Public
The most important aspect of any development on this site should be public access. In the two aforementioned neighborhoods, the focus of new construction is on residential blocks for the middle class. These developments fail to recognize the significance of the site they are built on. The primary focus of the program should be on the public, and be open to all people, especially Berliners and the local community.
Memory
The path of the wall is too important to the history of Berlin to be paved over with the generic development found in other new districts of the city. What is built on the site should in some way reflect the memory of the place, the events that occurred there, and the people it affected. Some locations have been memorialized, like Eisenmann’s Memorial to the murdered Jews, “Checkpoint Charlie,” or the Jewish Museum by Libeskind. There are some plaques or wall pieces scattered throughout the city to serve as a reminder of cold war era, but these are not substantial memorials or fairly represent the intensity and scale of the effects of the wall on city life. There is not yet, a significant landmark to remember the Berlin Wall.
Diversity
Important to the city, especially in recent history, is the diversity of its people. Berlin has welcomed immigrants from all around the world, and many have made their homes in the neighborhoods near the wall. Kreuzberg, especially, is known for having the highest percentage of immigrants in Germany. The diversity of its people has come to define life in Berlin. Its different peoples have all impacted the culture of the city. This commitment to “Multikulti” is part of Berlin’s identity and celebrating it should be prominent in the program.
Mixed-Use/Flexibility
One of the reasons many of Berlin’s Mietskaserne still exist and thrive today is their incredible flexibility of use. On one block, one can find housing on the perimeter, retail on the street, and industrial or commercial space inside the interior courtyards. There are no strict zoning regulations in Berlin as in America and many buildings serve multiple uses. This is important for a city with an ever-changing population. The ability of a program to accommodate and serve changes in use throughout time should be considered.
Learning
In order to assure the memory is not forgetten, some aspect of education or exhibition in history should be prominent. This need not be as specific as a museum or school, although some features of both could serve some merit. While other factors may draw visitors to the site, they should leave with a better understanding of what occurred at this location, and why it should never be forgotten.
The most important aspect of any development on this site should be public access. In the two aforementioned neighborhoods, the focus of new construction is on residential blocks for the middle class. These developments fail to recognize the significance of the site they are built on. The primary focus of the program should be on the public, and be open to all people, especially Berliners and the local community.
Memory
The path of the wall is too important to the history of Berlin to be paved over with the generic development found in other new districts of the city. What is built on the site should in some way reflect the memory of the place, the events that occurred there, and the people it affected. Some locations have been memorialized, like Eisenmann’s Memorial to the murdered Jews, “Checkpoint Charlie,” or the Jewish Museum by Libeskind. There are some plaques or wall pieces scattered throughout the city to serve as a reminder of cold war era, but these are not substantial memorials or fairly represent the intensity and scale of the effects of the wall on city life. There is not yet, a significant landmark to remember the Berlin Wall.
Diversity
Important to the city, especially in recent history, is the diversity of its people. Berlin has welcomed immigrants from all around the world, and many have made their homes in the neighborhoods near the wall. Kreuzberg, especially, is known for having the highest percentage of immigrants in Germany. The diversity of its people has come to define life in Berlin. Its different peoples have all impacted the culture of the city. This commitment to “Multikulti” is part of Berlin’s identity and celebrating it should be prominent in the program.
Mixed-Use/Flexibility
One of the reasons many of Berlin’s Mietskaserne still exist and thrive today is their incredible flexibility of use. On one block, one can find housing on the perimeter, retail on the street, and industrial or commercial space inside the interior courtyards. There are no strict zoning regulations in Berlin as in America and many buildings serve multiple uses. This is important for a city with an ever-changing population. The ability of a program to accommodate and serve changes in use throughout time should be considered.
Learning
In order to assure the memory is not forgetten, some aspect of education or exhibition in history should be prominent. This need not be as specific as a museum or school, although some features of both could serve some merit. While other factors may draw visitors to the site, they should leave with a better understanding of what occurred at this location, and why it should never be forgotten.
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