BERLIN: URBAN ARCHITECTURE AND DAILY LIFE SINCE 2009
A portrait of Berlin’s new architectural diversity
Berlin is always transforming, never ceasing to reinvent itself; the cityscape and urban spaces along the river Spree are in nonstop flux. Berlin is a giant building site where derelict land is converted to urban space, old buildings are reappropriated, and new districts and architectural beacons are regularly being completed.
The new book Berlin: Urban Architecture and Daily Life Since 2009 takes readers on a tour of contemporary architecture in the German capital. Edited by Sandra Hofmeister, editor in chief of Detail, and Florian Heilmeyer, Berlin architecture critic, it documents the continual urban upheaval that has defined the city since the opening of the Neues Museum in 2009 by examining 30 separate projects. Over a span of 330 pages, the book documents architectural icons and unknown discoveries, urban spaces and locales that shape everyday life in the city. Accompanying each project are texts, photos, and plans, as well as information about the respective address, website, and social media profile.
The book emphasizes the sheer diversity of architecture created in Berlin over the 2010s, from the urban planning milestones on Museum Island to landscape creations like Gleisdreieck Park, all the way to smaller discoveries and hidden treasures like the Lobe Block/Terrassenhaus. It’s separated into the chapters “Culture and Education”, “Living”, and “Work”, but the authors give especial attention to “Living”, highlighting examples of cluster apartments and flexible spaces for living and work with an essay on the topic of “Berlin Building Groups”.
Interviews with protagonists of Berlin’s architectural scene give an insider’s glimpse into the city’s development. Complementary essays address the city’s history and future – from the classicism of Schinkel to the cultural heritage of the 1970s, all the way to the city’s iconic train stations and airports.
Available online via the Detail website and in select bookstores.
