By Kate Connolly, The Observer UK
Posted on October 8, 2007
It's not, is it? Clint Eastwood downing a beer in the Helmut Newton Bar, John Cusack cycling along a cobbled street, Matt Damon strolling through a courtyard of fashion boutiques drawing on a cigarette? Nearly two decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the cultural life of the city has suddenly exploded again and is propelling it on its way to becoming the new New York.
Hollywood stars are rapidly discovering the once divided city, lured by its sizzling creativity and raw charm. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are just the latest to have bought a home -- a loft apartment in the trendy district of Mitte in the former communist East Berlin. Tom Cruise is considering the more sedate lakeside area of Wannsee.
Their arrival and that of other celebrities in love with Berlin's grittiness, its disrespect for authority, the lack of paparazzi, even its lax smoking laws, is part of a wider trend -- creative Americans are discovering Berlin.The city is increasingly said to have the edge over New York as an international centre of art and creativity that many say America's cultural capital started to lose 20 years ago, when they began scrubbing the graffiti from the subways."Berlin is like New York City in the 1980s," proclaimed the New York Times.
"Rents are cheap, graffiti is everywhere and the air crackles with a creativity that comes only from a city in transition."New York artists have been moving here in droves, lured by low rents and an 'anything goes' atmosphere. According to Damaso Reyes of the cultural magazine Krax: 'Gone are the days when up-and-coming painters such as Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg could rent a huge loft in Manhattan for just a few hundred dollars a month.'Naturally the art dealers have followed the artists.
A year ago Robert Goff opened a branch of his New York gallery Goff + Rosenthal, citing Berlin's 'energy as a city in which artists can actually afford to live'.The creative atmosphere has snowballed, with more and more artists drawn in. David Krepfle has swapped a loft under the Manhattan Bridge for a leafy street in east Berlin. The move has enabled him to concentrate on his bold paintings rather than on worrying about the bills. Those who have left the US because of the Bush administration's foreign policy see Berlin as a land of exile.Long-term residents of the city who cite high unemployment, empty coffers and smelly drains cannot understand the hype.
But glamour is not what lures the "Amis," as Berliners refer to Americans, rather the lack of it. The makeshift nightclubs in railway stations, lofts and warehouses are an antidote to the slickness of Manhattan or LA.It took Berlin a long time to recognise the value in its creative talent and the extent to which it drives the city whose mayor refers to it as “poor but sexy.”
Some 114,000 people are employed in the creative industry, a rise of 50 per cent in a decade, and Berlin is home to a tenth of all Germany's creative professionals, many of whom filled gaps left by traditional industries.Neither has it taken long for the Berlin buzz to seep through to Hollywood. Studio Babelsberg in Potsdam, which had its heyday in the 1920s, has had admirable success in recent years in drawing in big-name producers attracted not just by government subsidies and an efficiency that enables them to produce to budget, but by Berlin's coolness.Several major productions are currently shooting in Babelsberg, including Tom Cruise's controversial Valkyrie, directed by Bryan Singer, about the July 1944 plot to kill Hitler, while ex-wife Nicole Kidman has just arrived to start filming the adaptation of Bernhard Schlink's novel, The Reader.
"It used to be that producers came to us, but now it's the other way round," a member of a Babelsberg investment team says.The love appears to be mutual. Not since the 1930s, when film directors fled Nazi Germany to find refuge in the US, have Germans been so much in demand in Hollywood. Names of the moment include Marco Kreuzpaintner, Christian Alvart, Sandra Nettelbeck and Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, creator of the Stasi drama The Lives of OthersGerman gossip magazines, which until a few years ago had little choice but to concentrate on home-grown celebrities, now have a field day with news of who's in town. Jennifer Lopez was spotted in the riverside warehouse nightclub Spindler and Klatt, Norman Mailer was observed -- but not hassled- wandering through the streets, and Robert De Niro was seen eating schnitzel in the elegant Borchardt restaurant.
Pitt and Jolie favour the swish Swiss restaurant Nola's in a converted public convenience in Mitte, while Willem Dafoe is drawn togrittier haunts like Markthalle in rebellious Kreuzberg and Jude Law likes to woo his new flame, 26-year-old model Susan Hoecke, at Shiro i Shiro.British artists are also getting in on the picture. Helping to shape Berlin's creative landscape is the architect David Chipperfield. Berlin is waiting with bated breath for his reworking of the city's historic Museum Island, a World Heritage site, which, cultural chiefs say, will rival the Louvre. The vision is that Chipperfield's glass and steel colonnade-style construction will turn Berlin into nothing less than the "new Paris.
source: http://www.alternet.org/story/64641/
Montag, 8. Oktober 2007
Donnerstag, 4. Oktober 2007
Why Berlin?
Berlin of late has become one of the world’s most exciting capital cities. Forget Paris, New York or London – Berlin is now attracting people from far and wide! The relaxed co-existence of diverse lifestyles, the openness allows newcomers to easily fit in.
Everyone’s welcome here to add his own part to the fabric of this fine town. It’s friendly, safe and easy to get around. Whether for investment or to take up residence
– Berlin is the right place to own property.
Just a few reasons . . .
- Very low living costs & high standard of living
- Excellent public transport system
- One of the world’s safest cities
- Major world art city
- International and tolerant inhabitants
- Relaxed road traffic
- Exciting nightlife
- Many direct flights
- Rated lowest property price of European capitals
- Greenest European capital
Dienstag, 2. Oktober 2007
Berlin´s Neighborhood Developments by Area - MAP
Berlin's "Social Development Status" by area (Entwicklungsindikator Soziale Stadtentwicklung)Berlin is a huge city, and if you're not familiar with it, it's not always easy to judge what a certain area's "character" might be like. Viewed from the streets, some districts can look quite attractive, but this isn't always a reflection of the social structure behind the fassades. The city government has just released a "Social Development Status Atlas" (Entwicklungsindikator Soziale Stadtentwicklung, pictured right) which provides an easy-to-understand overview of where's hot, and where's not quite so hot
The map colours represent the following status levels:
sehr niedrig (red): very low status
niedrig (orange): low status
mittel (lavender): medium status
hoch / sehr hoch (green): high / very high status
(Grey represent non-residential areas, while non-built up areas such as parkland and forest are white).
The status levels are based on a combination of "social status" and "social dynamic", calculated on the basis of social statistics (income, rent levels, employment situation etc.). Understandably the outer suburbs are mainly green, while the "problem districts" of southern Reinickendorf, Moabit, Wedding, northern Neukölln and parts of Kreuzberg are red.
The inclusion of a "social dynamic" factor in the calculations means, interestingly, that the orange areas are undergoing a positive development from a low level. This is particularly true of southeastern Kreuzberg, which was red on last year's map.
More detailed information is available from the city website here (German only).
Montag, 24. September 2007
Lively, Laid-Back Berlin
Germany's capital offers modern architecture, design, and great food—at bargain prices
Ever since Germans from both sides danced on the Berlin Wall in 1989, ending 40 years of communist rule in the East, Germany has toiled to transform a scarred enclave into a world-class capital. Although Berlin's makeover is far from complete, the city has become one of Europe's most vibrant cultural centers.
Even if business doesn't take you there, it's worth a side trip from London or any city on the Continent. Famous for its museums and world-class music, Berlin now boasts eye-catching modern architecture, a thriving contemporary art scene, a boom in design and concept stores, and serious global gastronomy.
It's also a bargain: Luxury hotels are among the cheapest in Europe, and an ice cream cone that costs $5 in London is $1 here. As Mayor Klaus Wowereit says: "Berlin is poor, but it's sexy."The city hums with life yet is not frenetic, despite a population of 3.4 million. Traffic is tame, and residents are decidedly unharried. Walk into any café and people are more likely to be reading philosophy and fiction than stock reports. "Berlin is about the good life. The city does not move fast. There's not a lot of pressure," says Nicola Bramigk, founder of online travel guide Smart Travelling.
Choosing which facet of Berlin to explore first is the hard part. For a quick overview of the historic center, take a one-hour boat ride ($14) down the river Spree past museum island, home of the Pergamon, the Bode, and the Old National Gallery. If you have time for only one of the city's 153 museums, a good bet is the Pergamon, which houses Babylon's stunning 47-foot-high Ishtar gate, constructed in 575 B.C.The refurbished government quarter is the best place to see 21st century Berlin.
British architect Norman Foster remodeled the house of Parliament, or Bundestag, in the '90s, adding a striking glass dome over the plenum—a visual symbol of reunited Germany's commitment to transparency and democracy. Other government buildings echo the glass-and-light theme, making the area stunning to view at night.
UNSPOILED LAKES, TOO
The Mitte District is a focal point of Berlin's creative spirit. Contemporary art galleries, designer ateliers, eclectic concept stores, and cafés line Auguststrasse and Linienstrasse. You can also immerse yourself in film subculture, dive into the Cold War past at the museum of the Stasi (East Germany's secret police), or wander into the many enticing inner courtyards full of cafés, shops, and exhibits.A surprising aspect of Berlin is its proximity to a belt of unspoiled lakes and outdoor activity.
Schlachtensee ("see" means lake) is a 30-minute ride by train or car from the city center. A ring of lush green pine trees surrounds the water, and willows bent over the shore reflect on the surface. Stroll around the lake, rent a boat, take a dip if the weather is warm enough, or enjoy the view from the terrace at the Café Fischerhütte am Schlactensee.In Berlin a five-star hotel is half the price of those in London and Paris, so book a room at the Mandala hotel at Potsdamer Platz at weekend rates as low as $250 a night. The breakfast buffet—a spread of meats, cheeses, pastries, jams, and fresh salmon that looked like an artist's creation—was the most perfect I've had in 20 years of European travel. At night, the same room becomes one of Berlin's best restaurants, Facil.
Another gem is Rocco Forte's Hotel de Roma, with its monumental façade and entryway, red-and-black décor, and massive furnishings. The spa is wonderful. Terraces offer panoramic views from the rooms, which are often $300 a night on weekends.Borchardt's is the hip address for dinner, with its blend of French and Mediterranean cuisine (dinner for two, $130). The Art Deco interior, with its high ceilings, mosaics, and massive columns create the ambiance of a Parisian brasserie.
Café Einstein on Kurfürstenstrasse is quintessential Berlin: Bring a book and snuggle up in the corner with a glass of wine or a schnitzel. Vau and Margaux are Berlin's two gastronomic temples, each awarded a Michelin star. Italian restaurant Bocca di Bacco is a favorite of celebrities during the Berlin Film Festival.Off the beaten track is Oki on Oderbergerstrasse in Prenzlauer Berg, a tree-lined residential zone. Oki marries Japanese and northern German cuisine with Spätlase rieslings. But the wait can be long since owner-chef Otto Pfeiffer rustles up all the food alone in the kitchen.
Berlin is easy to get to by train or air. Its centrally located, modern glass-and-steel train station by architect Meinhard von Gerkan is Europe's largest. Low-cost fares on Air Berlin and easyJet abound, and flights from most European cities are only an hour into Tegel International Airport, an uncrowded gateway that is a breeze to escape from quickly after landing. That accessibility is a plus because one visit just scratches the surface of this vibrant city.
AUGUST 8, 2006 Design By Jude Stewart
source: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_39/b4051068.htm
Ever since Germans from both sides danced on the Berlin Wall in 1989, ending 40 years of communist rule in the East, Germany has toiled to transform a scarred enclave into a world-class capital. Although Berlin's makeover is far from complete, the city has become one of Europe's most vibrant cultural centers.
Even if business doesn't take you there, it's worth a side trip from London or any city on the Continent. Famous for its museums and world-class music, Berlin now boasts eye-catching modern architecture, a thriving contemporary art scene, a boom in design and concept stores, and serious global gastronomy.
It's also a bargain: Luxury hotels are among the cheapest in Europe, and an ice cream cone that costs $5 in London is $1 here. As Mayor Klaus Wowereit says: "Berlin is poor, but it's sexy."The city hums with life yet is not frenetic, despite a population of 3.4 million. Traffic is tame, and residents are decidedly unharried. Walk into any café and people are more likely to be reading philosophy and fiction than stock reports. "Berlin is about the good life. The city does not move fast. There's not a lot of pressure," says Nicola Bramigk, founder of online travel guide Smart Travelling.
Choosing which facet of Berlin to explore first is the hard part. For a quick overview of the historic center, take a one-hour boat ride ($14) down the river Spree past museum island, home of the Pergamon, the Bode, and the Old National Gallery. If you have time for only one of the city's 153 museums, a good bet is the Pergamon, which houses Babylon's stunning 47-foot-high Ishtar gate, constructed in 575 B.C.The refurbished government quarter is the best place to see 21st century Berlin.
British architect Norman Foster remodeled the house of Parliament, or Bundestag, in the '90s, adding a striking glass dome over the plenum—a visual symbol of reunited Germany's commitment to transparency and democracy. Other government buildings echo the glass-and-light theme, making the area stunning to view at night.
UNSPOILED LAKES, TOO
The Mitte District is a focal point of Berlin's creative spirit. Contemporary art galleries, designer ateliers, eclectic concept stores, and cafés line Auguststrasse and Linienstrasse. You can also immerse yourself in film subculture, dive into the Cold War past at the museum of the Stasi (East Germany's secret police), or wander into the many enticing inner courtyards full of cafés, shops, and exhibits.A surprising aspect of Berlin is its proximity to a belt of unspoiled lakes and outdoor activity.
Schlachtensee ("see" means lake) is a 30-minute ride by train or car from the city center. A ring of lush green pine trees surrounds the water, and willows bent over the shore reflect on the surface. Stroll around the lake, rent a boat, take a dip if the weather is warm enough, or enjoy the view from the terrace at the Café Fischerhütte am Schlactensee.In Berlin a five-star hotel is half the price of those in London and Paris, so book a room at the Mandala hotel at Potsdamer Platz at weekend rates as low as $250 a night. The breakfast buffet—a spread of meats, cheeses, pastries, jams, and fresh salmon that looked like an artist's creation—was the most perfect I've had in 20 years of European travel. At night, the same room becomes one of Berlin's best restaurants, Facil.
Another gem is Rocco Forte's Hotel de Roma, with its monumental façade and entryway, red-and-black décor, and massive furnishings. The spa is wonderful. Terraces offer panoramic views from the rooms, which are often $300 a night on weekends.Borchardt's is the hip address for dinner, with its blend of French and Mediterranean cuisine (dinner for two, $130). The Art Deco interior, with its high ceilings, mosaics, and massive columns create the ambiance of a Parisian brasserie.
Café Einstein on Kurfürstenstrasse is quintessential Berlin: Bring a book and snuggle up in the corner with a glass of wine or a schnitzel. Vau and Margaux are Berlin's two gastronomic temples, each awarded a Michelin star. Italian restaurant Bocca di Bacco is a favorite of celebrities during the Berlin Film Festival.Off the beaten track is Oki on Oderbergerstrasse in Prenzlauer Berg, a tree-lined residential zone. Oki marries Japanese and northern German cuisine with Spätlase rieslings. But the wait can be long since owner-chef Otto Pfeiffer rustles up all the food alone in the kitchen.
Berlin is easy to get to by train or air. Its centrally located, modern glass-and-steel train station by architect Meinhard von Gerkan is Europe's largest. Low-cost fares on Air Berlin and easyJet abound, and flights from most European cities are only an hour into Tegel International Airport, an uncrowded gateway that is a breeze to escape from quickly after landing. That accessibility is a plus because one visit just scratches the surface of this vibrant city.
AUGUST 8, 2006 Design By Jude Stewart
source: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_39/b4051068.htm
Donnerstag, 20. September 2007
Ballymore invests €155 million on Berlin property
Ballymore, the property development and investment group, announced today that it has purchased the Kudamm Karree, approximately 93,000 square metres (1 million square feet) of mixed-use real estate on Kurfürstendamm in the centre of Berlin. The vendor is Fortress Capital and the consideration is €155 million.
The Kudamm Karree comprises retail, office, restaurant, residential, theatre and car park space on the most important shopping street in the German capital. The Karee, which covers approximately 2 hectares (4.9 acres), is a landmark site. Ballymore plans a programme of refurbishment, renovation and redevelopment for the properties.
Sean Mulryan, Chairman and Chief Executive of Ballymore, said:
Ballymore is one of Europe’s largest property developers and investors. It’s most significant interests are in the UK, Ireland and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. It currently has 58 major projects under construction or in planning. The total built areas of its projects is over 4 million square metres (43 million square feet). It is a privately-owned business with principal offices in London and Dublin.
The Kudamm Karree comprises retail, office, restaurant, residential, theatre and car park space on the most important shopping street in the German capital. The Karee, which covers approximately 2 hectares (4.9 acres), is a landmark site. Ballymore plans a programme of refurbishment, renovation and redevelopment for the properties.
Sean Mulryan, Chairman and Chief Executive of Ballymore, said:
“This is a stunning location in the very heart of one of the great cities of the world. We plan to further develop and enhance the Kudamm Karee to make it an appealing destination for Berliners and visitors alike. This demonstrates our global focus on large scale mixed use developments in prime locations.”
The world-famous Kurfürstendamm, known to Berliners simply as "Ku'damm," is Berlin's most popular shopping street and promenade.
The world-famous Kurfürstendamm, known to Berliners simply as "Ku'damm," is Berlin's most popular shopping street and promenade.
Ballymore is one of Europe’s largest property developers and investors. It’s most significant interests are in the UK, Ireland and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. It currently has 58 major projects under construction or in planning. The total built areas of its projects is over 4 million square metres (43 million square feet). It is a privately-owned business with principal offices in London and Dublin.
Mittwoch, 19. September 2007
Upper Eastside Berlin : Luxus-Quartier an der Friedrichstraße
Bisher ging es an der Friedrichstraße Ecke Unter den Linden fast nur in die Tiefe.
Bisher ging es an der Friedrichstraße Ecke Unter den Linden fast nur in die Tiefe. Nun soll es auch in die Höhe gehen. Nach monatelangen Abriss- und Schachtarbeiten wird heute der Grundstein für die Neubebauung des 6000 Quadratmeter großen Eckgrundstücks gelegt. An Berlins prominentester Kreuzung will die Münchener Meag AG ein Wohn- und Geschäftshaus der Extraklasse errichten. Mit Bezug auf den New Yorker Nobel-Stadtteil Upper Eastside wird das 200 Millionen Euro teure Ensemble mit dem Namen "Upper Eastside Berlin" international vermarktet.
Gleich drei namhafte Architekturbüros hat die Meag - eine Tochter des Versicherungsriesen Münchener Rück und der Ergo-Versicherungsgruppe - für das Prestigeprojekt engagiert: Das Büro Gerkan, Marg und Partner, das in Berlin unter anderem den Hauptbahnhof konzipierte, ist für die Ausführungsplanung zuständig. Die Büros von Romano Burelli (Venedig) sowie von Petra und Paul Kahlfeldt (Berlin) wurden mit der Gestaltung von zwei Abschnitten der Außenfassade beauftragt. Bereits Ende 2008 soll das achtgeschossige Gebäudeensemble fertiggestellt sein. Während die unteren zwei Geschosse dann Platz für exklusive Geschäfte bieten werden, sind laut Meag die oberen Etagen für Büros und Wohnungen "der gehobenen Klasse" reserviert. Gastronomische Einrichtungen, die die Nachfolge des im Zweiten Weltkrieg zerstörten legendären Cafés Victoria antreten könnten, sind bislang nicht vorgesehen.
Wegen seiner Kompaktheit ist der Neubau durchaus umstritten. Sorgt er doch unter anderem dafür, dass die Friedrichstraße in diesem Bereich von vier auf zwei Spuren verkleinert wird. Der Senat sieht das Projekt jedoch als wichtigen Beitrag zur Wiederherstellung historischer Stadtstrukturen an.
Quelle: http://www.morgenpost.de/printarchiv/berlin/article219416/Upper_Eastside_Berlin_Luxus_Quartier_an_der_Friedrichstrasse.html
Freitag, 7. September 2007
Eurocastle Sells Berlin Property for 155 Million Euros.
ST PETER PORT, Guernsey, September 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Eurocastle Investment Limited (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EUI1 and Euronext Amsterdam: ECT) today announced that it has agreed to sell the Kudamm Karree building in Berlin which it acquired earlier this year as part of the Mars portfolio. The property is mixed-use retail and office complex totaling circa 63,000 sqm.
The property is a redevelopment project and was part of Eurocastle's non-core portfolio. The gross sale price is EUR155 million. The transaction will realize a gain (net of all costs) of approximately EUR23 million, or ...
(Read the rest of the article at HighBeam Research)
The property is a redevelopment project and was part of Eurocastle's non-core portfolio. The gross sale price is EUR155 million. The transaction will realize a gain (net of all costs) of approximately EUR23 million, or ...
(Read the rest of the article at HighBeam Research)
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