photos: Michael Lange
It’s too easy to take for granted the Berlin that we all know today. Beautiful old Altbauten next to modern light apartment buildings, an abundance of cafes, restaurants and little independent shops along the big malls. A city full of life all connected with a great transportation and infrastructure system.
But over 20 years ago the streets looked very different and especially East Berlin was all but a big opportunity after the reunification. Temporary clubs and galleries spruced up in the deserted building giving new life to the waste open spaces while at the same time countless construction sites were a sign of what was to come. Berlin based photographer Michael Lange captured this truly unique time and the rapid change that was taking place all over the city in his black and white photographs. See more of his pictures after the jump.
The Reichstag before Norman Foster added the Kuppel.
Looking into Zimmerstrase from Wilhelmstrasse in 1991. The wall was going straight through this street and today the Hi-Flyer is where the empty lot on the left was.
The gap in Prenzlauer Berg is now closed with modern apartment buildings and a kindergarden.
Building site of the Friedrichstrasse Passagen.
Shell-Haus at Landwehrkanal, 1991
Schlossplatz with the Palast der Republik in Mitte, 1996
Potsdamer Platz, 1996
This place would later become Kater Holzig: Michaelkirchstraße in Mitte, 1999
Berliner Stadtbahn in Mitte, 1999
Leipziger Platz, 1996
Dorotheenstraße in Mitte, 1996
Checkpoint Charlie, 1992
To see more of his pictures, you can check out Lange’s Berlin photography on his tumblr. He also published a photo book which is available online.
