Potsdamer Platz

The redesign of Potsdamer Platz is a chief example of the struggle to revive Berlin, Germany. This central and highly visible square has undergone a series of strategic revisions to restore its vitality and so meet place-enhancing objectives. Specifically, the book critically addresses the challenging task of restoring Potsdamer Platz from a state of disintegration to a condition worthy of a world-class city, although the questions remain unanswered as to how far the objectives have been achieved. The book enables readers to become familiar with the various stages of transformation, aided by the authors' hand-drawn illustration - a series of sketches accompanied by narrations focusing on how to critically read 'cities in transformation'. In sum, it presents an overview of the strategic process of urban regeneration. The findings from this theoretical exploration help reposition our understanding of the process of re-making a degraded city and the parallel fresh regeneration ideologies and methods.

Résumé
The redesign of Potsdamer Platz depicts the struggle to revive Berlin, Germany. This central and highly visible square has undergone a series of strategic revisions to restore its vitality and so to meet place-enhancing objectives. Specifically, the book critically addresses the challenging tasks of restoring Potsdamer Platz from a state of disintegration to a condition worthy of a world-class city, although the questions remain unanswered as to how far the objectives have been achieved. The book enables readers to become familiar with the various stages of transformation, aided by the authors' hand-drawn illustration a series of sketches accompanied by narrations focusing on how to critically read 'cities in transformation'. As a whole, it presents an overview of the strategic process of urban regeneration. The findings from this theoretical exploration help reposition our understanding of the process of re-making a 'city in decay and transition'; and introduces new strands of regeneration ideologies, politics and methods.

Contenu
Introduction.- Stage 1: ~ 1945 Flourishing.- Stage 2: 1945 ~ 1989 Hybernation.- Stage 3: 1989 ~ 2000 Awakening.- Stage 4: 2000 ~ Belonging.- Summary: History in the Making.- Epilogue: Reflections About Potsdamer Platz.