by Christa Nwokedi

Created on: November 21, 2009

An overview of the architecture of Berlin

Berlin's architecture is the mirror of its eventful history as the metropolis of an empire, and the city of the National Socialist regime. It carries the traces of a divided city, and it is the capital of a re-united country.

After a fifty-year break, Berlin is back - back as the capital of a reunified Germany and back as one of Europe's greatest cities. Berlin was a crippled pawn after World War II; sandwiched between East and West Germany; sited in the middle of East Germany; totally divided into two halves by a factual and metaphorical wall. The iconic events of November 1989 shattered the Berlin Wall into pieces - today the cold war and its prerequisites seem like a distant memory.

The city foundation is considered to be 1237. Berlin is mentioned in documents the first time in 1244. Only few buildings from medieval time are preserved: The Nikolai Church, the oldest parish church built in Romanesque style (1230); St. Marys Church, Berlin's second oldest parish church from the 13th century; The Franciscan Monastery Church (1260), bombed to pieces during World War II, and preserved as a ruin. The stunning red brick arches and columns, without roof, knave, tower, and spire are standing on a deserted plot of land, and serve as a memorial to the senselessness of war

Berlin's rise to power began after the 30 year war in 1648. Frederic William, known as the Great Elector of Brandenburg was a well educated man. He invited skilled immigrants, architects, painters, sculptors from the Netherlands to come to Berlin: 1671 the Jewish community was established, and 1685 French Protestant Huguenot refugees arrived, and their town quarters, Friedrichswerder and Dorotheenstadt, emerged between Town Palace and Tiergarten Park; the Oder-Spree channel from Hamburg to Wrotzlaw was built; the riding track between Town Place (Stadtschloss) and Tiergarten Park was ornamented with nut and linden trees - still the pride of Berlin's now famous Avenue "Unter den Linden."

1713 Frederic William I (named Soldier King) succeeded the Great Elector. Berlin became the capital of Prussia: Garden of pleasure - Lustgarten in front of the Town palace was changed into a parade ground; the Town Palace was altered into a garrison and administrative centre; State Bank buildings, Zeughaus Arsenal, Charlottenburg Palace emerged. More qualified artisans from the Netherlands and Protestant refugees from Salzburg arrived in Potsdam, and built the Dutch quarters.

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