Berlin
July 19, 2007
Berlin's Approach to Recycling: Why Not in NYC?
When you're walking around Berlin, you can't help but notice the clusters of large recycling bins that dot the city. It got us wondering why New York doesn't do something similar. It would certainly be simpler and, we'd think, more effective than the current confusing curb-side system. Anyone know the reason?
July 13, 2007
Brownstoner in Berlin: Part 3
In the space of about five blocks from our hotel in Mitte, we came across these four developments. (And there were others.) Part of what's driving the development in Berlin, as we understand of it, is the lack of apartments that can be bought since so many have the equivalent of rent-controlled tenants. Building new apartments is the surest way to create liquid housing stock.
Brownstoner in Berlin: Part 1 [Brownstoner]
July 12, 2007
Brownstoner in Berlin: Part 2
The first thing that struck us as we walked around Mitte yesterday in Berlin was the amount of graffiti. From what we could tell, the buildings with graffiti tend to be the ones with squatters, like the one on the jump. Of course, the squatter buildings are among the oldest and most beautiful, albeit in a rundown way, that we saw.
Brownstoner in Berlin: Part 1 [Brownstoner]
July 11, 2007
Brownstoner in Berlin: Part 1
We landed in Berlin this morning at 8 a.m. and, since we couldn't check into our hotel until noon, went straight to our friends' apartment in Mitte off Prenzlauer Allee. It's in a traditional six-story stucco-style building with wide floor planks and beautiful plaster ceiling moldings. The place has six large rooms off a central hallway with ten-foot ceilings for a total of, we'd guess, about 1,200 square feet. The rent? 675 euros. We'd appreciate recommendations for neighborhoods for us to explore over the next couple of days. Ideas? GMAP