Potsdamer Platz

As a multi-centred city, Berlin could be the main subject of conversation for hours. This multifaceted town allows an incredible number of movements to take place. Artistically as well as intellectually speaking. Berlin is the ideal place for young people to live since the underground life is very rich. This place is steeped in history and its diversity does not in any way detract from its interest and its strong personality.

As I have to focus on a specific subject, I would like to make you understand the new center of Berlin: Potsdamer Platz. If you ever come to Berlin, do not miss the opportunity to visit it. You can walk there from Brandenburger Tor or from Checkpoint Carlie since it is not very far from there. You can take any public transport that is very well-developed in Berlin.

Potsdamer Platz did not always be an important center location.
It used to be far more central in the 1920’s. At that time, this place was well-known as a European centre for entertainment and leisure with its posh hotels and its various cafés, among these, the legendary Café Josty.
The Second World War put an end to this hour of glory by damaging and destroying most of the place. Afterwards, Berlin was divided into four parts and shared by France, the United Kingdom, The USA and USSR. Potsdamer Platz, as the meeting point of the English, American and Soviet sectors, became the black market center of the city. With the construction of the Wall by the Soviets in 1961, it almost became a no-man’s-land because of a large border zone and the lack of interest of investors to build near the Wall. On the other hand, the fall of the same Wall in 1989 produced the opposite effect. It was not usual to have such a huge empty area right in the middle of a city and it created a unique opportunity for investors. DaimlerChrysler and Sony jumped at this chance and have now respectively built up 19 and 8 buildings for a total amount of three billion euro.

The Sony center is a masterpiece of high-tech architecture with its peaked roof in plexiglas. It is worth seeing (see photograph). In order to see the radical transformation of the place, just have a look at the following pictures:
http://www.geocities.com/isanders_2000/potsplatz.htm.

It is very easy to spend a whole afternoon at Potsdamer Platz since it may be seen as a city in the city with various shops, cafés, cinemas, museums and restaurants. You also can just sit under the dome for a time and enjoy the relaxing music while watching the sight of the colourful lights or the giant screen. Potsdamer Platz is also the place where the annual Berlin Film festival takes place so if you go there in February, do not be surprised to pass Brad Pitt or any other cinema star. Of course, it is difficult to share this pleasure, I live in Berlin, but you can only enjoy it as much as I have by visiting it. Writting about it just does not convey its splender. There are so many things to talk about, so much to see and discover so the only thing I can say is, just come and see for yourself! http://www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/bauen/baubilanz/en/potsdamer_platz.html