Resurrecting an Old Place with a New Purpose

Abstract

This thesis will be based on the environs of Petersburger Strasse, in East Berlin, Germany; the cluttered street and underutilized surroundings will be reinvented, by providing refurbished housing with mixed use ground floors all catering to the general public as well as the young entrepreneurs and artists of the neighborhood. Directly adjacent to House 68, my thesis project, a cultural center composed of both restored and new buildings will be located facing the nearby community park, providing galleries and flexible spaces for art performances, classes, public gatherings, all while reinforcing a place of importance and identity in the community. This thesis contends that an architectural expression, pulling from regional traditions, can heal a scarred environment; providing a sense of community while acting as a catalyst for future cultural traditions that can point the way to a more sustainable future.