Buildings - Potsdamer Platz

Potsdamer Platz: A trading post outside Berlin's customs wall in the 17th century. In 1838, major growth began with the Potsdamer Bahnhof/Station. By late 19th century, Potsdamer Platz was a commercial and cultural center with vast hotels, department stores, theaters, dance halls, cafes, restaurants, bars and clubs. From 1920-30 it was the busiest square in Europe and home to the world’s largest department store and restaurant. Architectural competitions were held for its modernization. After World War II, in a divided Berlin, it was completely demolished and became a no-man's land between the East and the West. In the 1990s, after a reconstruction master plan by Renzo Piano, it again grew to be one of the liveliest squares in Europe with the Daimler Building (1999) and the Sony Center (2000).

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  Potsdamer Platz, aerial view
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  Daimler Benz building, architect: Richard Rogers
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  Sony Center
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  Potsdamer Platz, highrises by Helmuth Jahn (r) and Hans Kollhoff (l)

 

 

Section 2

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  Potsdamer Bahnhof/Station 1910s
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  Anhalter Bahnhof/Station
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  Anhalter Bahnhof/Station 1947
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  Anhalter Bahnhof/Station, comparison

 

 

Section 3

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  Potsdamer Platz, 1903 (photograph: Waldemar Titzenthaler)
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  Potsdamer Platz, before the addition of the traffic tower, 1920s
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  Potsdamer Platz with the traffic tower 1930
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  Potsdamer Platz, comparison


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  Potsdamer Platz at night, with Haus Vaterland, 1920s
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  Potsdamer Platz, Marcel Breuer, proposal for modernization, 1928
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  Potsdamer Platz, 1970s

 

Section 4

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  Wertheim Leipziger Strasse, 1910s
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  Tietz Leipziger Strasse, 1910s, exterior
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  Tietz Leipziger Strasse 1910s interior
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  Tietz Leipziger Strasse, comparison

 

 

Section 5

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  Martin-Gropius Bau

 

 

Section 5

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  Columbushaus, 1930
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  Columbushaus in the late 1940s
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  Columbushaus, 15 June 1953
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  Columbushaus, comparison