Mr Gorbachev,

tear down this wall

Angela Leong
M13608
Background
Franz Schulz, mayor of the eastern Berlin district
Friedrichshain, confirmed rumours that a section of the
Berlin Wall would be demolished to facilitate
construction of a block of luxury flats.

About 300 protestors turned up at the Wall, forcing
workers to abandon demolition.


Thousands of demonstrators turned up, including 6000
on Sunday.
Feb 26
(Tue)
Mar 1
(Fri)
Mar 2
(Sat)
Mar 3
(Sun)
Background
Segment in question is the East Side Gallery,
the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin
Wall
Slated removal of 22 metres (i.e. 19 slabs,
each 4 feet) of the Wall, by developer Living
Bauhaus
Sections would be relocated to a riverside
park behind the East Side Gallery



Background
Living Levels
14 storey, 63 m high
36 private flats
2,750 10,000/m
2

Brommybrucke
Linked with Muhlenstrae
Connect Kreuzberg and
Friedrichshain for cyclists and
pedestrians
Background
Mr. Maik Uwe Hinkel of Living Bauhaus has agreed to
cease demolition until a meeting with the city council
and other relevant players on March 18.
To date, more than 74 000 people have signed a
petition at www.change.org/eastsidegallery.

Legacy left by older generation who fought for
their rights
- East Side Gallery is under monument protection
- Historically important artwork
Enduring symbol for younger generation
- Identify with suffering of parents and grandparents
- Icon of communism, of a divided nation
- Reminder of a painful past so future leaders do not
err
As a mark of respect to the dead, developments
should not be built on the death strip.
R
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Historical Significance
History is ingrained into culture.
- As a heritage site, the Berlin Wall is something
Germans, and in particular Berliners, can identify
with
- Questions the worth of the German/Berlin culture
East Side Gallery is a world-renowned
open air gallery.
- Culturally significant artwork
- ~106 murals from ~60 international artists worldwie
- Artists were not informed of the removal of their
work
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Preservation of Culture
Recently restored for more than 2
million
East Side Gallery is the second biggest
tourist attract in Berlin.
- 1000 visitors a day, 800k to 1 mil annually
- 10,000 people walk along the death strip every day
Golden Goose scenario
- Bulk of revenue from condominium will go to the
developer, not the city
- Economic loss in the long term from loss of tourism
R
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Economically Unwise
R
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f
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Move on lest one becomes quagmired in
history
- Japan vs Germany
The worth of the Berlin Wall/East Side
Gallery as a historical/cultural symbol?
- Inglorious chapter of Germanys past
- Art on East Side was added after the fall of the Wall
- Is there a need for a physical monument?
If so what does it show about the value Germans
ascribe to history?
Let Go of History
R
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f
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Wall was traditionally a symbol of
communism.
- Germans went from championing its fall to
advocating its preservation.
Wall is being demolished to reconstruct a
footbridge destroyed during WW2.
Inherent Hypocrisy
R
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f
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Redevelop and revitalise Berlin
- First step in the district governments plan to
redevelop the death strip
- Promote riverside living a trait of global cities
Economic revitalisation
- Stimulate economy of region
- Aid in alleviating Euro debt crisis

Gentrification
R
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f
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Many parts of the original Berlin Wall
have already been demolished and/or
relocated all around the world.
What makes this any different?
Only a short section will be removed
Removed segments will not be destroyed but instead
relocated to within a stones throw away from the East
Side Gallery


Berlin Wall Today
History is not standing in way of
development in this case more a
matter of poor planning
Embrace history, ugly or otherwise,
because it offers us lessons in either case
Urban renewal can occur in tandem with
preservation of history
Is a historical monument the same after
you translocate a part of it?

M
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S
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Do Not Demolish
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Illustrates changing symbolism of the
Berlin Wall
- No longer seen as a symbol of communism
- Peoples perception of history can, and will, evolve.
Highlights what the Wall means to
Berliners, when stacked up against
development and commercialisation.
- Will decide future policies in the gentrification of the
city
History is not set in stone
S
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In 2008, a 50-metre section of the Wall was
removed to provide access to a boat landing area
for the O
2
World, a multipurpose indoor arena.
Berlin has long stood as an island of low rents
and abundant space, making it home to a thriving
counterculture unable to persist in more
expensive international cities.
Wall Street Journal
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O2 was built arguably for the public,
while the luxury flats cater to only a
privileged minority.
Real controversy: City government is
allowing private real estate development
on the death strip and in a public
riverside park
What is the real protest?
S
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Privatisation of land that is part of a
peoples shared history
How should spaces and structures with
historical/cultural significance be used?
Underlying issues
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Different historical and socioeconomic
settings
- Young nation with less polarising and controversial
pieces of history
- Land scarcity
- Development for the country not corporations
- Governments attitude towards preserving heritage
sites
In the context of Singapore
Mayor Wowereit has proposed a
compromise: removed segments will be
returned to the wall after construction,
and existing O
2
gap widened.
Mr. Hinkel will share a driveway with an
anonymous Israeli investor.
Only temporary solutions
S
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Updates
Consult and notify the public before
reconstruction of national monument
Stricter, clearer guidelines and
organisation structures
Riverside living and gentrification need
not be driven by privatisation of land
- Alfresco dining, riverside recreational places, nature
spaces for the public
- People-driven, rather than profit-driven approach

S
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Singapore as a Model
The strong reactions over [] the Railway
Line and Bukit Brown suggest that
Singaporeans have a growing need for
visible and palpable connections to a
shared past.
A society that places no visible value on continuity will
create future generations who are adrift on market forces
rather than one anchored by a shared nationhood to
country and fellow countrymen.
- Singapore: Home or hotel?
The Straits Times, March 4 2013

White Paper
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Lessons for Singapore
References
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324178904578338390335160404.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/05/world/europe/protesters-want-last-of-berlin-wall-to-stand.html?_r=0
http://www.independent.ie/world-news/protest-at-berlin-wall-29106507.html
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324662404578334120573753126.html
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iDJ9q60o-
KhmE0sQedU7yqnW44tQ?docId=68104b36ee0740828e7ee17acd6e64f6
http://www.jsonline.com/business/national/removal-of-berlin-wall-section-put-on-
holdc3046c55145448c982fbb66793a0b778-194788351.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21629543
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/1257699/1/.html
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2013/03/03/pauls-berlin-wall-protest.html
http://www.thelocal.de/society/20130305-48323.html#.UTycs9Z0y8c
http://www.thelocal.de/society/20130226-48197.html#.UTyqrdZ0y8c
http://www.ms-versenken.org/
http://www.change.org/de/Petitionen/herr-wowereit-east-side-gallery-retten-keine-luxuswohnbebauung-auf-
dem-ehemaligen-todesstreifen
http://www.bostonglobe.com/editorials/2013/03/13/the-remnants-berlin-wall-should-
preserved/i1LIomfiCzzdBOzV5pawTO/story.html
http://www.thereporteronline.com/article/20130312/OPINION03/130319839/rescuing-remnants-of-the-hated-
berlin-wall#full_story
http://land8.com/profiles/blogs/a-vision-for-the-berlin-wall
http://www.cntraveler.com/daily-traveler/2013/03/berlin-wall-protests-east-side-gallery-removal
http://www.planetizen.com/node/58381
http://www.exberliner.com/blogs/the-blog/seymour-gris-deathstrip-living/


Thank you :)
Q & A