Lifestyle Changes and the Palace of the Republic

As most of you know I'm now done with my Bachelors degree in Urban Planning. Considering that I might find myself with more time to contemplate issues that I find interesting I'll probably also have more time to update this website. So, here's the first post-MSU posting.

The East German 'Palace of the Republic' is a controversial landmark located on East Berlin's Museum Island. The deterorating building is a hairsbreadth from demolition at the hands of those who believe the concrete, steel, and glass building is wildly out of place in a "proper" European capital.

I couldn't disagree more. While the building is an eyesore to those seeking classical elegance, it is an undeniable part of Berlin's striking history. If the facility were cleaned up a bit and landscaped to conform to its surroundings (a herculean task in such a spatially dysfunctional city) it could become a new kind of landmark - one that honestly portrays an important part of the late 20th century.

According to the NY Times, "The Palace is ugliest when approached from the west along Unter der Linden." - thus the entire building was an intentional political statement at a critical junction of East-West politics. Read the rest of the NY Times article, here.