Mathematics of life

Train station from the past

Following an abandoned set of railway tracks in Görlitzer park, Dylan and I came across the Görlitzer Banhoff, the old railway terminus for the mainlink between the capital Cotbus in Brandenburg and Görlitz in Saxony. In 1951, the GDR closed the station to passenger trains. Today, the area and surroundings encompass a huge span of well used public space with an unbelievable laisser faire atmosphere. A superb place to relax, take a break and have Berlin's famous roast chicken dinner while watching the sun fall.

Damsel in distress

Welcome, please come in

From the outside in

Friedrichstraßenpassage, a building located on Oranienburger Straβe, once housed several small businesses, but was condemned in 1908. It was then taken over and converted into a department store from 1909-1914. During the 1930's, the building was occupied by Nazi party members and in later years, due to deterioration, it was slated to be demolished.

In 1990, two months after the fall of the Berlin wall, the Künstlerinitiative Tacheles, an artist group prevented the demolition and insisted on surveys which found the building to be in good shape. It's status as an official landmark was officially recognized in 1992.

The building known as Tachelas, Yiddish for "to talk turkey", quickly became the center of an energetic, rough-edged underground scene despite the appreciable amount of disagreement among the East and West German artists due to their conflicting views and concepts for the space.

The building today houses artists studios and a large courtyard behind the building holds several sculptures erected using rubble, debris, vehicles and other objects.

Some found objects and furniture also make up a relaxing cafe atmosphere.

In the meantime, however, Tacheles has become a central part of the art, activist, exhibition and communication scenes in Berlin.[Source]

If you are proficient with the German language, more information can be found at the Kunsthaus Tacheles website. If you are not, there it is still worth looking at for the historical photos of the building and the site.

Always look up

Watch your head

Click here for a larger view.

Radical Berlin

Berlin is a historical city possibly dating back to 1192, but also one that has undergone many radical changes in recent years, continuing into present day. For a brief but comprehensive history of the city, click here.