite of (Germany’s) digital Bohemia. Bisected

CP 2017.2018

oma.eu/projects/axel-springer-campus

CASE STUDIES: 6 ZIMMERSTRASSE

New building is situated at former site of Berlin Wall. It’s height is an exeption from existing pattern in the district, highlighting its importance not only for Axel Springer’s campus, but also the neighbourhood.

Its main axis is bisecting two lines of the death strip boundaries and is designed as a valley between office spaces. In this way, the former mass of wall is replaced with void. In this sence, the project can be understood as a negative, an anti-wall.

Designed offices are much different than the existing ones in Axel Springer Hochhaus. The idea of more open, collaborative work space is a demostration of company’s continuous evolution.

Unbuilding Walls Research book

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RUNNER UP: BIG’S PROPOSAL

Source: https://www.designboom.com/architecture/big-proposes-axel-springer-campus-forhistoric-berlin-site-12-17-2013/

bjarke ingels group (BIG) is among a trio of winners for the new media campus of Axel Springer, but will not construct the building.

134

#creative hub #spiral of stairways and terraces #collaboration and discussion #nature in the building #integration #mix of users

CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 6 ZIMMERSTRASSE

BURO OLE SCHEEREN’S PROPOSAL

Source: https://www.designboom.com/architecture/ole-scheeren-proposes-collaborativecloud-for-axel-springer-hq-12-25-2013/

BĂźro ole scheeren is among a trio of winners for the new media campus of Axel `Springer, but will not construct the building. #transparent, integrated and collaborative workspace #visual east-west connection #flexible and open workspace #digital work #bringing people together #reuniting enterprises

Unbuilding Walls Research book

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KREUZBERG

TIMELINE KREUZBERG

END OF WWII Almost completely destoyed with air bombartment., COUNTRYSIDE

LOW PROPERTY PRICES

66m above sea level as “berg”.

Due to the set up of Berlin Wall, the district could not attact Inventment. low rental prices attracted immigrants, students and artists

138

1800

1860

1945

1960

INDUSTRIALIZATION Population boom and housing development.

Most densely populated.

BERLIN WALL Kreuzberg was then surrounded by Berlin Wall on 3 sides.

CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 7 KREUZBERG

BECOME THE CITY CENTRE AGAIN SO 36 SO 36

Every year May Day in

Violent riots in SO 36 on Labour day

Kreuzberg (street fairs

After the fall of Berlin Wall, the low land prices attracted many people from other districts.

and demonstrations)

139

1987

1989

1990

2001

9 NOVEMBER 1989

FRIEDRICHSHAIN-KREUZBERG

The demolition of the Berlin Wall has been started!

Berlin's 2001 administrative reform combined Kreuzberg with Friedrichshain to form the new borough of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg.

Unbuilding Walls Research book

EAST SIDE GALLERY - REGENERATION

140

CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 7 KREUZBERG

141

Unbuilding Walls Research book

EAST SIDE GALLERY - REGENERATION

142

CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 7 KREUZBERG

143

The East Side Gallery is a 1.3 km long open air gallery on parts of the former Berlin Wall.

It is located in Berlin Friedrichshain along the Muehlenstrasse between Oberbaumbruecke and Berlin Ostbahnhof parallel to the river Spree. Actually the painted wall is an interior wall (Hinterlandmauer) on eastern side, the real Wall to the west was situated on the other side of the Spree in Kreuzberg. The artworks were created in 1990 after the artists associations of the GDR and the FRG united and declared the East Side Gallery their first pan-german art project. 118 artists from 21 countries took part in the project. In 2009 the gallery was completely restored after the paintings and the wall were damaged by time and graffiti. It has become the centre and sympol of liberty and freedom in Berlin and even the whole country.

Unbuilding Walls Research book

EAST SIDE GALLERY - REGENERATION END OF WWII Almost completely destoyed with air bombartment., 9 NOVEMBER 1989

“Hinterland Wall” The gallery is located on the so-called

The demolition of the Berlin Wall has been started and people could freely pass through.

"hinterland mauer", which closed the border to West Berlin.

1945

1960

1989

1990

OPEN OF GALLERY

144

On 8 September 1990, t BERLIN WALL 1316 m long section of the Berlin Wall located on Mühlenstraße

Death Strip on the riverside of Spree

CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 7 KREUZBERG

MONUMENT PROTECTION Starting from November 1991, the gallery was under monument protection.

RESTORATION Full restoration, particularly of the central sections, was projected for 2008. Remediation began in May 2009.

1991

the gallery was opened.

2006

2009

2013

DEMOLITION OF A PART OF THE WALL A PART OF THE WALL RELOCATED In July 2006, to facilitate access to the River Spree from O2 World, a 40-meter section was moved somewhat west

A 23-meter section was scheduled to be removed on March 1, 2013, to make way for luxury apartments. Due to the involvement of protesters, demolition was postponed until at least March 18, 2013.

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EAST SIDE GALLERY - REGENERATION Freedom/ Liberty/ Human Rights

Peace/ Anti-War

André S. - You have learned, what means Freedom

Jens-Helge Dahmen - Pneumohumanoides

Salvatore de Fazio - Dawn Of Peace

Kani Alavi, Muriel Raoux - Untitled

Rosemarie Schinzler - Anything Open

Michail S.- Diagonal Solution Of The Problem

146

Gebriel Heimler - Wall Jumper Jolly Kunjappu - Dancing For Freedom

CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 7 KREUZBERG

Together As One

Alexej Taranin - Walls International

Utopia /Dreams

Catrin Resch - Europes Spring

147

Gerhard Lahr - Berlyn

Willi Berger - Sole Deo Gloria

Mary Mackey - Tolerance

Ursula Wünsch - Peace For Anything

Karina B., Lotte H. - Heaven Above Berlin Jim Avignon - Doin It Cool For The Eastside

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CASE STUDIES: 7 KREUZBERG

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CASE STUDIES: 8 GREEN BELT & IRON CURTAIN

IRON CURTAIN 1961-1989

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4

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INTRODUCTION

Source: Tracks of the Berlin elevated railroad stop at the border of American sector of Berlin in this Source: Panoramio, unknown photographer; Zonengrenze, Former German-German Border (Iron air view on August 26, 1961. Beyond the fence, communist-ruled East Berlin side, the tracks have Curtain) near Torfhaus, May 1989 been removed. (https://www.tigerdroppings.com/rant/o-t-lounge/another-historical-photos-thread/72602454/page-10/)

152

Iron Curtain

efforts by the Soviet Union to block itself and its

After WWII the Soviet Union erected a political,

satellite states from open contact with the West

military and ideological barrier to barricade itself

and non-Soviet-controlled areas. On the east side

off from the West and noncommunist areas.

of the Iron Curtain were the countries that were

There were no possabilities for eastern and

connected to or influenced by the Soviet Union.

central European countries to get in contact with the western society. The term Iron Curtain had been in occasional and varied use as a metaphor

From 1952 to 1989, a sophisticated system of

since the 19th century, but it came to prominence

barriers prevented people from entering the

only after it was used by the former British

Federal Republic of Germany to the German

prime minister Winston Churchill in a speech at

Democratic Republic, from East to West Germany.

Fulton, Missouri, U.S., on March 5, 1946, when

The length of this border between the power

he said of the communist states, “From Stettin

blocks of the Cold War, which was often called by

in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron

the rulers of the GDR “border state West” and by

curtain has descended across the Continent.”

the people in West and East until the end “zone border”, was exactly 1393 km. West Berlin had

Europe was devided after the Second World War

been cut off since 1961 over a length of 193 km

by the Iron Curtain, this lasted until the end of

from its eastern half and the surrounding area.

the Cold War in 1991. The term symbolizes the

CP 2017.2018

Observation tower

Eastern Europe

Patrol track

Control strip

The anti-vehicle ditch

Landmines

Metal mesh fence

Upstream territory

Western Europe

CASE STUDIES: 8 GREEN BELT & IRON CURTAIN

1989

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Unbuilding Walls Research book

THE METAL MESH FENCE

154

LANDMINES

THE ANTI-VEHICLE DITCH CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 8 GREEN BELT & IRON CURTAIN

If we think about the Iron Curtain, our image is primarily dominated by metal fences. During time there had been different fences. Around 1979 the double-row 2.10-metre-high metal mesh fence that was combined with landmines laid in the dividing spac had been replaced for a higher one. A single-row 3.20-metre-high metal mesh fence made from expanded metal panels posed the final obstacle to crossing the border.

The distance between the anti-vehicle ditch and the fence was generally five to ten metres, depending on the terrain. When the double-row fence was dismantled, the minefields between the two rows of fencing were also cleared. It was less common for the single-row metal mesh fence to be combined with landmines, but where this was the case, the mines were installed in the area between the ditch and the fence.

Source: Traces of the Past along the German Green Belt

At the time of building the Berlin Wall in 1961,

(changeover from barbed wire to double-row

the East German border troops also reinforced

metal mesh fences with minefields between the

the border fortifications. Minefields were installed

tworows of fencing). The “upstream territory”,

between the anti-vehicle ditch and the border

i.e. the strip between the fence and the actual

fence. Between 1961 and the end of 1979, mines

border, was always kept free of mines.

were laid along the border. In Germany they deployed a total of 1.3 million anti-personnel

Landmining reached its peak around the time

mines.

of the changeover from doublerow to singlerow fencing. A large number of minefields were

The position of the minefields also changed in

cleared; as from 1979, hardly any new landmines

the course of modifications to the border fences

were laid.

Generally speaking, the control strip adjoined

through the concrete and got stuck. Had the

the anti-vehicle ditch towards the “enemy side”

border really been intended as an “anti-fascist

– i.e. the side closest to the inner-German border.

protective wall”, the concrete slabs would have

On the enemy side, the anti-vehicle ditch took

had to be laid facing the opposite direction to

the form of a steep trench of varying proportions

achieve the same effect. Along sections of the

depending on the terrain, while on the “friendly

border with steep upward or downward inclines

side” it was flatter. The steep side was clad with

facing the border and/or loose soil unsuitable

thin concrete slabs known as “cassette slabs”

for digging out a ditch, a terrace was built into

that resembled flat troughs. Owing to the

the terrain instead.This was also covered with

limited thickness of the cladding, any vehicle

cassette slabs.

Source: Traces of the Past along the German Green Belt

approaching from the East would have crashed

Source: Traces of the Past along the German Green Belt

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CONTROL STRIP

156

PATROL TRACK

OBSERVATION TOWER CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 8 GREEN BELT & IRON CURTAIN

The control strip was a six-metre-wide strip

vegetation. Whenever patrol guards discovered

of land between the patrol track and the anti-

footprints on the control strip, they

vehicle ditch. It was machine-harrowed, raked by

triggered an alarm.

hand or treated with herbicides to keep it free of

Source: Traces of the Past along the German Green Belt

The patrol track ran parallel to the border along

It mainly consists of perforated concrete road

its entire length. It was an important element

slabs measuring 300 x 100 x 19 cm (L x W x H).

for the entire infrastructure of the Iron Curtain.

The initial sections were built as early as the late

Border troops used it for patrolling on foot or by

1950s. The slabs were set in the ground in two

vehicle as well as for transporting personnel and

parallel rows spaced at a distance of 80 cm,

materials when changing shifts or carrying out

creating a 280-cm-wide track. The

construction work.

track is very robustly built.

Source: Traces of the Past along the German Green Belt

The iron curtain was observed by hundreds

In

of towers positioned at the east side of the

supplementing the round towers with square

the

1970s,

the

border

troops

began

fence with a distance of approximately three

ones (observation tower “BTv 2x2”, see tower in

kilometres. The towers changed during time.

photo of ‘Patrol Track’). These measured two by

First there where wooden towers, from 1969

two metres and were built on firm foundations.

the border troops replaced the original ones by round observation towers made from pre-cast

Mid80’s, new commando centres were installed

concrete elements. At the top of each tower

in pre-cast concrete towers with a ground plan

there was an octagonal lookout turret. The round

measuring approximately 4.2 x 4.2 metres and a

observation towers were declared as unsafe and

height of nine metres (square observation tower

had to be changed again.

“BTv 4x4”, see photo).

Source: Traces of the Past along the German Green Belt

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GREEN BELT 1989-TODAY

158

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INTRODUCTION

European wild boar (sow and piglets) Source: https://www.zoochat.com/community/media/european-wild-boar-sow-and-pigletswhipsnade-18-may-2014.257585/

Source: Panoramio, unknown photographer; Zonengrenze, Former German-German Border (Iron Curtain) near Torfhaus, May 1989

Green Belt

biogeographic regions, which is of significant

The Iron Curtain devided Europe for decades, it

importance for migrating species such as wolves,

was an impenetrable barrier. Nature, however,

bears and lynxes, as well as amphibians and

benefited from the border area which was

birds.

largely spared of human exploitation. The former Iron Curtain transformed from a death strip

Landscape and habitat fragmentation resulting

into a life line for biodiversity of Europe, the

from various kinds of human infrastructure

European Green Belt. Across 12.500 kilometres

presents an increasing problem in industrial

the Green Belt forming a corridor of habitats

countries.

for an exceptional diversity of species. This

landscapes reduce migration, with barrier effects

connecting line reaches from the arctic in the

making it difficult to provide enough space for

North of Europe to the Black Sea in the South.

genetic exchange between isolated populations.

The Green Belt should not be seen as a

It is therefore essential not to spoil the existence

continuous strip of protected area, but rather as a

of such a unique and vast strip of land cutting

bridging element that links grassland fallow and

through the entire length of Europe. As part

wetlands, dry grasslands and mature woodlands,

of Natura 2000, all European countries have

thus forming a string of important habitats.

committed themselves to providing the support

Seen on a large scale, the Green Belt ecological

and legal framework for the preservation of

network consists of core areas, sustainable use

national habitat networks. This requires better

areas, and corridors that can be called landscape

cooperation among the fields of transport

corridors,

linear

planning, regional planning, game management,

corridors or buffer zones. The Green Belt serves

agriculture and forestry, nature conservation, and

as the backbone of a Pan-European ecological

corresponding research.

stepping

stone

corridors,

Additionally,

intense

agricultural

network crossing nearly all of the continent’s Source: Euronatur & European Green Belt

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159

Arctic

Atlantic

Alpine

Boreal

Atlantic

Continental

Alpine

Continental Alpine

Pannonian

Steppic Black Sea

Mediterranean

Former location of observation tower

Former Eastern Europe

Former patrol track

Former control strip

Former anti-vehicle ditch

Upstream territory

Former Western Europe

CASE STUDIES: 8 GREEN BELT & IRON CURTAIN

current state

161

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ARCTIC

162

BOREAL FOREST

ATLANTIC CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 8 GREEN BELT & IRON CURTAIN

The arctic environment consists a cold climate whole year round. All the living species relies on the gifts of the ocean. During spring there is a burst of plankton growth that sustains all living things for the rest of the year. There are about 130 species of mammals, 280 species of birds, 3,000 species of insects, 450 species of fish and some reptiles and amphibians

animals. Other fishes: turbot, types of cod, various whitefishes and Arctic char.

The Arctic or polar cod is a key specie in Arctic food webs. This codfish thrives on the massive phytoplankton blooms during spring and is the main connection between plankton and larger

Many species of seabirds are found in the Arctic.

They migrate northwards in spring, seeking nesting habitat and the rich feeding that comes with the spring bloom of plankton.

The arctic marine mammals (seal, baluga, narwhal, whale etc.) thrive in icy waters and stay warm by using blubber. They eat different types of fish and are also food for larger mammals like killer wales and polar bear.

Source: The PEW charitable trusts & Arcticadvanture

The taiga is a forest of the cold, subarctic region.

as spruce, pine, and fir. Coniferous trees have

The soil beneath the taiga often contains

needles instead of broad leaves, they never lose

permafrost or bedrock. Both permafrost and

them in contrast to deciduous trees. Instead

rock prevent water from draining from the top

of shrubs and flowers, mosses, lichens, and

layers of soil. This creates shallow bogs known as

mushrooms cover the floor of a taiga.

163

muskegs which looks like solid ground, because they are covered with moss, short grasses, and

Different kind of animals live in the Taiga.

sometimes even trees. However, the ground is

Migrating birds but also permanent species like

actually wet and spongy.

the owl and eagle that thrive on rodents. Larger animals like the moose and even siberian tiger

Taigas are thick forests of coniferous trees, such

(largest cat in the world) lives in the Taiga.

The Atlantic biogeographical region is closely

The major part of the landscape is fragmented

interacting with the bordering northeast Atlantic

and natural areas are scattered, and occur mostly

Ocean and the North Sea and has a very long

in the central parts.

Source: National Geographic

coastline and islands in all sizes . The climate is mild and humid, but the exposure to westerly

Grasslands along rivers, in valleys and especially

wind and at the coast to tidal movements is

associated with the low coasts (fens, reedbeds,

heavy.

marshes)

are

characteristic.

The

present

forest cover is sparse but increasing mainly The low-lying coasts are connected with shallow

due to plantations. Some forests with natural

water or lagoons. The rocky coasts have many

species composition still exist, including forest

and varied fjords and rias, peninsulas and islands.

traditionally used e.g. by coppicing.

Source: European Environment Agency

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CONTINENTAL

164

ALPINE

PANNONIAN CP 2017.2018

CASE STUDIES: 8 GREEN BELT & IRON CURTAIN

The Continental biogeographical region is the

grasslands contain the largest number of species.

second largest biogeographical region in Europe,

All big carnivores exist in the region, which also

nearly as big as the Boreal region. The climate is

hosts a reconstituted population of the largest

continental with warm summers and cold winters,

wild European herbivore, the bison. This is also

especially in the central and eastern parts.

an important region for birds, including migratory species.

The number of indigenous species is high, but few are endemic to the region; forests and

Source: European Environment Agency

The alpine zone lies above the treeline, where

developed specialised floras as a result of their

trees become stunted and give way to scrub

isolation. Alpine vegetation occurs in more

and dwarf shrubs. Treelines are determined by

or less distinct elevation bands, following

climatic conditions, the treeline in the Alps varies

bioclimatological patterns.

from about 1800 m to about 2300 m; it is at 2300 m in the Pyrenees; and in the Polar Urals it is

Numerous animal species have been recorded

between 200 – 300 m.

from the alpine zone, however, only few of them are confined to high elevation. Species:

Advancing and retreating ice has contracted

Wolverine, Alpine ibex, chamois, mouflon,

and expanded the available space for plant

Norwegian lemming, marmot, snow vole.

survival and colonisation. Many high peaks have Source: Alpine Biodiversity in Europe

The Pannonian Region is dominated by a large

the Mediterranean and cooler temperatures

flat alluvial basin that is transected from north to

coming from the Carpathians and Alps nearby.

south by two major rivers – the Danube and Tisza - and enclosed on all sides by low-lying hills and

Despite covering just 3% of the EU territory,

mountains.

the Pannonian Region harbours 118 species of animals and 46 species of plants and around 70

The sheltered position of the region beneath

birds. The high number is not only a reflection of

the mountains has had a significant impact on

the high level of biodiversity in this small region,

biodiversity here. It has also influenced the

but also of the fragility and restricted distribution

climate. Wet weather coming in from the west is

of some of the species, especially those that are

tempered by drier warmer winds rising up from

endemic to the region.

Source: Natura 2000 in the Pannonian Region

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165

CONTEXT & BACKGROUND POLITICS ECONOMY SOCIAL CULTURE STRUCTURAL ORGANISATION DENSITY DEMOGRAPHICS NATURE ARCHITECTURE

POLITICS

POLITICS

POLITICS IN BERLIN AFTER 1989

169

Before 1989 Berlin was politically divided in two

The people vote for the state government and

parts, West and East. West was the FRG; Federal

the state government sends representatives to

Republic of Germany. East was the GDR; German

the Bundesrat. The Bundesrat en the Bundestag

Democratic Republic.

together elect a president.

After the wall fell the FRG took over the east.

Since the fall of the wall there are five main

Germany as a unity became a democratic and

parties. Right wing CDU, SPD, FDP and left wing

federal parliamentary republic. It consists of two

Die Linke and Die Grunen. Die Linke is a sort

main bodies, the Bundestag and the Bundesrat.

of continuation of the GDR. The last couple of years there is a new party that is winning more

The Bundestag is the parliament. This consists

and more votes; Die Alternative. Die Alternative

of 709 seats. Parliament members are chosen by

is a really right-winged party that is against

the people. The Bundesrat is the representative

immigration.

body of regional states. It consists of 69 seats.

Unbuilding Walls Research book

1989 Historical event

Reformations in Soviet union

1991 1995

1990 10/09 Opening in iron curtain at Hungarian border

09/11 Fall of the Berlin Wall

March - May The peaceful revolution

12/09 The Two Plus Four Treaty is signed

Solidarity tax is levied in East and West Berlin for reconstruction East Germany

Economics

Political elections

12/09 The Two Plus Four Treaty is signed

18/05 First free elections in the GDR

December First all-German Bundestag Elections

Employment Germany signes Schengen agreement

Globalization

Migration 170

Berlin becomes the new capital

Berlin

Terrorism

The Berlin wall fell because of the growing

with Respect to Germany the country can be

confidence of the people in East Germany. The

united and sovereign after more than 40 years

GDR made some mistakes during reformations

of being divided. United Germany is an enlarged

and the people in East Germany seized the

continuation of the (west) Federal Republic.

opportunity and they took over.

The 1990’s - Reconstruction The first free elections were held after the fall of

The

1990s

are

strongly

marked

by

the

the wall. This happened because of the Peaceful

economic consequences of unification and the

Revolution. Inhabitants of East Germany marched

reconstruction in eastern Germany. Federal

the streets of Berlin. These elections led to the

and State Governments conclude a solidarity

unification of Germany.

pact to even out the differences. Additionally, a Solidarity Tax is levied in east and west to benefit

After signing the Treaty on the Final Settlement

CP 2017.2018

the reconstruction of eastern Germany. Berlin

POLITICS

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 East German communist leaders get jail terms CDU funding scandal.

Merkel takes over

January Euro replaces Deutsche Mark November Schroder sends 4000 troops to Afghanistan

Schroder head of SPDDie Grunen coalition

March Neo-Nazi party is not banned

March Researchers get acces on police files of Kohl May Koehler is elected as president (CDU)

May September Koehler calls Elections for ealy produce close general results elections

September Schroder re-elected

August/Sept Protests against cutting unemployment benefit World exposition is held in Hanover March Immigration bill that allows non-EU workers to work Bundestag moves from Bonn to Berlin

171

has been Germany’s capital since unification; it

is the first at which presentations focus on the

also becomes the seat of government following

themes of sustainability and a balance between

a decision by the Bundestag. The Bundestag, the

humankind, nature and technology. That is

Federal Government and most of the ministries

appropriate in a new era with new coordinates:

move from Bonn to Berlin in 1999. Gerhard

globalization moves the world closer together,

Schröder (SPD) moves into the new Chancellery:

both economically and politically – at the end of

he has been at the head of the first SPD-Green

the decade it will also present its downside in the

coalition at federal level since the 1998 elections.

form of the global financial crisis.

The 2000’s - Globalization |

The 2006 World Cup puts the country into

The first decade of the new millennium presents

optimistic party mood. The “summer fairytale”

a number of occasions for the world to look

changes the image of Germans for many people

towards Germany. The first World Exposition

abroad: they are cordial hosts and know

of the century is held in Hanover: Expo 2000

Unbuilding Walls Research book

2008

2006 2007

2009

2010

Merkel gives historic speech in Israel November First woman chancellor Merkel CDU-SPD

Changes in government to speed up decision making

Financial crisis

November Germany is officialy in recession

February 63 bilion stimulus package to restore economy September Merkel wins four years in office

Official data August shows Figures show economy country is out of recession shrank by 5% October Coalition betwen CDU and FDP is formed

November Unemployment rate falls bellow 4 milion

May Germany helps to bail out Greece

G8 meets to discuss global climate protection

172

June Wulff is elected president (CDU)

World cup 50th birthday puts country of European in party mood Union in Berlin is one Berlin of locations August Two bombs found in Cologne

March Four Islamists planned attack on US facilities

programme. In foreign policy, during this

accomplishments of the EU and the shared

decade Germany frequently demonstrates its

values and roots of the member states.

readiness to assume wide-ranging international responsibilities within the framework of the

2010 to present - Migration

international

to

Figures show that in 2012 Germany experi-

solving conflicts and promoting civil society.

enced its biggest surge in immigration in almost

In

becomes

20 years, with 400,000 permanent migrants ar-

government leader for the first time: Federal

riving. In September 2015 Chancellor Merkel

Chancellor Angela Merkel governs with the

offers temporary asylum to refugees, prompt-

votes of a CDU/CSU and SPD Grand Coalition.

ing mass movement of people through Balkans

November

community 2005,

a

to

contribute

woman

towards Germany in autumn and winter, and stretching European Union Schengen AgreeThe European Union celebrates its 50th birthday

ment on abolition of border controls to breaking

in 2007 during the German EU Presidency

point in many countries.

in Berlin. The Berlin Declaration recalls the

CP 2017.2018

POLITICS

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

2017

August Severe restrictions on military are reversed

Historical event

August German’s economic growth almost stands still March CDU loses support in a few districts

Economics March December Gauck Merkel begins becomes third term president (not (CDU-SPD) party member)

March Die Alternative receives lot of votes in state elections

April Germany adopts minimum wage

September Die Alternative exploits tentions over migrants

Political elections Employement

July Germany bails out Greece for the second time

Globalization May Biggest surge in immigration in 20 years (400.000)

September Merkel offers assylum to refugees

Migration 173

Berlin January Sex attacks on women in multiple cities

December Tunisian migrant kills 12 people in Berlin

Terrorism

In 2016 there are multiple events of terrorism

In July Attacks by migrant Islamic State sym-

in Germany. The first in January; sex attacks on

pathisers in Wuerzburg and Ansbach leave 17

hundreds of women in Cologne and other Ger-

people injured. In December a Tunisian migrant

man cities during New Year celebrations by men

Anis Amri kills 12 people by driving a hijacked

largely of North African or Arab appearance

lorry into a crowded Berlin Christmas market.

prompts public backlash against Chancellor Merkel’s welcome to migrants.

In September 2017 Die Alternative for Germany exploits social tensions over migrants

In march the Anti-migrant Alternative for Ger-

to surge into third place at parliamentary elec-

many party makes strong showing in three

tions.

state-level elections, beating Christian Democrats into third place in Chancellor Merkel’s home state of MecklenburgVorpommern.

Unbuilding Walls Research book

BERLIN STATE ELECTIONS SINCE 1989

1992

1999

1995

2001

2006

2016

1989-2016

2011

174

Berlin is considered as a state in Germany. This

left page are combined. As you can see CDU is

means Berlin has it’s own state elections every 5

mostly voted for in West Germany and Die Linke

years. The state itself is divided into 12 districts.

is only voted for in East Germany. This means that the far right wing people mostly still live in

On the page on the left there is a map for every

the west and the far left wing people still mostly

state elections. Districts are colored by the party

live in the east.

that was most voted for in that area to see if the wall still has influence in the political preferences

Die Grunen, is mostly voted for in the area of

of the inhabitants of Berlin.

Kreuzberg- Friedrichshain, the centre for the gay community and artistic community.

As you can see in the mapping on the left page the preference per district changes a lot over

It also seems that almost all the areas around the

time, but there is still a division between east and

wall vote for the centre right-wing SPD.

west. In the map on this page all the maps on the

CP 2017.2018

POLITICS

FEDERAL ELECTIONS SINCE 1989

1990

1994

1998

2002

2005

2009

175

1989-2016

2013

The federal elections are held every 4 years. The

election, were SPD was leading in many more

political preference per district is shown in the

districts.

maps on the left page. Just as with the Berlin state elections outcomes differ a lot with every

Drawing conclusions from these maps is hard,

election. But when you combine all the maps

because they are generalized. But what is

together as shown in the map above, a division is

interesting to see is that the division is still visible

clearly seen again.

in a politcial way. It also seems like the federal elections have a more radical division than the

In the federal elections the wall is even more

state elections. So maybe the voters political

visible; West Berlin only voting for right wing and

view for the city is different from their politcal

parties and East Berlin almost only voting for the

view for the country. It also leads to the question

left wing party. Again Kreuzberg-Friedrichshain is

of migration between east and west, if you look

the only area where Die Grunen are most voted

at these maps, you would think that most people

for. Mitte is the only area voting mostly SPD.

stayed in their original area from before the wall,

This is quite a different outcome from the state

but is this true?

Unbuilding Walls Research book

ECONOMY

ECONOMY

BERLIN BLOCKAGE & AIRLIFT, 1948-1949

1948 19 94 9 4 Berlin Blockade ( 1948 Nian 6 24 - May 12, 1949)

177

controls the entire city.

is the Cold War the first major international crisis period. World War II in post multinational

In order to prevent the city falling into the hands

occupation of Germany , because of the Cold

of the Soviet Union, the Western camp launched

War made the Soviet Union the deterioration of

largest in the history of the Air Transport Action:

the relationship between the West and the Soviet

The Berlin Airlift, providing material supply to

Union blocked the Western Allies then under its

West Berlin. British Royal Air Force and the newly

control leading to the Berlin roads and railway

established Air Force and other allied air forces

areas. Forcing the Western powers agreed to let

in the 278,228 flights a year, providing 2,326,406

the Soviet Union occupied its entire supply of

tons of supplies to Berlin, including fuel and food.

food and fuel to Berlin, the Soviet Union actually

Unbuilding Walls Research book

TRANSPORTATION ROUTES TO WEST BERLIN. 1972

Buechen

Lauenburg

Schnackenburg

Staaken Ruehen Vorsfelde

Neubabelsberg

Helmstedt

Herieshousen

178 Hoenebach Ludwigsstadt

Hirschberg

Road

Checkpoint

Railroad

Checkpoint

Waterway

Checkpoint

Allied Air Corridors

West Berliners could travel to West Germany and

alter transit routes to Berlin. The only changes

all Western and non-aligned states at all times,

that occurred were in the south. Two Autobahn

except during the Berlin Blockade by the Soviet

checkpoints,

Union (24 June 1948 to 12 May 1949) when there

(1972), were added after the Saal Bridge, which

were restrictions on passenger flight capacity

had been destroyed in the Second World War,

imposed by the airlift. Travelling to and from West

was rebuilt in the 1960s. The opening of the

Berlin by road or train always required passing

canal created a direct waterway link to Hamburg.

through East German border checks, since

The Elbe-Seiten Canal also replaced a waterway

West Berlin was an enclave surrounded by East

on the Elbe (between Schnackenburg and

Germany and East Berlin. On October 2, 1967,

Lauenburg) that had been the subject of border

six years after the Wall was erected, tram tracks

disputes and thus posed problems for captains.

in West Berlin were lifted because the authorities

Above all, however, the 1972 treaty improved the

wanted to promote car usage, meaning that the

practical use of access roads by means of well-

tram system remaining today runs almost entirely

ordered regulations, which were applicable to

within the former East Berlin.

border controls, as well.

The Basic Treaty of 1972 did not fundamentally

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Hirschberg

and

Rudolphstein

ECONOMY

UNIFICATION FROM 1989-2016 Infrastructure: 300 billion euros

Welfare west

east

Tax

Solidaritätszuschlag (Solidarity Tax) - 5.5% of the tax amount from income, capital gains and corporation tax

179

Total: 2 trillion euros GDP per capita Current prices, € thousand

Life satisfaction index Average rating 40

8

30

6

20

4 2 east

west

east

west

east

west

east

west

10 0 1990

2016

0 1990

2016

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UNEMPLOYMENT RATES IN 2016

180

Low

High

ECONOMICS

Unemployment rate, % 25

20 15

East 10

West 5

1985

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1990

1995

2000

2005

2010

2015

The East

The West

East Germans got to know something that –

East Germans got to know something that –

at least officially – had never existed in GDR:

at least officially – had never existed in GDR:

0

ECONOMY

HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN 2016

181

Low

High

160

140

120

100

1991

1995

2000

2005

2010

2014

80

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PERCENTAGE OF WORKFORCE BY SECTOR 0.6%

7.7%

5%

8% 31.8%

39%

20.6% 27%

15.4%

12.6%

22%

1991

182

2015

public and other service providers, education and health, private households

production (excluding construction)

financing-, insurance and company service providers; real estate activities

construction

trade, transport, storage, hotels, restaurants, information and communication

agriculture and forestry

0.6%

14% 28.3%

59.8% 86%

1991

secondary industry tertiary industry

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2015

primary industry

ECONOMY

183

Hauptstandorb: Three large main areas were distributed throughout the city constitute the regional focus of the manufacturing industry West focus: - Electrical engineering - Information technology - Communications technology - Transport engineering and mechanical engineering South focus: - Transport technology

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SOCIAL

3.3 SOCIAL

185

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SOCIAL CHANGES - TIMELINE

Siemensstadt

Internationale Bauausstellung In 1957 the Interbau 57 is organised in Berlin.

Around 1906, women became important in the economy. Women started working in factories.

1942

186

1949

Capital city 1871, Berlin capital of newly united Germany.

May 1989 Economical problems in the Sovjet Union. Hungarian border troops take down the barbed-wire fence to Austria. In the GDR, the first demonstrations are held to demand the right to leave the country: over 100,000 people are waiting for their applications for exit visas to be approved. But the GDR government remains firm.

September 1989 The Hungarian government opens the border to Austria for GDR citizens as well. The Wall is crumbling, but the SED party still h October 1989 In the newspaper “Leipziger Volkszeitung,” under the headline “No more tolerance for subversion,” an article published under the name of the commander of the combat group contingent “Hans Geiffert,” Günter Lutz, says that, with regard to the forthcoming “Monday demonstration,” the combat groups are ready and willing “to protect what we have created with the work of our own hands and to put an end to these counter-revolutionary actions. If necessary, with weapon in hand.”as support in Prague. Fall of Iron Curtain.

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1961

SOCIAL

1989

2017

Manifesto In 1977 Ungers and

Kritische Rekonstruktion

Koolhaas about

In 1984 and 1987 during

reconstruction

the IBA

November 1989 An action group makes a public call for a Green Party to be founded. Democracy and freedom through radical reforms in our country. It is ecological, feminist and opposed to violence.�

On the 9th, GĂźnter Schabowski, a DDR politic, gives a speech, everybody can pass the border. Because of the question of a journalist, this change went in immediately. (by accident of Schabowski) Thousands of West and East Berliners get through the Wall at the Brandenburg Gate and walk over Pariser Platz square and through the gate.

May 1989 Economical problems in the Sovjet Union. Hungarian border troops take down the barbed-wire fence to Austria. In the GDR, the first demonstrations are held to demand the right to leave the country: over 100,000 people are waiting for their applications for exit visas to be approved. But the GDR government remains firm.

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187

CULTURE

CULTURE

1920

1945

Art movement of German

Art became propaganda with the film

expressionism was occurring.

Triumph of Will.

Bauhaus ‘total art’ Zeitgeist was moving from expressionism to rationalism.

Step back to classical architecture of Rome.

Schoenberg developed becoming

‘Locked up’ over Nazi regime.

worlds first gay village.

Weimar Republic - relaxed social

Recovering of the city post war

attitudes the golden age of Berlin.

resulted in slow development of

189

culture and differing between East and West Berlin.

Development of queer scene with clubs like Eldorado and première of Different From Others.

Movement towards left wing politics/ communism - publication of Der Sturn magazine.

El Dorado Club 1920s.

Bauhuas, ‘Total Art’ movement in the

All types of culture prior the rise of the

1920s.

Nazis was assimilated into ‘Nazi Cultur like the film; Triumph of will.

Unbuilding Walls Research book

1945

1960

Desolate island trapped behind the wall.

J F Kennedy - ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’.

Before the development of punk there was

Showing Berliners they are not alone in

no real culture in West Berlin.

this feeling of isolation.

West Berlin trying to keep capitalism alive - policy to lift curfew of bars and clubs and consequently flourishing night-life developed becoming a ‘24/7’ destination.

West Berlin Film Festival 1951.

People move to West Berlin to escape military service. Often these are creative and artistic people.

Both cities tired and fed up with economic and political deprivation and attempts to cover this up with ‘cultural

Recovering of the city post war resulted in West

myths’.

slow development of culture and differing between East and West Berlin.

190

East Festival for students.

1960s - very restrictive time for artists and development of culture due to controlling nature of the state.

Berlin crisis in 50s/60s as many East Germans flee to West Germany, many of these being intellectuals and professional Rolling Stones concert in 60s in West which resulted in vacuum of skilled

Berlin became a riot - GDR used this to

people in GDR.

show rock music was a bad influence and banned it in East Berlin.

Football game in East Berlin.

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‘Hooligans’ of East Berlin, 1987.

CULTURE

1970s

1987

1989

Tear down the wall speech from Ronald Regan.

Punk movement starts to transform the

1988 West Berlin hosts the Capital of

cities’ culture. Gives West Berliners a

Culture - attempt to show contemporary

sense of identitiy.

culture but due to the nature of it being an island, art was pigeon-holed - contradiction

David Bowie and Nick Cave live in Berlin

to ‘capital of culture’.

in the time of freedom with no cost of living due to no rent, it became an artistic island. Bowie also helps to blend straight

David Bowie holds a concert in West Berlin

and queer cultures with is the precursor

deliberately close to the wall so that the

to the formation of punk in West Berlin.

East Germans can hear the music, was intended to turn the tide and the East

Massive unrest with riots and large

Germans began chanting ‘the wall must fall’.

amounts of people living in squats with no cost of living.

A city used to its freedom, expressing itself through art and music.

Freie Deutsche Jugend (FDJ) - socialist

A city used to oppression and controlling

youth movement aimed to influence life of

of culture.

the youth in GDR. Concerts and alcohol-

191

fueled parties started to become more prominent in the youth club.

All parties and illegal activities had to be held in private/underground clubs and areas.

1970s in East Berlin artists concentrated in Prenzlauerberg, cheap housing built up autonomous galleries in flats and private areas as they did not want to follow official arts policy.

May Day celebrations take place at

Nick Cave in West Berlin, 1988.

Karl Marx Allee in East Berlin, 1974.

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1990

2000 Transitional Period - merging of the two cities

Concept of the void after the wall became a key drive for the emergence of new sub cultures.

Because of this transitional Due to the large amount of

period of Berlin everything was

emptiness within the city, Berlin

subject to change there was no

became a unique city for cultural

real pattern of life, there was no

experiments and innovations.

idea of what life would be like in 5 years time what places would be open/closed etc.

Combination of both cities resulted in doubling of many cultural institutions. These were

Development of dynamic music

mainly closed down in East

subcultures + art has been a

Berlin, because the thought was

reaction to ‘the void’

Ostaglie

Subculture geography shifted to

Feeling like the West has

eastern neighbourhoods when

assimilated the East culture and

the wall fell.

taken over with westernisation.

that people wanted to move on from the GDR. Mainly closed down in East

192

Berlin also due to financial

Ten years after the wall there

pressures.

is a movement through Mid 90s the electronic

cinema, memorabilia, towards

music scene was centred in

remembering life in East

Conflict between east and west,

Fredrichstrasse and Potzdammer

Germany. Films like Goodbye

struggling to merge the two

Platz in empty buildings on the

Lenin aim to uphold this.

cultures.

former death-strip.

E Werk, Tresor, WMF all located close to one another became roots of the subcultural scene helping to unite East and West Berliners.

Bunker - key part of merging the two cultures Remenants of the GDR. post war. Closed 2001.

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Remenants of the GDR.

CULTURE

2004

2012

Symbols of past have left their mark - cultural boundary

Uncontrolled influx of people

between east and west still

and huge increase in the tourism

noticeable

industry of the city leads to gentrification.

Houses prices have risen by Mayor Klaus Wowerei - Berlin is

more than 32 percent.

‘poor but sexy’

Large influx of artists and

Massive inward migration - cost

creative industry making use of

of living has risen - artists being

cheap rents.

pushed out. Gentrification

193

protests in 2013.

Changing mindset of the wall 6000 people turned up to block the demolition crews at East Side Gallery

Street artists Blu paints over his own mural to protest developer Mr. Suesskind from changing Berlin.

‘‘Is culture worth nothing anymore.’’

Unbuilding Walls Research book

HIGHLIGHT SUB-CULTURES 1970-1990: PUNK CULTURE IN THE WEST

1. Iggy Pop and David Bowie peforming in Berlin 2. The West-Berlin post-punk band Einstürzende Neubauten performing at Berlin Atonal Festival in 1982 3. Nina Hagen, a Berliner punk singer in 1987

When was this subculture popular?

From 1970 until 1990.

What were the ideologies of this subculture?

Mostly individual freedom and antiestablismentic views. Common viewpoints include anti-authoritarianism, a do-it-yourself ethic, non-conformity and direct action.

194

Around what was this subculture standing?

A music-genre called punk-rock and a wide fashion range. Later on the German punks created a new music-genre called Neue Deutsche Welle, which is actually punk rock sung in German instead of English.

Punk-rock was mostly made by small bands consisting out of a front singer, one or two electric guitarists, an electric bassist and a drummer.

Who was part of this subculture?

Mostly teenagers who grew up or moved to Berlin.

Where was this subculture popular?

The subculture was mostly popular in cities like Hamburg and West-Berlin. Kreuzberg, with the Oranienstrasse as mainstreet, became the punk capital of Berlin. Clubs like SO36 (which still exists nowaday) and Exxes (which is now a gay sauna) were the places to be.

How did this subculture became popular in Berlin?

Since Berlin was a very cheap city in comparison to other German cities, it was really easy to make a living with a little amount of money. This gave artists the possibility to

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do alot of experiments, which resulted in a more confirmed scene. Punk also equaled unemployment, which ment poornes.

Beside that, alot of German teenagers who had problems with authority and people shouting at them, didn’t want to join the military service arount this time. Alot of them moved to West-Berlin and squatted a house there since West-Berlin was controlled by the allied forces.

The whole punk culture seemed to fit perfect to all these anarchists. This resulted in even more punks on the streets.

Which big artists formed this subculture?

Iggy Pop and David Bowie made punk big in Berlin. When they left the city at the end of the 70s, there were already alot of Berlin bands which copied the style of the Britain Sex Pistols. Bands like the Einstürzende Neubauten, Malaria! and die Toten Hosen became popular and created the genre the Neue Deutsche Welle. The singer that became really famous, was Nena, with her hit ‘99 luftballons’. She was the first Berliner after Marlene Dietrich to reach international fame.

Which big events happened because of this sub culture? on the 1st of May in 1987, which is a day of celebration in Germany, a couple of punks started a small fight with some police man.

When the punks fled in the crowd of a punk party, and the police started to look fort hem, a big riot started. At the end of the night, alot of damage was done. All the cars in the Orannienstrasse and a supermarket burned down.

CULTURE

A German punk involved in a riot

How did this alternative sub-culture lose popularity?

It just sold-out at some point. It became more and more popular, which resulted in more and more bands which were all making the same kind of music at some point. Because of this people lost their interests, and other subcultures took over.

What’s left of this subculture in Berlin now a day?

When you walk to Kreuzberg now a day, you can still feel this punk mentality. Anarchistic texts painted on buildings, buckets of paint thrown over expensive cars and people wearing punk fashion, are still very common now a day. The legendary club SO36 (which came from the post district code Südost 36) even still exists at it’s original location in the Oranienstrasse.

1970-1990: PUNK CULTURE IN THE EAST

According to the DDR, punk culture didn’t exist in East-Germany. It was seen as a throwback to capitalist society. Punk stood for unemployment, which didn’t exist in the DDR. Even if you didn’t do anything at your job, you had to had one. Punk exisiting in East-Germany would mean a failure of their system. Because of that the state removed anything that had to do with rock.

Altough, East-Berliners taped of the John Peel Show which was broadcasted on the British BBC radio and West-Berliners smuggled punk cassetes and records into East-Berlin. Because of this, a small movement was formed in secret in East-Germany. They did some illegal concerts in Jugendhauses and once the punk band Die Toten Hosen even performed in secret in East Germany.

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195

1990-2000: TECHNO CULTURE

When was this subculture popular?

From 1990 untill 2000.

What were the ideologies of this subculture?

Mainly love & freedom, non political, drug exploration, sexual promiscuity, and hedonism were also prominent in the techno scene.

Around what was this subculture standing?

A music-genre called techno. Techno is electronic, futuristic, industrial, and energetic music that is created with synthesizers and drumcomputers.

Who was part of this subculture?

According to Tobias Rapp, the writer of the book ‘Lost and Sound - Berlin, Techno und der Easyjetset ‘, the scene was mainly built up out of three groups. The urban explorers; people that went from former West-Berlin to former East-Berlin to squat houses and explore situations, the former East-Berliners; who simply wanted to celebrate freedom and the gay community, which felt accepted into the

subculture.

Now a days the urban explorers are replaced by the creative class and a fourth group is added, the tourists. According to Tobias Rapp, if you want to have a great party, you have to have all these four groups around because every group brings something the other groups don’t offer.

Where was this subculture popular?

Rave culture became popular in West-Europe.

Techno, a subculture from the rave culture became popular in Berlin. The clubs were located in abandoned buildings former warzones in the former East-Berlin. Because the former East was to poor to redevelop this area’s, they still looked the same as 45 years before, after the war. Clubs like UFO (the basement of a former residential building), the Tresor (the vault of a former traveling agency), the Bunker (a former Nazi bunker) and E-werk (a former power plant), where the places to be in the 90s.

196

1. the Tresor, a techno club in the basement of a former travelagency at the Leipzigerstraße (1991-2005) 2. E-Werk, a techno club in a former power plant at the Mauerstraße (1993-1997) 3. the Bunker, a techno club in a former nasi bunker at the Reinhardtstraße (1992-1996)

How did this subculture became popular in Berlin?

It was a pure coincidence that the birth of techno music in Detroit felt together with the fall of the wall in Berlin. But the music seemed to be ideal soundtrack for the celebration of freedom that was yet to come. The abandoned buildings in the former east formed the podium for the parties that were going to be held.

Which big artists formed this subculture?

Instead of artists, DJ’s formed this subculture.

The Berlin DJ’s that became popular in Berlin were Westbam, Tanith, Jonzon and Rok. The Detroit DJ that came to Berlin and changed the whole culture was Jeff Mills, he played harder

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and faster then the Berlin DJ’s.

Which big events happened because of this sub culture?

The Love Parade, which was first held on the Kurfürstendamm in 1989, grew out till the biggest rave of Europe. Different trucks with music installations on them where slowly riding thru the streets of Berlin. People followed the trucks and danced to the music they played.

In 1999, the party was held before 1,5 million people with a temperature of 30 degrees in the Berlin-Tiergarten park. The closing party in the evening was held around the Siegelsaüle where all the trucks gathered.

CULTURE

How did this alternative sub-culture lose popularity?

Techno became more and more popular and eventually sold out. The Love Parade for example was criticised for becoming a commercial event and putting the music in the second place. Trucks from popular television channels, commercial products and even a car of the politic party CDU where driving in the parade, while the real techno organizations couldn’t afford a truck because the entry costs became too high.

What’s left of this subculture in Berlin now a day?

Berlin became the capital of electronic music and has a thriving nightlife. Clubs like Berghain, which is widely considered as one of the best clubs of the world, have created a huge scene, which attracts tons of easy jet ravers, which fly in every Friday and leave again on Monday morning. Since the scene became more commercial, a lot of booking agencies, electronic music websites and music software companies also have their headquarters in Berlin now a days.

197

The Berlin Love Parade in the 90s, arounds 1.5 million people danced to techno music played ontrucks in the Tiergarden Park

Unbuilding Walls Research book

STREET ART

1. Iggy Pop and David Bowie peforming in Berlin 2. The West-Berlin post-punk band Einstürzende Neubauten performing at Berlin Atonal Festival in 1982 3. Nina Hagen, a Berliner punk singer in 1987

198

Historical/ Cultural Factors

(Romanywg, 2011). These squatters challenged

Throughout the years Germany was split, West

current notions of society, economy, and art, and

Berlin was an isolated West German city within a

this spirit is still alive in Berlin today.

great sea of communism. Moreover, in those

During this same time Berlin had a growing train

years it became a hub for anarchists, leftists, and

bombing scene influenced by New York’s--

radicals since if an individual did not want to

writers focusing on lettering, striving to be all-

serve in the army, they would be relocated to

city Kings and Queens but warring against the

Kreuzberg-- a West Berlin neighborhood

Deutsche Bahn and BVG police (the companies

surrounded by the former Berlin Wall on three

that operate the subway lines) (Potter, 1992).

different sides. As some academics have

Writers were of all ages, genders, and races,

analyzed, the Berlin Wall somewhat influenced

looking for a way to get up and stay up (Lange,

street

1992). Today, this train scene is largely

artists. The Western side of The Berlin Wall in

diminished due to strict punitive measures and

the Kreuzberg area mostly featured personal

heightened security by the Deutsche Bahn and

outbursts, political slogans, posters, painting,

BVG, although it has not faded altogether (BBC,

attachments, and attempts at destruction (Ladd,

2013).

1997). Moreover, Berlin had a robust squatters

In the early 2000’s, Berlin saw newfound

movement that occupied roughly 300 buildings

experimentation and exploration of graffiti styles

in

and early forms of street art-- many artists refer

the 1980’s, with West Berlin peaking around

to Berlin’s peak as being during this period

1982 with 5,000 squatters in 180 buildings, and

(Multiple

East Berlin peaking in 1989 with 4,000 squatters

interviews, 2013). Today, in certain parts of the

occupying 120 buildings (Corr, 1999). These

city there are hardly any untouched walls. As

“empty” spaces allowed people to explore

Koebel and Schlesinger (2005) suggest, graffiti

different kinds of living, art, and art forms

today persists in Berlin partially due to 16% of

CP 2017.2018

CULTURE

A German punk involved in a riot

visual artists remaining without studio space.

who joined them. Few doubted that the East

Since the reconstruction of the city in 1989,

Germans’ work was weightier. It wasn’t that

Berlin

they were better artists, but that they could

Ma’ayan Dembo 16 has not built enough studio

express — with authority — the one concept close

space for the estimated 5,000 artists within the

to the hearts of all people now living in the city:

city—many whomnow may take their artwork

what it meant to be free.

into the streets (Koebel & Schlesinger, 2005). In

One East Berliner to make an impact during this

the last ten years, there has been an increase

period was “Tower.” With his name printed in a

in the number of mural festivals in Berlin and

variety of colors and fonts on what looked like

in other German/ Eastern European cities,

car stickers, people must have initially mistaken

sponsored by art organizations that organize

his work for advertising. But the more they saw

7-10 different building facades to be painted

it — on lamp posts, on post boxes, on trash

by some local, but mostly international artists

cans, on fences — the more they understood

(Besser, 2010). In 2013, the street scene has

what he was trying to communicate: Tower, as

also opened its arms to tourists, with companies

in the communist TV tower; Tower, as in the

offering free or for-a-charge “Street Art Tours”,

skyscrapers that dominated the skyline of almost

taking hundreds of daily visitors to the Berlin hot

every major city — built not for the people who

spots around the city.

lived there, but for the egos of the people who ran them. Tower’s aim was to reclaim the

After the collapse of the Berlin Wall, the graffiti

word as a symbol of strength and, in doing so,

artists marched straight into East Germany.

proclaim that the majority, not the minority,

Mitte, Friedrichshain, Prenzlauer Berg — all of

should be shaping the public space.

the areas that the military had occupied became a new playground for the Western artists and became a new world for the Eastern artists

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199

THE ICONIC PIECES

OF BERLIN’S STREET ART ARE PREDOMI-

NANTLY LOCATED IN THE EAST.

1

2

Alaniz - Wolf

Blu - Wall

14

14 JR – Wrinkles of the City 200

11

13

Case McClaim Mural

12

Andreas Preis - Lion

11

Elephant playing with a baloon from Jadore Tong aka S.Y.R.U.S

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10

Agostino Iacurci The Human Aspec of Unification

CULTURE

3

4

Blu - Backjump

JR - Wrinkles of Berlin

1 4

5

Dmitri Vrubel - Fraternal Kiss 201

12

13

9

2

5

10 3 7

8

6

6

Os Gemeos Mural

9

Various and Gould

8

ROA Mural

7

Victor Ash - Astronaut

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STRUCTURAL ORGANISATION

STRUCTURAL ORGANISATION

STRUCTURAL ORGANISATION 1778

203

royal residential town farmer village millitary town AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE

Charlottenburg was a royal residential town

Berlin started as a commercial centre. In 1710

and there where some military towns. Potsdam

it became the Prussian capital, a centrepiece

was even declared as the “Heart of the Military

of culture, art and the army of Frederick

Monarchy.�

I of Prussia. Berlin had heavily subsidised arms manufactured in the capital, laying the foundations for the mechanics, engineers, technicians, and entrepreneurs who were to turn Berlin into an industrial powerhouse.

Around Berlin there was a variety of agricultural and rugged landscapes. The cultivated lands where managed by the villages inbetween, most of the villages where farmer villages. There where some exceptions in it, Info Siemens: https://www.siemens.com/history/en/history/1847_1865_beginnings_and_initial_expansion.htm Info Deutsche Bank: https://www.db.com/company/en/media/DeutscheBank-History--Chronicle-from-1870-until-today.pdf info Lufthansa: https://www.dlbs.de/en/Foundation/ info AEG: http://www.gerdflaig.de/AEG_Geschichte/AEGalles.htm

info Schering AG: http://www.company-histories.com/Schering-AG-Company-History.html info BORSIG: http://www.borsig.de/en/borsig-group/company-history.html

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STRUCTURAL ORGANISATION 1778

1 5 6

2 3

7

4

8 11

12

13

10

9

16 19

20

25

23

30

29 31

18 24

22

26 32

17

21

28

27

15

14

34

33

35

41 36

37

39 38

204 40

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TOWNS AROUND BERLIN

17 Hohen Schonhausen,

The main villages surrounding Berlin are al

18 Marzahn

19 Charlottenburg,

named in this list. Each name corresponds

20 Berlijn,

21 Lichtenberg

with a number on the map. Some towns

22 Stralow,

23 Friedrichsfelde,

still exist they became municipalities or

24 Kaulsdorf

25 Mahlsdorf,

neighbourhoods.

26 Schmargendorf 27 Willmersdorf, 28 Schoneberg,

29 Tempelhof

1 Mulbeck,

2 Hermsdorf,

30 Ricksdorf,

31 Zehlendrof,

3 Tegell,

4 Daldorf,

32 Dahlen

33 Mariendorf,

5 Schonelin,

6 Blanckenfelde,

34 Britz,

35 Copenick,

7 Buchoz,

8 Blankenburg,

36 Teltow,

37 Marienfelde,

9 Kahro,

10 Spandau,

38 Ziehlen,

39 Rudow,

11 Reinicken,

12 Pancko,

40 Heinersdorf,

41 Potsdam

13 Heinersdorff,

14 Malchau,

15 Arensfelde,

16 Werssensee

STRUCTURAL ORGANISATION

205

INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

industry

The industry in Berlin expended during the

commercial

19th century, after 1870 it was one of the most advanced industrial centres in Europe. In this time period important companies as Allianz,

immigrants Borsig

Deutsche Bank and Siemens were founded (in

Schering AG

the image above you can see at what location

Allianz

the major companies of Berlin had their first

AEG

office or factory).

Deutsche Bank

The growing industry meant a growing amount

Siemens

of jobs. People started to move to Berlin, the

Edeka

city grew from a population of 100.000 in 1747,

Lufthansa

to over 2 million around 1900.

Knorr-Bremse

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206

GROWTH OF BERLIN Because of the enormous population growth late 19th century and early 20th century, the urban area of Berlin expanded rapidly. In the map above, it looks like Berlin grew in an organic way. Actually the city was well planned and grew in a more structured way.

The drawing below is an abstract reproduction of the existing structure.

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STRUCTURAL ORGANISATION

Building density (1846 - 2010)

BUILDING DENSITY (1846 - 2010)

1846

1940

207

1948

1985

1957

2010

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FUNCTIONAL ORGANISATION (1846)

Functional Organization (1846)

Health Recreational Economical Industrial Commercial Political

208

ORIGIN The earliest settlement of Berlin started on the river island (former Museum Insel). A fortress started to develop around the island in a circular manner.

During these times a wide range of different military buildings were present in the area.

The development of Der Koningliche Thiergarten started around 1830 on the western outskirts of the city’s fortress.

Selter, J. C. (z.j.). Grundriss von Berlin 1846 [Illustratie]. Geraadpleegd van https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Selter_Grundriss_von_Berlin_1846. jpg

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STRUCTURAL ORGANISATION

Functional Organization (1940) FUNCTIONAL ORGANISATION (1940)

Health Recreational Economical Industrial Commercial Political

209

PRÉ-WAR The city has expanded immensely into all directions and in the pre-war situation gives home to a record of 4.3 milion inhabitants.

Both the Tiergarten and the Tempelhof airport are huge exceptions to the built density of the area. The place of origin still functions as the functional core of the city. An enourmous exhibition fair/trade ground (Messe) is built on the western side of the city in 1937, it showcases the economic prosperity of Germany.

Messe Berlin History. (z.j.). From van http://www.messe-berlin.com/Company/History/

Unbuilding Walls Research book

Functional Organization (1948)

ng density (1948) (1945 - 1949) (1948) FUNCTIONAL Building density (1948) ORGANISATION (1945 - 1949) Health Recreational Economical Industrial Commercial Political

210

Heavily damaged Totally destroyed

POST-WAR The devestation of the war left an enourmous void in the urban tissue. A large amount of the most important functionalities dissapeared.

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STRUCTURAL ORGANISATION

Functional Organization (1957) FUNCTIONAL ORGANISATION (1957)

Health Recreational Economical Industrial Commercial Political

211

REPARATION The city recoverd itself and regained a large part of it’s inhabitant number to 3.6 million. The centre starts recovering itself as the commercial hotspot. Large industrial areas are appearing along existing waterways, mostly on the southern and western part of the city.

Unbuilding Walls Research book

Functional Organization (1985) FUNCTIONAL ORGANISATION (1985) Health Recreational Economical Industrial Commercial Political

212

SEPARATION The Wall wrapped itself around the functional core of the city, causing not only a physical but a functional seperation of West-Berlin. As a result Charlottenburg started to develop into the surrogate core of this part.

Berlin 1985 [Illustration]. (z.j.). from http://www2.washjeff.edu/german/berlin/ berlin1985.jpg

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STRUCTURAL ORGANISATION

Functional Organization (2010) FUNCTIONAL ORGANISATION (2010)

2.3 NATURE

Health Recreational Economical Industrial Commercial Political

213

DIVERGING From the core of the city the functional spaces spread out in an linear-diverging manner.

A few striking commercial area’s are evolved in a linear manner and connect the center to surrounding sub-centre’s like Charlottenburg (west) and Friedrichshain (east).

The industrial areas seem to be more concentrated on the western part of Berlin.

The largest recreational space is the infill of the former Tempelhof airport to an openly accessible green area. https://www.google.com/maps/

Unbuilding Walls Research book

DISTRIBUTION

RAILWAY SYSTEMS: S-BAHN

214

The Berlin U-Bahn, short for Untergrundbahn, “underground

construction of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent restrictions

railway”, is a rapid transit railway in Berlin. Opened in 1902,

imposed by the Government of East Germany limited travel

the U-Bahn serves 173 stations spread across ten lines, with

across the borderm which gave rise to a “creepy everyday

a total track length of 151.7 kilometres , about 80% of which

existence” - ghost stations.

is underground.

Like the city, the Berlin transport network was divided for

The Berlin S-Bahn is a rapid transit railway system in and

a total of 28 years, 2 months and 28 days. After the fall of

around Berlin. It has been in operation under this name since

the Wall, the ghost stations were reopened and renovated

December 1930. It complements the Berlin U-Bahn and is

to connect Berliners east and west to all areas of the city

the link to many outer-Berlin areas, such as Berlin Schönefeld

and once again function as vibrant centres of life in the big

Airport.

city. But some scars took a while longer to heal: the circle

Designed to alleviate traffic flowing into and out of central

line of

Berlin, the U-Bahn was rapidly expanded until the city was

took until 2002 to be able to make a complete

divided into East and West Berlin at the end of World War

circuit around the city, a journey that now takes

II. During separation, since the S-Bahn was operated by

just an hour to stop at all the stations on the 37.5

East Berlin, West Berliners boycotted S-Bahn and started

km route.

to extensivly build more U-Bahn lines in West Berlin. The

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the S-Bahn that had been divided in 1961

STRUCTURAL ORGANISATION

1989

INFRASTRUCTURE

S-BAHN

FRIEDRICHSTRASS - BORDER CROSSING STATION BERLIN WALL

215

2016 Unbuilding Walls Research book

U-BAHN

RAILWAY SYSTEMS: U-BAHN

POTSDAMER PLATZ

ERNST-REUTER PLATZ

WARSCHAUERSTASSE GLEISDRELECK

INFRASTRUCTURE

U-BAHN

1902

216

VINETASTRASSE SEESTRASSE

RUHLEBEN

GESUNDBRUNNEN

RICHARD-WAGNER PLATZ STADTMITTE BISMARCK STR.

ALEXANDERPLATZ

WARSCHAUERSTASSE UHLAND STR. KOTTBUSSER TOR HERMANNPLATZ INNSBRUCKER PLATZ LEINESTRASSE TEMPELHOF

KRUMME LANKE

1930 CP 2017.2018

GRENZALLEE

FRIEDRICHSFELDE

U-BAHN

STRUCTURAL ORGANISATION

ALT-TEGEL

VINETASTRASSE SEESTRASSE

RUHLEBEN

GESUNDBRUNNEN

ALEXANDERPLATZ

RICHARD-WAGNER PLATZ STADTMITTE BISMARCK STR.

WARSCHAUERSTASSE UHLAND STR.

FRIEDRICHSFELDE

KOTTBUSSER TOR HERMANNPLATZ INNSBRUCKER PLATZ LEINESTRASSE TEMPELHOF

INFRASTRUCTURE

GRENZALLEE

U-BAHN

KRUMME LANKE

1961

217

WITTENAU ALT-TEGEL

PANKOW OSLOER STR. LEOPOLDPLATZ HÖNOW

RATHAUS SPANDAU RUHLEBEN

ALEXANDERPLATZ RICHARD-WAGNER-PLATZ BISMARCK STR.STADTMITTE WARSCHAUER STR. UHLAND STR. KOTTBUSSER TOR FEHRBELLINER PLATZ

HERMANNPLATZ INNSBRUCKER PLATZ HERMANNSTR.

RATHAUS STEGLITZ KRUMME LANKE

ALT-MARIENDORF

RUDOW

2016 Unbuilding Walls Research book

HIGHLIGHT BERLIN GHOST STATIONS THE WALL UNDERGROUND

access to about 12 km of inner-city underground transport,

During the time of separation, although the centrally-located

resulting in the 11 ghost stations in Berlin’s centre U-Bahn

district of Mitte was a part of East Germany, it was surrounded

system, and 5 in the S-Bahn. The train would drive slowly

to the north, west and south by West Berlin. It was traversed

as they passed through these ghost stations, with soldiers

by U-Bahn and S-Bahn tunnels that passed through the

carrying machine guns to prevent any attempts to escape

eastern part of the city on their way back to the west. Unlike

through the trains and tunnels.

the above-ground lines, these underground lines were not

There was one exception: Friedrichstraße, the only place

cut off, but instead added to the West Berlin network and

where the western and eastern lines intersected and which

heavily guarded by the GDR. East Berliners, meanwhile, lost

served as a border station.

ALT-TEGEL PARACELSUSBAD

OSLOER STR.

VINETASTRASSE

LEOPOLDPLATZ RATHAUS SPANDAU RUHLEBEN

218

ALEXANDERPLATZ RICHARD-WAGNER-PLATZ BISMARCK STR.STADTMITTE WARSCHAUER STR. UHLAND STR. KOTTBUSSER TOR FEHRBELLINER PLATZ

HERMANNPLATZ INNSBRUCKER PLATZ

LEINESTRASSE

RATHAUS STEGLITZ KRUMME LANKE

ALT-MARIENDORF

RUDOW

1989 STATION IN OPERATION “GHOST STATION” FRIEDRICHSTRASS - BORDER CROSSING STATION BERLIN WALL CP 2017.2018

STRUCTURAL ORGANISATION

HÖNOW

219

U-BAHN AS A MEANS OF ESCAPE The

tunnels

and

trains

remained

natural

After each escape attempt in the tunnels, the

connections between the two halves of the

East German government imposed stringent

city because they remained open to Western

security precautions. But even almost 20 years

trains. As a result, those East Germans deemed

after the Wall had been built, not every loophole

“100% reliable” and allowed to work there as

had been closed. The so-called “orphan tunnel”

construction workers, rail workers and border

was an operations track near the Alexanderplatz

guards were often actually tempted to try to

station that connected U-Bahn line 8 (West) and

escape. For example, a superior soldier at

U-Bahn line 5 (East). This was the only tunnel

the Schwartzkopffstraße border station never

that connected the rail lines of the two halves

returned from his toilet break in 1962. In 1963,

of the city, it was considered secure. Really.

an entire post of soldiers at the Heinrich-Heine-

But Dieter Wendt, an employee of East Berlin’s

Straße border station walked through the tunnel

transport services, was familiar with the network

to West Berlin. Because border guards were

and knew how to access this tunnel. On 8

continually escaping to the West while on the job,

March 1980, he fled with his family through the

the security measures were drastically tightened

underground fortifications and stopped a West

in 1966: The border guards were locked into

Berlin train in its tracks. The West Berlin driver

bricked-up posts whilst on duty and were not

understood immediately and let them ride in

allowed to enter the platforms. The doors could

his cab crouching for cover until they arrived at

only be opened from the outside and only by the

Moritzplatz and safety in the West. Their escape

commanding officer.

was a success.

RUDOW

Unbuilding Walls Research book

HIGHLIGHT BERLIN TEMPELHOF AIRFIELD

220

AIRPORTS IN BERLIN - A BRIEF HISTORY Berlin Tegel Airport

The current main airport of Berlin, built during the Berlin Airlift in 1948 and scheduled to close when Berlin Brandenburg Airport opensifuga.

Berlin SchĂśnefeld Airport The airport for East Berlin during the Cold War. Currently serving as the secondary international airport of Berlin.

Berlin Tempelhof Airport The iconic airport initiated by the Nazis, witnessed the turmoils of Berlin and repurposed to serve the city in a new way.

RAF Gatow The former Royal Air Force military airbase in the district of Gatow in south-western Berlin.

Johannisthal Air Field Known as the birthplace of heavier-than-air flight in Germany, Johannistal was Berlin’s primary airport until the Tempelhofer Field was developed in 1920s.

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STRUCTURAL ORGANISATION 2.3 NATURE

INFRASTRUCTURE

AIRPORT

221

BERLIN TEGEL AIRPORT (TXL) STAAKEN AIRFIELD (1916-1948)

RAF GATOW (1935-1995)

BERLIN TEMPELHOF AIRPORT (1923-2008)

JOHANNISTHAL AIRFIELD (1909-1952)

AIRPORT SCHÖNEFELD (SXF)

BERLIN BRANDENBURG AIRPORT (BER)

AIRPORT IN OPERATION CLOSED AIRPORT

AIRPORT UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Unbuilding Walls Research book

TEMPELHOF

MONACO

MONACO

303

HECTARE. The airport has a vast 303- hectare airfield. By way of comparison, Monaco is 200 hectares.

80%

303

FINISHED.Intende greatness as well as a stage for was only ever 80% finished. Mo abundance of work still needs t feel when you walk around.

HECTARE. The airport has a vast 303- hectare airfield. By way of comparison, Monaco is 200 hectares.

1936-1941, Construction of the Tempelhof 222

1933, Nazi came to power. Started working on larger buildings that we see today.

1945-1993, Occupied by the Americans 1948-49, Berlin Blockade and airlift

1936-1941, Construction of 1930 1940 1922 the Tempelhof 1935, Architect Ernst came 1923-1929, Sagebiel was arted Construction of commissioned to larger old Tempelholf 1948-49, Berlin design the airport. at we Airport.

Blockade and airlift Construction started the following year.

1940

chitect Ernst was ioned to he airport. tion started wing year.

During WWII, Air-raid shelters in the depths of Tempelhof was filled with people.

1950

During WWII, Air-raid shelters in the depths1960 of Tempelhof was filled with people.

1950 1945-1993, Occupied by the Americans

1970

1980 1975, Operations at Tempelhof were suspended after the construction of Tegel Airport in West Berlin’s French sector

SIR NOROMAN FOSTER called Tempelhof "the mother of all modern airports,"

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1970

1960

STRUCTURAL ORGANISATION

INFRASTRUCTURE

BERLIN TEMPELHOF AIRPORT 80%

FINISHED.Intended to be a statement of Nazi Germany greatness as well as a stage for Hitler to address the masses, the airport was only ever 80% finished. Most of the exterior is complete, but an abundance of work still needs to be done inside, giving it quite a raw feel when you walk around.

ed to be a statement of Nazi Germany r Hitler to address the masses, the airport ost of the exterior is complete, but an to be done inside, giving it quite a raw

0

2008, October 30, Tempellholf was closed. Despite efforts from about 500 protesters and a majority voting in a referendum to keep it open.

1995, Tempelhof became a listed building.

2008, October 30, 1990 Tempellholf was closed. Despite 1990, After the efforts from about fall of the Berlin 500 protesters and a Wall, Tempelhof majority voting in a started to referendum to keep operate domestic it open. flights once again

1980 1975, Operations at Tempelhof were suspended 1995, Tempelhof after the became a listed construction of building.

Tegel Airport in West Berlin’s French sector 1990 1990, After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Tempelhof started to operate domestic flights once again

2000

2000

Now, Tempelhof Park & Refugee Camp

2010

Now, Tempelhof Park & Refugee Camp

2010

223

2020 Late 2015, German government used Tempelhof to house refugees.

2020 Late 2015, German government used Tempelhof to house refugees.

Unbuilding Walls Research book

DENSITY

DENSITY

62.240 immigrants:

https://digital.zlb.de/viewer/toc/16308449/2/ Statistisches_Jahrbuch_1942.pdf

1900-1939

4.489.700

225

Number of inhabitants increased with 483.440

1939-1945

https://digital.zlb.de/viewer/toc/16308449/2/ Statistisches_Jahrbuch_1950.pdf

How did people move through the city? This is the main question on which the next six diagrams will give an answer. Each diagram covers a different time period. First of all the period before the second World War (1900-1939), Secondly the period during World War II (1939-1945), the third diagram covers the post-war period (1946-1949), the next diagram is about the years before the Berlin Wall was built (1950-1961), the fifth diagrams is about the Berlin Wall period(1961-1989) and finally the years after the fall of the wall until today (1990-2017).

Remarkable to see is that during the first two periods of time, the number of immigrants in Berlin was low. Only 1,4% of the entire population came from abroad. This percentage has risen steadily since 1939. In 2011, almost 700.000 immigrants were living in Berlin, which is 18,7% of the entire population. Most of the immigrants come from other European countries.

Finally, a strange thing is that the population during the war increased with almost 500.000 people.

There is not found a specific reason why this number has been risen since 1939. It would make more sense if the amount of inhabitants decreased because of the war.

Unbuilding Walls Research book

3.287.100

Number of inhabitants decreased with 1.2 million

1945-1949

https://digital.zlb.de/viewer/toc/16308449/2/ Statistisches_Jahrbuch_1991.pdf

100.000 people to west Berlin in January/June 1961 3.290.333 226

2.000 people to west Berlin every day in August 1961

-10% (during 1949-1961)

1949-1961

https://digital.zlb.de/viewer/toc/16308449/2/ Statistisches_Jahrbuch_1961.pdf http://mashable.com/2014/11/06/berlin-wall-fence/#85zp3LFDGPqZ

In the first four years after the war did the number of inhabitants in Berlin decreased with almost 1.2 million.

In 1961 there is a huge shift of citizens moving from East to West Berlin. This can be explained by the fact that Germany, but also Berlin, was divided into two states, the Federal Republic of Germany (West) and the German Democratic Republic (East). Many people who lived in the Eastern part of Berin decided to move to the West, to get away from the strict ‘DDR-rule’. In the last two months before the Wall was built there were 2.000 people a day making a one-way trip to West Berlin. The number of citizens in East Berlin decreased with 10%, partly because of this movement from East to West Berlin.

CP 2017.2018

DENSITY

279.382 immigrants: (in west Berlin, 1988)

100.000 people attempted to escape over the wall.

3.291.681

2.071.497 citizens in west Berlin

1.220.184 citizens in east Berlin

1961-1989

https://digital.zlb.de/viewer/toc/16308449/2/ Statistisches_Jahrbuch_1991.pdf

Density: 4,100/km2 in 2017

227

1989-2017

https://www.statistik-berlin-brandenburg.de/produkte/ faltblatt_brochure/Berlin-in-Zahlen_25-Jahre-DeutscheEinheit.pdf Berlin-in-Zahlen_25-Jahre-Deutsche-Einheit.pdf

During the 28 years that the Berlin Wall was separating East and West Berlin tried 100.000 people to flee from East to West. Only around 5.000-10.000 people managed to reach West Berlin.

In 1988 there were almost 300.000 immigrants living in West Berlin. This is 13,1% of the entire population in West Berlin. This percentage is 10 times as high as in 1939.

In 2011 nearly 700.000 immigrants were living in Berlin, representing 18,7% of all the inhabitants of Berlin. In addition, it is striking that in 1990, after the Wall came down, the population of Berlin decreased by 10%. This because of emigration and low birth rate. At this time there are more than 3.5 million people living in Berlin. Due to the Second World War and the Berlin Wall did the amount of Berliners decreased by more than 1 million since 1939.

Unbuilding Walls Research book

DENSITY OF BERLIN

1900-1939

Map is based on the Deutscher Stadtebau nach 1945, Richard Bacht, page 30.

1949-1961

Map is based on the Deutscher Stadtebau nach 1945, Richard Bacht, page 26.

228

he diagrams above show the density of Berlin in two periods of time (1939 and 1957).

Interesting to see is that the density in 1939 was much higher than in 1957. Especially in the center of Berlin (the Mitte and Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg districts). This can be explained by the fact that the center of Berlin was almost completely destroyed during the Second World War. Many buildings were devastated, which made this area inhabitable for a long time. This also clarifies why the other districts became more dense. People moved outside the city because of the demolition.

CP 2017.2018

DENSITY

1961-1989

Map is based on the Stadtentwickelung und Umweltschutz 84, page 2.

229

1989-2017

Map is based on http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ article/pii/S0264275113001613, figure 8

There can clearly be seen on the map of 1984 that the population is more spread all over Berlin than in the years before.

The density in the center of Berlin, but also in the districts outside the center, is raising. The biggest growth is in the district called Spandau. In some parts of this district there are living 500 people per hectare. Furthermore, the other districts are also developing. But still the density in those districts is lower than in the Mitte, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg and Spandau districts. Finally, you can see on the map of 2012 that all the districts are almost proportional to population density. You can still see that most of the people live in the city, but due to a well developed infrastructure people also settle in the districts further from the city center.

It can be concluded that there is a pattern between the development of the infrastructure, the urban division and population density. When the infrastructure started developing outside the city

center of Berlin there was also a movement of the population density from the city center to the other Unbuilding Walls Research book

DENSITY PER DISTRICT

10

9

1

2

11

3 12

8

6

7

5

4

Source: https://digital. zlb.de/viewer/image/16320560_1942/1/ LOG_0003/

1900-1939

0 2.800

10

9

230

8.400 11.200

11.200 14.000

14.000 16.800

16.800 ∞

2 3 12

8

1939-1945

5.600 8.400

1

11

7

2.800 5.600

6

5

4

Source: https://digital. zlb.de/viewer/image/16320560_1945/1/ LOG_0003/

In this chapter the density of Berlin per district through time has been analyzed. Berlin consists out of twelve districts: Pankow, Lichtenberg, Marzahn-Hellersdorf,Treptow-Köpenick, Neukölln, Tempelhof-Schönberg, Steglitz-Zehlendorf, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Spandau, Reinickendorf, Mitte and Friedrich-Kreuzberg. Based on the documents that we found in the Zentral- und Landesbibliothek Berlin we have made several maps and charts. There’s a map and chart for each historical timeperiod of Berlin.

District Marzahn-Hellersdorf The district that is most noticeable is the district Marzahn-Hellersdorf (3). From 1900 till 1961 isn’t any data about this district. Only from 1961 till nowadays there is informatie about the density of this district. This can be explained by the fact that Marzahn-Hellersdorf wasn’t a district untill 2001 when there was a redistribution of the district. During this redistribution the district Marzahn and Hellersdorf

CP 2017.2018

DENSITY

10

9

1

2

11

3 12

8

6

7

1945-1949

5

4

Source: https://digital. zlb.de/viewer/image/16320524_1950/1/ LOG_0003/

0 2.800

10

9

8.400 11.200

11.200 14.000

14.000 16.800

16.800 ∞

2

231

3 12

8

1949-1961

5.600 8.400

1

11

7

2.800 5.600

6

5

4

Source: https://digital. zlb.de/viewer/image/16308449_1961/1/ LOG_0003/

where merged. But there wasn’t any inforamtion about the districts Marzahn or Hellersdorf eather.

And Marzahn-Hellersdorf isn’t the only district that was merged together. So it is strange that there isn’t any information about the density of this district in the Zentral- und Landesbibliothek Berlin.

District Mitte and Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg The most central districts are the Mitte and Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg (11 and 12). Because of the central position of these districts those are the districts with the highest density. The high density in this district stays during World War 2 and before the building of the Berlin wall. During the Berlin wall, as you can see in the diagram above, the density decreased enormously. For the Mitte the density decreased from 14.036 p/km2 (1961) to 10.757 p/km2 (1989) and for the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg the density decreased from 17.047 p/km2 (1961) to 12.425 p/m2 (1989).

Nowadays (2013) the density of those districts are almost the same. It increased in 24 years with 0,9%.

Unbuilding Walls Research book

10

9

1

2

11

3 12

8

6

7

5

4

Source: https://digital. zlb.de/viewer/image/16308451_1991/1/ LOG_0003/

1961-1989

0 2.800

10

9

1

2

11

232

3 12

8

7

1989-2017

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6

5

Source: https://digital. zlb.de/viewer/metadata/15982299_2015/1/ LOG_0003/

4

2.800 5.600

5.600 8.400

8.400 11.200

11.200 14.000

14.000 16.800

16.800 ∞

DENSITY

233

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DEMOGRAPHICS

Good

Be P r za Lic an lin Fr h k ie Tre hn- te ow dr p He nb ic to ll er hs w er g ha -K sd in öp or -K e f re nic Ch uz k ar be Re lo tte in M rg i ck it nb en te ur Te Ste g-W Sp dor m g il an f pe litz m da lh -Z ers u of eh d -S le or ch n f ön do e rf N be eu rg kö lln ar

M

Poverty rate

Avarage

Simple

Be P r za Lic an lin Fr h k ie Tre hn- te ow dr p He nb ic to ll er hs w er g ha -K sd in öp or -K e f re nic Ch uz k ar be Re lo tte in M rg i ck it nb en te ur Te Ste g-W Sp dor m g il an f pe litz m da lh -Z ers u of eh d -S le or ch n f ön do e rf N be eu rg kö lln

ar

Be P r za Lic an lin Fr h k ie Tre hn- te ow dr p He nb ic to ll er hs w er g ha -K sd in öp or -K e f re nic Ch uz k ar be Re lo tte in M rg i ck it nb en te ur Te Ste g-W Sp dor m g il an f pe litz m da lh -Z ers u of eh d -S le or ch n f ön do e rf N be eu rg kö lln M

Low educated

ar

Unemployed

M

DEMOGRAPHICS

30%

25%

20%

15%

10% 5%

0%

30%

25%

20%

15%

10% 235

5%

0%

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

Unbuilding Walls Research book

PANKOW Created after Berlin’s 2001 administrative reform by merging the former boroughs Prenzlauer Berg, Weissensee and Pankow.

This former East Berlin borough is the second biggest of Berlin and most populated borough of Berlin. Pankow has with 81,1% the third highest amount of German origin inhabitants and with 6,7 the second lowest amount of foreign inhabitants with German nationality. This borough has the highest employment and the lowest poverty rate in Berlin.

21,13 %

Population growth

400000 350000 300000 250000 200000 150000 100000 50000 0

87

19

236

90

19

00

20

Inflow from outside Berlin

30000

10

20

17

20

Outflow away from Berlin

25000 40427

20000 15000 10000 5000 0

87

19

100% 90% 80% 70% 398732 (10,8%) 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

90

19

00

20

10

20

17

20

Demographic data

le le an nt er 18 65 > on ed ed te nt h st le Ma emaerm igrareign < 18 - 65 cati ploy ployrty rafficie Hig odeSimp u F G m o M ed Em nemPove i coe Im F w n U i Lo G

CP 2017.2018

DEMOGRAPHICS

LICHTENBERG Created after Berlinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2001 administrative reform by merging the former boroughs HohenschĂśnhausen and Lichtenberg. This borough is the smallest but most densest of the former East Berlin boroughs. Second after Marzahn-Hellersdorf this borough inhabits the largest density of Russians.

The quality of households has the highest rate of modesty compared to the other boroughs in Berlin.

Population growth

400000 350000

2,72 %

300000 250000 200000 150000 100000 50000 0

87

19

90

19

00

20

Inflow from outside Berlin

30000

10

20

17

20

237

Outflow away from Berlin

25000 20000 15000

12645

10000 5000 0

87

19

283334 (7,7%)

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

90

19

00

20

10

20

17

20

Demographic data

le le an nt er 18 65 > on ed ed te nt h st le Ma emaerm igrareign < 18 - 65 cati ploy ployrty rafficie Hig odeSimp u F G m o M ed Em nemPove i coe Im F w n U i Lo G Unbuilding Walls Research book

MARZAHN-HELLERSDORF Created after Berlinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2001 administrative reform by merging the former boroughs Marzahn and Hellersdorf. This former East Berlin borough has the second biggest amount of ethnic German inhabitants. It has with 16,1% of the non-ethnic Germans the highest rate of Russian inhabitants. This borough has a lower than average amount of low educated inhabitants and a poverty rate just below the average in Berlin.

The quality of households shifts between

Population growth

400000 350000

12,54 %

300000 250000 200000

modest and simple with just a 2% of high

150000

quality.

100000 50000 0

87

19

238

90

19

00

20

Inflow from outside Berlin

30000

10

20

17

20

Outflow away from Berlin

25000 20000 15000 41372

10000 5000 0

87

19

264461 (7,2%)

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

90

19

00

20

10

20

17

20

Demographic data

le le an nt er 18 65 > on ed ed te nt h st le Ma emaerm igrareign < 18 - 65 cati ploy ployrty rafficie Hig odeSimp u F G m o M ed Em nemPove i coe Im F w n U i Lo G

CP 2017.2018

DEMOGRAPHICS

TREPTOW-KÖPENICK Created after Berlin’s 2001 administrative reform by merging the former boroughs Treptow and Köpenick. This former East Berlin borough is the biggest of the twelve boroughs in Berlin. Though its size, it has one of the smallest amount of inhabitants, this makes it the least densest borough of Berlin. This borough inhabits the largest rate of ethnic Germans, more than 87%.

It has one of the smallest amount of inhabitants with a low education and a low

400000 350000 250000 200000

rate of unemployment. The poverty rate is

150000

low and the majority of this borough lives

100000

in modest quality households.

17,28 %

300000

50000 0

87

19

90

19

00

20

10

20

17

20

239

30000 25000 20000 15000 1262

10000 5000 0

87

19

262543 (7,1%)

90

19

00

20

10

20

17

20

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

le le an nt er 18 65 > on ed ed te nt h st le Ma emaerm igrareign < 18 - 65 cati ploy ployrty rafficie Hig odeSimp u F G m o M ed Em nemPove i coe Im F w n U i Lo G Unbuilding Walls Research book

FRIEDRICHSHAIN-KREUZBERG Created after Berlinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2001 administrative reform by merging the former boroughs Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg. This borough is one of two boroughs, besides Mitte, which was divided by the Berlin Wall into East and West Berlin. FriedrichshainKreuzeberg is the densest borough in Berlin and one of the densest areas in whole Germany. The population in this borough is the youngest on average and counts the least 65+ inhabitants of whole

Population growth

400000 350000

9,29 %

300000 250000 200000

Berlin.

150000

With 41,2% of the inhabitants having

100000 50000

a migration background, possesses Friedrichshain-Kreuzeberg the third place of boroughs with the lowest number of

0

87

19

90

19

00

20

10

20

17

20

original German inhabitants.

240

The borough knows the second lowest rate of high quality households. While the employment rates are good, the poverty rate is one of the highest in Berlin.

Inflow from outside Berlin

30000

Outflow away from Berlin

25000 85148

20000 15000 10000 5000 0

87

19

100% 281860 (7,6%) 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

90

19

00

20

10

20

17

20

Demographic data

le le an nt er 18 65 > on ed ed te nt h st le Ma emaerm igrareign < 18 - 65 cati ploy ployrty rafficie Hig odeSimp u F G m o M ed Em nemPove i coe Im F w n U i Lo G

CP 2017.2018

DEMOGRAPHICS

MITTE Created after Berlinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2001 administrative reform by merging the former boroughs Mitte, Tiergarten and Wedding. This borough is one of two boroughs, besides Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, which was divided by the Berlin Wall into East and West Berlin. Mitte is with its relative small area the seconded densest and populated borough in Berlin. With 51,9% male it has the highest rate of Berlin, what an average counts of 49,4%. This borough

300000 250000 200000 150000

inhabitants and with 32,8% the highest rate

100000

of foreigners without a German nationality.

50000

unemployment and a high poverty rate

17,23 %

350000

has also the lowest rate of original German

The high numbers of low education,

Population growth

400000

0

87

19

90

19

00

20

10

20

17

20

can explain the high number of simple households.

In 1989 the borough encountered an increase of new inhabitants from outside Berlin. This popularity continued after a dip in 1990. Since then it has been the borough with the highest rate of new inhabitants origin from outside Berlin.

Inflow from outside Berlin

30000

Outflow away from Berlin 97061

25000 20000 15000 10000 5000 0

87

19

373944 (10,1%)

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

90

19

00

20

10

20

17

20

Demographic data

le le an nt er 18 65 > on ed ed te nt h st le Ma emaerm igrareign < 18 - 65 cati ploy ployrty rafficie Hig odeSimp u F G m o M ed Em nemPove i coe Im F w n U i Lo G Unbuilding Walls Research book

241

REINICKENDORF This former West Berlin borough is the third less densest in Berlin, this because of the large amount of open water and forest.

Significant numbers from this borough are the small rate of employed, high rate of low educated and high rate of elderly inhabitants.

Population growth

400000 350000

10,06 %

300000 250000 200000 150000 100000 50000 0

87

19

242

90

19

00

20

Inflow from outside Berlin

30000

10

20

17

20

Outflow away from Berlin

25000 20000 15000

5744

10000 5000 0

87

19

262683 (7,1%)

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

90

19

00

20

10

20

17

20

Demographic data

le le an nt er 18 65 > on ed ed te nt h st le Ma emaerm igrareign < 18 - 65 cati ploy ployrty rafficie Hig odeSimp u F G m o M ed Em nemPove i coe Im F w n U i Lo G

CP 2017.2018

DEMOGRAPHICS

SPANDAU This former West Berlin borough is located in the most west of Berlin. The area counts the smallest population of the twelve boroughs of Berlin, this because of its geographic and industry.

Spandau has a high rate of low educated inhabitants and a strikingly low rate of high quality households.

400000 350000 300000

19,36 %

250000 200000 150000 100000 50000 0

87

19

90

19

00

20

10

20

17

20

243

30000 25000 20000 15000

28961

10000 5000 0

87

19

240998 (6,5%)

90

19

00

20

10

20

17

20

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

le le an nt er 18 65 > on ed ed te nt h st le Ma emaerm igrareign < 18 - 65 cati ploy ployrty rafficie Hig odeSimp u F G m o M ed Em nemPove i coe Im F w n U i Lo G Unbuilding Walls Research book

CHARLOTTENBURG-WILMERSDORF Created after Berlinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2001 administrative reform by merging the former boroughs Charlottenburg and Wilmersdorf. This former West Berlin borough has a striking percentage of high quality households.

With 67% the amount is more than 4 times higher than the average in Berlin. The Gini coefficient is also the highest, which argues the huge differences between its inhabitants.

Population growth

400000

7,56 %

350000 300000 250000 200000 150000 100000 50000 0

87

19

244

90

19

00

20

Inflow from outside Berlin

30000

10

20

17

20

Outflow away from Berlin

25000 71357

20000 15000 10000 5000 0

87

19

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 338405 (9,2%) 20% 10% 0%

90

19

00

20

10

20

17

20

Demographic data

le le an nt er 18 65 > on ed ed te nt h st le Ma emaerm igrareign < 18 - 65 cati ploy ployrty rafficie Hig odeSimp u F G m o M ed Em nemPove i coe Im F w n U i Lo G

CP 2017.2018

DEMOGRAPHICS

STEGLITZ-ZEHLENDORF Created after Berlinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2001 administrative reform by merging the former boroughs Steglitz and Zehlendorf. This former West Berlin borough is the third biggest in Berlin.

It has a larger amount of original German inhabitants and the highest rate of women and elderly people. The unemployment rate is the second lowest of all twelve boroughs and the quality of households is high to modest with a low rate in simple households.

Population growth

400000

10,21 %

350000 300000 250000 200000 150000 100000 50000 0

87

19

90

19

00

20

Inflow from outside Berlin

30000

10

20

17

20

245

Outflow away from Berlin

25000 20000 22836

15000 10000 5000 0

87

19

305430 (8,3%)

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

90

19

00

20

10

20

17

20

Demographic data

le le an nt er 18 65 > on ed ed te nt h st le Ma emaerm igrareign < 18 - 65 cati ploy ployrty rafficie Hig odeSimp u F G m o M ed Em nemPove i coe Im F w n U i Lo G Unbuilding Walls Research book

TEMPELHOF-SCHÖNEBERG Created after Berlin’s 2001 administrative reform by merging the former boroughs Tempelhof and Schöneberg. This former West Berlin borough is one of the smallest in size. In the numbers this Borough has the most average rates of the twelve boroughs of Berlin.

Population growth

400000

6,62 %

350000 300000 250000 200000 150000 100000 50000 0

87

19

246

90

19

00

20

Inflow from outside Berlin

30000

10

20

17

20

Outflow away from Berlin

25000 20000 46148

15000 10000 5000 0

87

19

347927 (9,4%)

CP 2017.2018

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

90

19

00

20

10

20

17

20

Demographic data

le le an nt er 18 65 > on ed ed te nt h st le Ma emaerm igrareign < 18 - 65 cati ploy ployrty rafficie Hig odeSimp u F G m o M ed Em nemPove i coe Im F w n U i Lo G

DEMOGRAPHICS

NEUKร LLN This former West Berlin borough is the poorest of the twelve boroughs in Berlin. It has the highest poverty rate and the largest number of simple quality households.

Neukรถlnn possesses the second place in least amount of ethnic German inhabitants, 55%. This borough has with more than 26% Turkish people the highest amount of inhabitants with this origin. Berlin has the highest density of Turkish people living aboard Turkey, Neukรถlnn can be

400000

13,23 %

350000 300000 250000 200000

considered, besides Friedrichshain-

150000

Kreuzeberg, as a Turkish enclave.

100000 50000 0

87

19

90

19

00

20

10

20

17

20

247

30000 25000 20000 41807

15000 10000 5000 0

87

19

328659 (8,9%)

90

19

00

20

10

20

17

20

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

le le an nt er 18 65 > on ed ed te nt h st le Ma emaerm igrareign < 18 - 65 cati ploy ployrty rafficie Hig odeSimp u F G m o M ed Em nemPove i coe Im F w n U i Lo G Unbuilding Walls Research book

NATURE

NATURE

NATURE IN BERLIN 1778-2017 4.5 NATURE

1925

1778

140

139

Water

Water

Wild / park

Wild / park Agriculture

Agriculture

Source: Von Oesfeld, C. (1778). Zentral- und Landesbilbiothek Berlin. Visited on 18-10-2017 at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oesfeld_Berlin_1778.jpg

Source: Senate Department for Urban Development and Housing Berlin (1925). Zoning plan 1925. Visited at 01-11-2017 on http://www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/planen/fnp/en/historie/index.shtml

NATURE

grass is fragmented by roads. These roads Berlin 1925

In this chapter there will be shown several

arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t usual roads as we know them nowadays Approximately 150 years later, a lot has

maps

obviously, the roads in that time were paths of changed. The city Berlin has grown and the

The layers;

where maps water,

the are

nature

is

unraveled

wild/park

and

analyzed. in

three

agriculture.

249

sand/rocks to move from one place to another infrastructure has been expanded enormously. place by horse. The roads, which are created very primitively, connect several small villages. The river Spree is expanded by creating canals thus

Berlin 1778

the water is an important factor in the city of Berlin.

As shown in the map above, the map tells us a few things. Berlin started near the Spree,

Another clear conclusion, which is visible in the

the river, and started to become a city. As

map above, is the amount of wild and park. The

shown in the map, a lot of forest is located

main areas of these sort of green are unharmed

around this small city. The amount of water

and kept as public space. However, in the

on this location provides the city a good

center, parts of the green has been removed

fundament to become an even bigger city.

in order to build buildings and real-estate.

Berlin 1778

As shown in the map above, the map tells us

The huge areas of agriculture and areas of

a few things. Berlin started near the Spree, the river, and started to become a city. As

CP 2017.2018 Unbuilding Walls Research book

shown in the map, a lot of forest is located

around this small city. The amount of water on this location provides the city a good fundament to become an even bigger city.

The huge areas of agriculture and areas of grass is fragmented by roads. These roads arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t usual roads as we know them nowadays obviously, the roads in that time were paths of sand/rocks to move from one place to another place by horse. The roads, which are created very primitively, connect several small villages.

Unbuilding Walls Research book

4.5 NATURE

1984

1957

42

141

Water

Water

Wild / park Agriculture

250

Wild / park Source: Vetter, H. (1984). Stadtentwicklung und Umweltschutz - Flächennutzungsplan 84 - Konzepte und Entwurf.

Agriculture

5QWTEG $CEJV 4 &GWVUEJGT 5VĂ&#x20AC;FVGDCW PCEJ )TCĆ&#x201A;UEJG $GVTKGDG und Verslag GMBH.

Berlin 1984

those maps it will be clear what has become Berlin 1957

The amount of water is still intact, or even

During the times of the Berlin Wall, the city got

of these areas, what the results are afterAfter 28 World War II a lot of buildings and pieces

expanded. Different canals are created to

split in two. The wall went rigorous through the

years and how they differ from eachother. of nature were destroyed. Also, because

connect several pieces of the city in order

city, its streets, its buildings and its nature. In the

inventions such as airplanes, cars and highways,

map shown above it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really clear what the

a lot of nature got set on a lower priority.

differences are between East- and West-Berlin.

Thus huge areas of nature got removed.

to

optimize

transport

and

watercontrol.

Both sides have their nature areas obviously and both sides are using the Spree river.

In the map shown above itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clear to see the growth of Berlin in comparison with the previous

Although from this zoom-level it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really clear

maps. Although main forests and parks are

what the differences are, there were differences.

still there, a lot of agriculture made place for

Different sort of trees and plants could be

buildings and roads. Pieces of forest dissapeared

recognized in the different parts of Berlin. Later

in order to create airports and highways.

on there will beBerlin zoomed in1957 on fragments of the

After World War II a lot of buildings and pieces

the area where the Berlin Wall used to be. On

A remarkable point in this map is the water.

of nature were destroyed. Also, because CP 2017.2018

inventions such as airplanes, cars and highways, a lot of nature got set on a lower priority.

Thus huge areas of nature got removed.

In the map shown above itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clear to see the growth of Berlin in comparison with the previous maps. Although main forests and parks are still there, a lot of agriculture made place for buildings and roads. Pieces of forest dissapeared in order to create airports and highways.

A remarkable point in this map is the water.

The amount of water is still intact, or even expanded. Different canals are created to

CP 2017.2018

Unbuilding Walls Research book

NATURE

4.5 NATURE

2017

143

Water Wild / park Agriculture

Source: Google Maps

Berlin 2017 Today,

Berlin

251

green spaces. The amount of green has been has

a

great

national

and

increased in the past 28 years. Mainly because

international repuration as a metropolitan

a lot of spaces where the deathstroke used to

center of European standing, thanks in large

be, has been transformed to public green.

part to its great wealth of urban green space, which helps provide a high quality of life. ̽à >À` Ì w ` > Ì iÀ V ÌÞ Ü V «À Û `ià as much green spaces as Berlin does. Parks and garden spaces, city squares and green strips of various scales characterize the city.

There are more than 2.500 public parks which cover in total ~6.400 ha. Mainly the

connect several pieces of the city in order

department takes care of the protection,

to optimize transport and watercontrol.

maintenance and development of the urban

Berlin 1984 During the times of the Berlin Wall, the city got

Unbuilding Walls Research book

split in two. The wall went rigorous through the city, its streets, its buildings and its nature. In the map shown above it isn’t really clear what the differences are between East- and West-Berlin.

Both sides have their nature areas obviously and both sides are using the Spree river.

Although from this zoom-level it isn’t really clear what the differences are, there were differences.

Different sort of trees and plants could be recognized in the different parts of Berlin. Later

Unbuilding Walls Research book

FRAGMENT 1 NATURE REPLACING THE WALL

FRAGM

Source: Geoportal Berlin - Luftbilder. (1989). Potzdamer Platz 1989. Visited on 02-11-2017 at http://mauerweg.morgenpost.de/

Source: Geoportal Berlin - Luftbilder. (1989). Kiefholzstraße1989. Visited on 02-11-2

Potsdamer Platz 1989

Kiefholzstraße 1989

252

Source: Apple Maps. Potsdamer Platz 2017.

Source: Apple Maps. Kiefholzstraße 2017.

Potsdamer Platz 2017

Kiefholzstraße 2017

Before the Second World War, Potsdamer Platz was already an important business center in Berlin.

During the Berlin Wall, Kiefholzstraße was part of th

However, after the Second World War, much of Potsdamer Platz was destroyed and lost. From 1961

Güterbahnhof Berlin-Treptow, hasn’t had any develo

until 1989, there was a large Platz wall in the middle of the square, the Berlin Wall.

Postdamer

partly transformed into a road and a strip of greene

After the fall of The Wall, Potsdamer Platz has rebuilt its name as a trading center.

Before the Second World War, Potsdamer Platz was already an important business center in Berlin.

However, after the Second World War, much of Potsdamer Platz was destroyed and lost. From 1961 until 1989, there was a large wall in the middle of the square, the Berlin Wall. After the fall of The Wall,

P 2017.2018

Potsdamer Platz has rebuilt its name as a trading center.

Kiefholzstraße During the Berlin Wall, Kiefholzstraße was part of the so-called Death Strip. The site on the left, Güterbahnhof Berlin-Treptow, hasn’t had any developments since (at least) 1989. The Death Stip is partly transformed into a road and a strip of greenery.

CP 2017.2018

NATURE 4.5 NATURE

FRAGMENT 3

MENT 2

Source: Geoportal Geoportal Berlin Berlin -- Luftbilder.

Luftbilder. (1989).

(1989). Kleingartenanlage Kleingartenanlage Freiheit Freiheit 1989.

1989. Visited Visited on on 02-11-2017 02-11-2017 at at http://mauerweg.morgenpost.de/ http://mauerweg.morgenpost.de/ Source:

2017 at http://mauerweg.morgenpost.de/

146

Kleingartenanlage Freiheit 1989 145

253

Source: Apple Apple Maps.

Maps. Kleingartenanlage Kleingartenanlage Freiheit Freiheit 2017.

2017.

Source:

he so-called Death Strip. The site on the left,

opments since (at least) 1989. The Death Stip is

ery.

Kleingartenanlage Freiheit 2017 Kleingartenanlage Freiheit means ‘‘Allotment garden freedom’’. This strip of greenery is a litteral remnant of the Death Stip which is transformed to a park of ‘‘freedom’’ which essentially refers to the horrible events during the The Wall.

Kleingartenanlage Freiheit

2017.2018 UnbuildingCP Walls Research book Kleingartenanlage Freiheit means ‘‘Allotment garden freedom’’. This strip of greenery is a litteral remnant

of the Death Stip which is transformed to a park of ‘‘freedom’’ which essentially refers to the horrible events during the The Wall.

Unbuilding Walls Research book

ARCHITECTURE

photo: Thomas Wolf

Renaissance Gotic

Rococo

Baroque ne

1230

1699

1773

Charlottenburg palace

Sank Kath

Nikolaikirche

Marienkirche

Unter den Linden

1500

1600

182

1700

1647

1300 1400

256

1294

1307 8000 inhabitants

1307 CP 2017.2018 Cรถlln-Berlin unification

1701 Capital of Pruissen

5 ARCHITECTURE

5.1 ARCHITETCURAL TIMELINE

Neogotic

Neorenaissance

eoclassicism

Eclecticism 1893

Berliner Dom

1847

3

1818

kt-Hedwigshedrale

Hamburger Bahnhof

Die Neue Wache

1861 Rotes Rathaus

1788 1831 Friedrichs werdersche kirche

183

257

1800

Brandenburger Tor

Electrifi Industrial revolution Unbuilding Walls Research book

1939

Art deco

Jugendstil

Nazi Modernism

ism

Volkshalle (never built)

Bauhaus 1935

1894

1905

Reichstag

Tietz Brothers building

1896 Theater des Westens

Olympiastadion

1930 1909

Siedlunge der Berliner moderene

AEG turbine hall

1936 Haus der ministerien

1937 Flughafen tempelhof

184

1900

258

WO I

Electrification CP 2017.2018

Financial peak

Nazi Welthauptstadt WO II

Weimar Republik Hyperinflation Great depression Golden twenties

Hou

5 ARCHITECTURE

5.1 ARCHITETCURAL TIMELINE

1969 Fernsehturm

1974 Kulturbrauwerei

1956 Unité d’habitacion

using shortage

1937 Flughafent tempelhof

1976 Bierpinsel

1957 Gropiushaus

185

1979

2000

Bauhaus archiv

Unbuilding Walls Research book

259

188 260

CP 2017.2018

1900

5 ARCHITECTURE

1938

5.2 ARCHITETCURE IN ITS CONTEXT

For Berlin, the 20th century had a prosperous start after the city had become the capital of the newly united Germany in 1871. The industrial revolution had transformed the city’s economy and Berlin �eca�e one of the lar�est ind�strial and �nancial centers in ��ro�e� and with growth came ambition. Kaiser Wilhelm II wanted the city to be the most beautiful in the world and started building monuments, avenues, grand buildings, fountains and statues. The historic styles suited his ambition, resulting in many eclectic, neo-romanesque, neo-baroque and neo-renaissance landmarks like the Reichstag (1894), the Kaiser-Wilhelm-kirche (1895), the Bode museum (1904) and the Berliner Dom (1905).

In response to the organic ornamentation and natural tones of the neo-styles, the aims of the art world became to synthesize the line and bring in more colour. Jugendstil was born. The courtyards of Hackeshe Höfe (1907) are considered to be one of the most outstanding examples of industrial jugendstil architecture in Berlin. Also the Tietz brothers building (1906) is rich in Jugendstil ornamentation.

The city kept growing and due to the economically difficult situation after the first world war, decent housing became unaffordable for people on low incomes. In response, the reformed government of the Weimar Republic (1919-1933), initiated the construction of high-quality architecture on a large scale. Resulting in good modern housing for broad sections of the population, including poorer people. The modern style was was based upon new technologies of construction, using glass, steel and reinforced concrete. In particular the Berlin Modernism housing estates (1930) set standards worldwide.

After 1924, the economy was on a rise and Berlin became fertile �ro�nd for intellect�als� artists� and inno�ators fro� �an� �elds� �he architecture taught at the Bauhaus schools reflected the new ideas of the time. Many of the new buildings in this era followed a straightlined, geometrical style.

When the New York Stock Exchange crashed in October 1929, the German “Golden Twenties” were brought to an abrupt end. The Weimar government failed to muster an effective response to the recession, resulting in the Great Depression. Unfortunalely, the one �ene�ciar� of the ���lic discontent was �dolf �itler� �hro��h the early 1930s the Nazi Party became bigger and had soon labeled the Bauhaus style “un-German”. In April 1933, the Berlin Bauhaus school was pressured to close. Berlin was on the brink of world war II.

Unbuilding Walls Research book

189 261

1939

1945

190 262

CP 2017.2018

5 ARCHITECTURE 5.2 ARCHITETCURE IN ITS CONTEXT

Although the Nazi party had closed the Bauhaus school in the early 1930s, the simplicity and engineering-oriented functionalism of the `iÀ ÃÌÞ i ` ` >Ûi Ìà yÕi Vià >â >ÀV ÌiVÌÕÀi° > Þ v Ì i bridges and service stations of the new autobahn (1935), for example, could be seen as bold examples of modernism. / i >â ÃÌÞ i >` Ì wÀ Þ iÃÌ>L à >ÕÌ À ÌÞ i>Û } ` ÕLÌ >Ã Ì who was in charge. It had to be both practical and impressive, mostly characterized by stripped-down neoclassicism. The Nazis knew the value of good propaganda and used imposing and intimidating architectural ÃÌÀÕVÌÕÀiÃ Ì ÀiyiVÌ Ì i `i> à v Ì i / À` ,i V ° i Ì i , > Ã Ì iÞ wanted to leave a lasting legacy, to be seen in the extreme sizes and robust materials of their designs.

Along with his favorite architect Paul Ludwig Troost, Hitler made plans to rebuild Berlin on a gigantic scale. Other German cities and towns were to follow suit. After Troost’s death in 1934, Hitler enlisted the help of his second favorite architect Albert Speer, who was later to become the Armaments Minister in wartime Germany.

191 263

The crowning achievement of Albert Speer and the Nazi style was to be Welthauptstadt Germania, the projected renewal of the German capital Berlin. The plan’s core features included the creation of a great neoclassical city based on an East-West axis with the Berlin victory column at its centre. Major buildings like the Volkshalle would adjoin wide boulevards. The construction of the plan never started. However, a great number of historic buildings in the city had already been demolished in the planned construction zones.

The Volkshalle had a design based on the Pantheon in Rome, if it had ever been built, it would still be the largest enclosed space on the planet. It would have been over 290 meter high (only slightly less than the height of the Eiffel tower) with a diameter of 250 meter; giving space to 180,000 people. The perspiration and breathing of so many people might have formed actual indoor clouds and, in colder temperatures, precipitate and fall back to the ground, as indoor rain.

Nazi construction activities, already slowed down by the war, ended with the eventual defeat and demise of Nazi Germany. Although only a small portion of the plans was built, the Air Ministry building (1936), the Olympic Stadium (1936), Hitler’s chancellery (1938) and Tempelhof Airport (1941) are still standing examples of Nazi style buildings that were realised before the defeat of the Third Reich in 1945.

Unbuilding Walls Research book

1946

1960

At the start of this post-war period, Berlin was largely destroyed. One third of all Berlin housing had been demolished by the war and the city centre was fille� with �� �illion c�bic �eters of r�bble; the �ost immediate physical challenge for Berlin after the war was to rebuild the city. Meanwhile, an agreement signed by the Allies devided the city into fo�r sectors� �n ����� all occ�pation �ones propose� a �nifie� plan for reconstruction, whose modern character would completely re�efine �erlin� �owe�er� growing con�icts of interest p�t an en� to the Allies’ joint administration of the city and soon, Berlin became a �ol� �ar hotspot� �y ���� �er�any was officially �i�i�e� an� both the East (GDR) and West (FRG) took up the task of convincing their 192 264

citizens of the legitimacy of their own governments.

Urban planning approaches of East and West berlin reflected the divergent politcal goals of these new states. Especially the stategy to solve the housing shortage for Berlin’s citizens was a topic that could make or break the success of the opposing ideologies. For this reason, the battle between East and West was expressed strongly through the different housing initiatives. The Times underlines this and describes how ‘the instruments of this conflict were not satellites or atomic weapons, but apartment blocks.’

The Stalinallee in East Berlin and the Hansaviertel in the Western sector, both built in the 1950’s, are good examples. Some describe the Hansaviertel as the ‘West Berlin response to Stalinallee. The difference between the shapes of these two sites is significant; the linear style of urban planning in the East and the free, irregular style in the West.

In the site plans, it can be noted that the apartment blocks along Stalinallee are all of a uniform, rectangular shape. The apartment blocks in Hansaviertel, on the other hand, differ in shape, size, colour and the direction they are facing.

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5 ARCHITECTURE 5.2 ARCHITETCURE5.2 IN TIMEZONES ITS CONTEXT

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Unbuilding Walls Research book

WEST

After the end of World War II in 1945 and the

concept of “International Modernity” and the

subsequent political divisions, the city’s location

ideal of a city adapted to the automobile.

inside of East Germany led to an exodus of many

Belief in progress, an economic boom and

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the display of power by two opposing systems

Berlin has been affected through the years by the

during the Cold War manifest themselves in the

city’s changing geopolitical fortunes from 1961-

architecture: innovative shopping centres, dense

1989. The city stagnated economically during

high-rise settlements and a road networks built

the Cold War, when West Berlin was isolated

for the future.

geographically and East Berlin suffered from poor economic decisions made by East Germany’s

The plans and buildings from this period are

socialist central planners.

evidence of historical ideas that, in a clear departure from the architectural language of the

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Nazi dictatorship, aligned themselves with the

technology and creative sectors re-established in

concept of “International Modernity” and the

the city. A number of companies have re-opened

ideal of a city adapted to the automobile.

secondary corporate headquarters or satellite vwVià iÀ ° 194 266

Belief in progress, an economic boom and the display of power by two opposing systems

The plans and buildings from this period are

during the Cold War manifest themselves in the

evidence of historical ideas that, in a clear

architecture: innovative shopping centres, dense

departure from the architectural language of the

high-rise settlements and a road networks built

Nazi dictatorship, aligned themselves with the

for the future.

CP 2017.2018

5 ARCHITECTURE

EAST

5.2 ARCHITETCURE IN ITS CONTEXT

195 267

1961

1989

268

Complex Projects