A look back at developments, an assessment of the current situation, and a look forward to future challenges and opportunities.
From the introduction to the 156th volume of disP (2004):
“In a few months it will be 15 years since that unforgettable day in fall of 1989. 15 years of major changes for Berlin. Not only Berlin, but especially there. The wall is gone and Berlin is the capital of unified Germany. The Bonn Republic became the Berlin Republic and the former West German island joined the East German capital to become a Berlin metropolis extending into Brandenburg. Since May 1, 2004, the city has been the gateway for new EU countries from the East and the middle of Central Europe. 15 years later. How long will the euphoria of 1989 continue?”
disP is an interdisciplinary journal for space development, city planning, urban design, agricultural and environmental planning, landscape architecture, regional and environmental economics and traffic design. Its 156th volume was devoted to the 15th anniversary of the fall of the Wall—a good basis as we prepare for the 20th.
“Like at the beginning of every new development, the fall of the Wall in November 1989 brought with it new chances. Today, many emphasize the mistakes made—so much was wrong, so many chances were missed, so much could have been done better. This edition of disP wants to look back at the developments, take stock of the current situation in Berlin, and look forward to Berlin’s future challenges and chances.”
Guardini Stiftung 