Potsdamer Platz

In the 1920s and 30s, the Potsdamer platz was the busiest and one of the liveliest squares in Europe. It was a major public transport hub and a popular entertainment district; the area contained numerous bars, cafés and cinemas.

This all came to an abrupt end in 1943 when the Potsdamer platz was left to ruins by allied bombing. After the second world war, the square located between the American, British and Russian sectors, became a no-man's land. It was completely flattened with the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 when the demolished buildings were pulled down.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall it was decided to rebuild the whole area, 480.000 square meter large. Construction started in 1994 and for many years Potsdamer Platz became the largest construction site in Europe. The square, together with several adjacent blocks were redeveloped under the supervision of the architects Wilmer and Sattler.

The project included the construction of several landmark towers, a shopping arcade, an entertainment center and residential buildings.

The first building completed was the Debis tower, designed by Renzo Piano. Other eyecatchers are the Sony Center, a complex designed by Helmut Jahn which includes an Imax theater and an office tower. Its neighbor, the brown-brick Kohlhof building featured an observation deck at a height of 93m.

The large new underground station, shopping arcade and entertainment center have brought new life to thePotsdamer Platz.
It still is more of a tourist attraction than a 'natural' square, but with the construction of more residential buildings in the neighborhood, the area has started to grow back to its former status: one of the liveliest squares in the country.