Architecture, Politics, and Identity in Divided Berlin (Culture Politics & the Built Environment)

On August 13, 1961, under the cover of darkness, East German authorities sealed the border between East and West Berlin using a hastily constructed barbed wire fence. Over the next twenty-eight years of the Cold War, the Berlin Wall grew to become an ever-present physical and psychological divider in this capital city and a powerful symbol of Cold War tensions. Similarly, stark polarities arose in nearly every aspect of public and private life, including the built environment. In Architecture, Politics, and Identity in Divided Berlin Emily Pugh provides an original comparative analysis of selected works of architecture and urban planning in both halves of Berlin during the Wall era, revealing the importance of these structures to the formation of political, cultural, and social identities. Pugh uncovers the roles played by organizations such as the Foundation for Prussian Cultural Heritage and the Building Academy in conveying the political narrative of their respective states through constructed spaces. She also provides an overview of earlier notable architectural works, to show the precursors for design aesthetics in Berlin at large, and considers projects in the post-Wall period, to demonstrate the ongoing effects of the Cold War. Overall, Pugh offers a compelling case study of a divided city poised between powerful contending political and ideological forces, and she highlights the effort expended by each side to influence public opinion in Europe and around the World through the manipulation of the built environment. On August 13, 1961, Under The Cover Of Darkness, East German Authorities Sealed The Border Between East And West Berlin Using A Hastily Constructed Barbed Wire Fence. Over The Next Twenty-eight Years, The Berlin Wall Served As An Ever-present And Seemingly Permanent Physical And Psychological Divider In This Capital City, And Between East And West During The Cold War. Similarly, Stark Polarities Arose In Nearly Every Aspect Of Public And Private Life, Perhaps Nowhere More Apparent Than In The Built Environment. In Architecture, Politics, And Identity In Divided Berlin, Emily Pugh Provides An Original Comparative Analysis Of Selected Works Of Architecture And Urban Planning In East And West Berlin During The 'wall Era,' To Reveal The Importance Of These Structures To The Formation Of Political, Cultural, And Social Identities.^ Pugh Uncovers The Roles Played By Organizations Such As The Foundation For Prussian Cultural Heritage In West Germany And The East German Building Academy In Conveying The Preferred Political Narrative Of Their Respective States Through Constructed Spaces. She Also Provides An Overview Of Architectural Works Prior To The Wall Era, To Show The Precursors For Design Aesthetics In Berlin At Large, And Also Considers Projects In The Post-wall Period, To Demonstrate The Ongoing Effects Of The Cold War. Pugh Examines Representations Of Architectural Works In Exhibits, Film, Journals, Magazines, Newspapers, And Other Media, And Discusses The Effectiveness Of Planners' Attempts To 'win The Hearts And Minds' Of The Public. Ideas Of Home, Belonging, Community, And Nationalism Were Common Underlying Themes On Both Sides Of The Wall, And Instrumental To The Construction Of Cultural And Physical Landscapes.^ Overall, Architecture, Politics, And Identity In Divided Berlin Offers A Compelling Case Study Of A Divided City Poised At The Precipice Between The World's Most Dominant Political And Ideological Forces, And The Effort Expended By Each Side To Sway The Tide Of Public Opinion Through The Built Environment-- Introduction: Divided Capital, Dividing Capital -- Modern Capital, Divided Capital : Berlin Before The Wall -- A Capital Without A Country : Shaping West Berlin's Image In The Early Cold War -- The Unbridled Buildup Of Socialism : Defining And Critiquing Heimat-gdr -- The Dreamed-of Gdr : Public Space, Private Space, And National Identity In The Honecker Era -- Capital Of The Counterculture : West Berlin And The Changing Divides Of The Cold War West -- Back To The Center : Restoring West Berlin's Image And Identity -- Collapsing Borders : Housing, Berlin's 750th Anniversary, And The End Of The Gdr -- Conclusion: Constructing The Capital Of The Berlin Republic -- Appendix: Governing Entities And Nomenclature, 1949-1989. Emily Pugh. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.

On August 13, 1961, under the cover of darkness, East German authorities sealed the border between East and West Berlin using a hastily constructed barbed wire fence. Over the next twenty-eight years of the Cold War, the Berlin Wall grew to become an ever-present physical and psychological divider in this capital city and a powerful symbol of Cold War tensions. Similarly, stark polarities arose in nearly every aspect of public and private life, including the built environment.In Architecture, Politics, and Identity in Divided Berlin Emily Pugh provides an original comparative analysis of selected works of architecture and urban planning in both halves of Berlin during the Wall era, revealing the importance of these structures to the formation of political, cultural, and social identities. Pugh uncovers the roles played by organizations such as the Foundation for Prussian Cultural Heritage and the Building Academy in conveying the political narrative of their respective states through constructed spaces. She also provides an overview of earlier notable architectural works, to show the precursors for design aesthetics in Berlin at large, and considers projects in the post-Wall period, to demonstrate the ongoing effects of the Cold War.Overall, Pugh offers a compelling case study of a divided city poised between powerful contending political and ideological forces, and she highlights the effort expended by each side to influence public opinion in Europe and around the World through the manipulation of the built environment.

Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 List of Acronyms 12 Introduction: Divided Capital, Dividing Capital 18 Chapter 1. Modern Capital, Divided Capital: Berlin before the Wall 36 Chapter 2. A Capital without a Country: Shaping West Berlin’s Image in the Early Cold War 79 Chapter 3. The Unbridled Buildup of Socialism: Defining and Critiquing Heimat-GDR 123 Chapter 4. The Dreamed-of GDR: Public Space, Private Space, and National Identity in the Honecker Era 172 Chapter 5. Capital of the Counterculture: West Berlin and the Changing Divides of the Cold War West 217 Chapter 6. Back to the Center: Restoring West Berlin’s Image and Identity 258 Chapter 7. Collapsing Borders: Housing, Berlin’s 750th Anniversary, and the End of the GDR 300 Conclusion: Constructing the Capital of the Berlin Republic 346 Appendix: Governing Entities and Nomenclature, 1949–1989 358 Notes 364 Bibliography 428 Index 452