Course description
The German capital is still a site of struggle with postsocialist spaces embracing capitalist investment that continues transforming the metropolis. In this sense the urban space is understood as an organism echoing social and economic changes, a container of history, a palimpsest as described by Harvey: a composite landscape made up of different built forms superimposed upon each other with the passing of time (2000: 27). Buildings are thus symbols and repositories of memory (Ladd 1997: 4).
This research/ course project seeks to analyse and make sense of those physical interwoven layers visible in the built environment currently (re)shaping the city’s identity. People, buildings and places will help in portraying those multitemporal and conflicting narratives. Looking at changes and modifications on the urban architecture brings into dialogue social and aesthetic theories. For this the focus will be on spaces previously under the influence of the Soviet Union and currently undergoing massive renovation and thus modifying the composition of the communities and their interaction.
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