Contemporary Architecture in Berlin
photo: Hans Christian Schink
Berlin is internationally recognized for many things, though contemporary architecture doesn’t seem to be one of them. As the building ground for many notable buildings with a rich history and the Bauhaus theories as prominent architectural influence, explorations in postmodern design didn’t come into play until later on. With postmodernism gaining steam among many architects in the second half of the 20th century, Berlin didn’t see the emergence of structures boasting more aesthetic appeal than its modernist predecessors until the late 80s. By assimilating the order and regulation of classical architecture into new forms and using fragments of the turbulent past to build Berlin’s present structure and identity, our city boasts the unique structures of two competing ideologies. The evolution of this contemporary metropolis has since brought forth the likes of David Chipperfield, Frank Gehry, Daniel Libeskind, Rem Koolhaas and many more as anti-vernacular, innovative architects who pushed past boundaries to produce aspirational works. With many building proposals already in the works to be realized in the coming years, it’s time to discover (or revisit) some of the most interesting architecture in Berlin. Leaving out already well-established landmarks like the Jewish Museum and Memorial, the Reichstag, the Philharmonie, and the Neue Nationalgalerie, I’ve compiled a list of attention-grabbing design that just might change the way you see Berlin. Click on to check them out! Read on…