Arch+ 241

The connection between identity and economy has so far been given too little attention in the Berlin discourse. This issue of Arch+ reveals that the Berlin neo-historicism, the discussion about the facade, the critical reconstruction and later the discourse on the creative city, in addition to the identity-political goals after the reunification, were instrumental in asserting a city economy based on privatization. In this process, history and creativity became marketing tools for the real estate industry in the global competition for locations. The effects of this reactionary projection put Berlin under tension today in terms of social space.

Issue based on the exhibition “1989–2019: Politik des Raums im Neuen Berlin” that Arch+ curated at the Neuer Berliner Kunstverein (n.b.k.).