Cultural Commons and Urban Policy Among Real And Virtual Walls

1. where’s Berlin?
Chiara Donelli and Michele Trimarchi

2. Berlin’s (too?) many facesBerlin’s (too?) many faces
a creative and cosmopolitan magnet
a polycentric texture with multiple art options
high quality of life, fertile spaces for start-ups

3. the Wall was Berlin’s backbonethe Wall was Berlin’s backbone
what to do after its fall? what to keep or destroy?
how can urban planners re-capture the loss?

4. to fll an empty town can be chaotic and
contradictory among
flagship projects, rehabilitation plans, archistars

5. it's all about:
different urban forms,
best and worst practices,
public and private interests
and crucial issues to be faced
(mobility, housing, needs ...)
how to exit from this plural
block ?

6. maybe there is no Berlin

7. Whatever happened, Berlin is a city
wounded by its multiple virtual walls

8. an urban palimpsest based upon kieze
recent issues
low-income residents are being displaced from the centre
the socially hybrid texture risks to fade away
decisions are not shared with residents

9. we need a map, possiblywe need a map, possibly
many mapsmany maps
a sincere, smooth,a sincere, smooth,
and essential tooland essential tool
aimed ataimed at
understandingunderstanding
the citythe city’’s fragmentss fragments

10. was Tacheles a common?
game over-press start: no-man’s land + unpredictable views
informal participatory choices: the pros of cultural commons
open to the art milieu but reluctant to be widely hospitable

11. were the temporary contracts an answer?
easy rents with no strategy
potential commons
gentrifcation

12. Berlin is a city condemned forever
to becoming and never to being
Karl Scheffler, Berlin: Ein Stadtschicksal, 1910

13. a few guidelinesa few guidelines
urban development: framing, not planningurban development: framing, not planning
creativity is the most powerful starting pointcreativity is the most powerful starting point
chaos and diversity are assets, not obstacleschaos and diversity are assets, not obstacles
maps may diverge but patches needmaps may diverge but patches need
connectionsconnections
cultural commons enjoy cross-fertilisation:cultural commons enjoy cross-fertilisation:
their shared use enhances sustainabilitytheir shared use enhances sustainability

14. Berlin needs a strategic governmentBerlin needs a strategic government
its cultural commons can beits cultural commons can be
the most fertile seedthe most fertile seed