Urban Design II

One of the things I miss most about Berlin is its urban design. It is such a beautiful yet efficient city. All the space is used economically, and they really pay attention to the details to make everything pleasing to the eye and incorporate it into whatever it's a part of. For example, the architecture of the Holocaust and Judisches (Jewish) Museum are as much a part of the museum and memorial as the displays within it.

The Holocaust Memorial. The blocks don't really symbolize anything, but between the rows, the paths roll up and down like hills. It's also really dark in there.

The inside of the Holocaust Museum. The rooms were all completely dark--really somber. In this one the white projections are historical documents like letters from the concentration camp prisoners. The translation was written on the side.

Jewish Museum. Really cool architecture. The entire building was designed as three crooked pathways originating from the entrance. One was the Axis of Death, which led to a completely pitch-black, sound-proof room with one window at the top of the room. The Axis of Continuity led to the actual museum on the history of Judaism and the effects of the Holocaust. I think the other was the Axis of Exile, which led to a garden. The metal glints you see at the bottom of this picture were flattened discs with faces on them.

And then there's the public transport system. It's just so well organized; at every stop, there's an electronic sign showing times until the next line arrives. (They're also timed to the second. I became so used to this that in Munich, when a bus was just 1-2 minutes late, I was completely flipping out and going, "Is the bus not running today?! What's going on?!" And I'm not even usually punctual myself. ) At signposts in tourist areas, the number of meters until the destination is displayed. Little things like that are so useful. They've clearly put a lot of thought into planning everything, and it shows. Other tiny things: the escalators start only when people step on them in some areas, doors on buses and trams only open if you press a button, the bike lanes are an extension of the sidewalk rather than on the side of the road...everything is optimized for the consumer.

I'm also an interior décor freak, which explains why I love IKEA so much. In Berlin, I've discovered a plethora of other brands like iittala and BoConcept. I would've bought everything in the shop if I had an infinitely expandable luggage and money at my disposal. Visit their websites for some of their super cool designs.

 In my next life, I totally want to become a product design major. Or urban design. Just insert ----- before design and I will do it.

Other really cool architectural designs from Berlin:

Sony Center at Potsdamer Platz. This hung over the entire open air plaza, which was full of cinemas, film mmuseums, and restaurants. On weekends at sunset this would glow purple, pink, and blue.

Reichstag, the Pariliament building.

The funnel goes through the glass and ends in the middle of the actual parliamentary room.

You can walk up around the glass funnel to the rooftop.