cIarity of thc criod whcn onc worId was not cnough and thc rcvoIutionary zcaI that saturatcd sonc of its racticcs today offcr a uscfuI raIIyingoint against a dcoIiticiscd, narkctruIcd cuIturc. Within LarcIy two dccadcs of its cnd, thc CoIdWars association with csionagc, LctrayaI, Lastard diIonacy, saLotagc and roaganda now sccns arcanc and unthrcatcning cnough to rovidc an acccssiLIc tooILox of anccdotcs and artc facts. Thc rcccnt cxhiLition CoId War Modcrn, at Londons vsn Muscun, cxca vatcd a nunLcr of thcsc and rcvcaIcd how dcsign of doncstic oLjccts, vchicIcs, LuiId ings and citics was rccruitcd into thc roa ganda cffort of thc rst and coIdcst hasc of thc CoId War, Lctwccn iq and i;o. Thc onc disaointncnt of this show was its Lrackcting of thc criod so as to dcny any cvaI uation of thc i;os and 8os, Lut this was tcn crcdLy thc fact that sonc of its Lcttcrknown oLjccts wcrc on saIc in thc nuscuns gift sho. Thcsc roaganda itcns turncd con ncrciaI gadgcts arc oncc again Lcing ro duccd undcr Iiccncc as art of a growing Gcrnannarkct for ostalgia(a nostaIgia aLLrc viatcd to aIign it norc dircctIy with aII things cast, or Ost). In its fascination with consuncr cuIturc, thc vsn sho cvcn acarcd to Lc rccast in rcfcrcncc to anothcr CoId War noncnt thc sucrnarkct instaIIcd within thc i Ancrican NationaI ExhiLition in Moscow, fron which Sovict dignitarics and sinIc Muscovitcs ockctcd as nany sou vcnirs as thcy couIdcarry. Thc vsn cxhiLitionwas organiscdsothat artcfacts fron Loth sidcs of thc iron curtain acarcd as if in dia Ioguc with cach othcr, as roducts of a sharcd CoId War cuIturc. Thcsc cars, toys anddoncstic chcncra wcrc oftcnvcry siniIar, and nowrcgistcr norc as roducts of thcir rcscctivc dccadcs os, 6os, ;os than of any articuIar sidc of thc iron curtain. Indccd, to rcad thc castcrnand wcstcrnLIocs and thcir corrcsonding natcriaI ro duction as sinIy oositionaI nisscs a norc suLtIc roccss through which thc arns racc and its cuIturaI cchocs Lccanc cntan gIcdinsharcdrojccts of ninicry andconctition. Thc nctaoIiti caI conccts of frccdon and dcnocracy nay havc Lccn dcvoid of aII ncaning, Lut thc idcoIogicaI confrontation Lctwccn thcn invadcd aII asccts of Iifc. DcIoying houschoId roducts, architcc turc and city Ianning, thc CoId War was as nuch aLout how to Iivc as it was aLout howtokiII. A twofoId dynanic which can Lc traccd articuIarIy wcII in archi tccturc and urLan Ianning undcrins thc suLscqucnt ncItdown of this criod and thc turn towards cuIturaI artcfacts that noLiIiscd oIiticaI activisn against Sovict hcgcnony. Onthc onc hand, thc arns racc undcrtakcn with houschoId roducts, architccturc and city Ianning rovidcda cIcar andcontinu ous inuIsc for ncw dcsign. On thc othcr, thc Iogics of thc connunist rcvoIutionary socicty continuousIy chargcd thc oIiticaI ncaning of that racc. In thc cast, to cnforcc thc cxccutivc owcr of thc statc, thc city was Ianncd dynanicaIIy, Loth to ronotc nass ccIcLrations, statc rituaIs and raIIics, and to otinisc thc suLordination of thc rivatc cnvironncnt to thc statcs wiII. Yct at thc sanc tinc, whiIc thc city was agitatcd as a fornof ouIation controI in thc cL, cast crn city Ianning ironicaIIy rcccivcd furthcr inuIscs fronthc Ianning racticcs of thc FcdcraI RcuLIic. An arns racc itscIf can Lc dcncd as thc continuous incrcasc of niIitary owcr Ly two or norc statcs, Lascd uon thc convic tion that rctaining an advantagc in such owcr is thc onIy ncans of cnsuring nationaI sccurity or surcnacy. Thc rcIa tionshi Lctwccn ooncnts is ncvcr staLIc, Lut is an cvcrchanging systcn of associa tion dccidcd as nuch Ly thc quantity of wcaonry as Ly its caaLiIitics. Thc idca is to not just to kcc u with thc racc, it is to Lc aIways ahcad of thc othcr as soon as onc systcn faIIs Lchind, it has to rcIoad or rcdcsign. Thc Lricf advantagc of onc instantIy rcscnts a crisis for thc othcr. Any noncnt of LaIancc or arity has toLc innc diatcIy surasscd. So, aradoxicaIIy, as Iong as thc arns racc is running, as Iong as inrovcd wcaon systcns arc Lcing dcvcI ocd and roduccd, thc haicr and norc caccfuI cachsidc rcnains. Thc qucstionhcrc, howcvcr, is howa ar ticuIar congurationof sacc canignitc con tinuaI tcnsion and a statc of ncvcr rcsoIvcd conict. Architccturc, in sonc ways, aIways rcrcscnts conditions of conict in sacc, and undcrtakcs thc transfornation of thc LuiIt cnvironncnt as thc vcry tooI and conscqucncc of oIitics. TransIatcd into architccturc, thc concct of anarns racc sccns articuIarIy aggrcssivc a war aInost Lut what docs anarns racc witharchitccturc, withLricks and nor tar, Iook Iikc How can architccturaI catcgorics Iikc forn, sitc and function Lcconc nunitions dcsigncd to dctcr thc othcr sidc fron using its ownarscnaI of wcaons Thc niIitary arns racc of thc CoId War crcatcd a conIcx Iand scac of Lyroducts: nissiIc siIos, niIitary Lascs, atonic tcst cIds, nucIcar LonL shcItcrs, ctc. Most of this infrastructurc stood siIcnt andunuscdandsynLoIiscs nowonIy a tinc whcnLothsidcs ocratcd withina continuous dcfcncc condition. Intandcnwiththcsc hysicaI rcnnants, thcrc aIso cxistcd a araIIcI infrastructurc of tunncIs and voids, dug Lcncath city strccts. Thc nost infanous of thcsc was thc tunncI systcnconstructcd in iq as art of Ocration GoId a joint ocration Ly thc cin and thc British Sccrct Scrvicc dcsigncdtotaintothc IandIinc con nunications of thc Sovict arny hcadquartcrs nn riirs z cuIturaI convictions and anorhous idcoIogics canc togcthcr in a forn of gcsturc architccturc that rojcctcd its ncssagcs whcrc co Ic couIdnot go ovcr andacross thc WaII. Pcrhas onc of thc carIicst architccturaI nanocuvrcs in this urLanarns racc was thc Sovict War McnoriaI inBcrIins Ticrgartcn. UnvciIcdas carIy as NovcnLcr iq (LarcIy six nonths aftcr vr Day), it was thc rst of thrcc najor ncnoriaIs in thc city that conncno ratcd thc war dcad in this casc, thc 8o,ooo Sovict soIdicrs kiIIcd in thc BattIc of BcrIin. Dcsitc thc IitcraIisnand aLscncc of nctahor in thc hysicaI incarnation of thc statuc, it rcsonatcd with a signi cant nigration of idcas and natcriaI rcaIitics. Thc nonuncnt itscIf a Lronzc statuc conoscd of a Sovict soIdicr, ankcd Ly two Rcd Arny mizo artiIIcry guns and two isi tanks sct on to of a narLIc cdcstaI was unwittingIy constructcd out of thc rccycIcd rcnnants of two of thc nost anLitious dcnonstrations of totaIitarianisn. Thc narLIc had Lccn cut in ItaIy and dcIivcrcd to BcrIin as art of AILcrt Sccrs gargantuan Ncw Rcich ChanccIIcry rojcct, whiIc thc tanks wcrc vcry roLaLIy nanufacturcd using stccI fronnining divisions in thc UraIs, roduccd initiaIIy for thc construction (suLscqucntIy suscndcd) of StaIins PaIacc of thc Sovicts in Moscow. With thc rcsuIting ncnoriaI, thc iron curtain, art BoIshcvik, art Nazi, dcsccndcdintothc hcart of thc GcrnancaitaI. Thc rccisc Iocation of thc nonuncnt aIso crcatcd an intcrcst ing hysicaI rotuLcrancc in what wc convcntionaIIy undcrstand as thc swccing, cIcarIy dcncdIinc of thc BcrIinWaII. Positioncda fcw hundrcd nctrcs wcst of thc dividc that was to sIit thc city (on a sitc artIy dccidcd uon Ly AIIicd forccs), it canc to rcrcscnt a kind of cxtratcrritoriaI cncIavc, guardcdLy Sovict soIdicrs scnt out fronEast BcrIin. CcIcLrations cvcry ycar on 8 May, conncnorating vr Day with thc Iaying of a wrcath, had to Lc ninutcIy organiscd Ly thc cL inanintricatc chorcograhy of ccrcnony. But as thc ios unfoIdcd, and thc Lordcrs Lctwccn cast and wcst Gcrnany Lcgan to soIidify, thc nonuncnts Iocation in thc inncdiatc vicinity of thc Rcichstag was incrcasingIy sccn as a LIot on thc ncwIy cncrging idcoIogicaI Iandscac of Wcst BcrIin. This scnsc of castcrn intrusion, or inva sion cvcn, was nadc nanifcst in i;o whcn onc of thc nonuncnts Sovict guards was shot at an incidcnt that suLscqucntIy Icd to a ncutraI Britishforcc guarding thc ncnoriaI. Consistcnt withthc titfortat naturc of thc cnvcIoing arns racc, thc Sovicts had grascd thc owcr and inortancc of architccturaI scctacIc in thc inncdiatc aftcrnath of thc Sccond WorId War. Bcyond thc Lurcaucratic and institutionaI ncccssitics of urLan rcconstruction, thc rinary oLjcctivc for thcsc MoscowcontroIIcd govcrnncnt Lodics was thc construction of an idcaIiscd urLan suL jcct. This rhctoricaI anLitionwas to Lc rcaIiscd Ly instiIIing thc idca of thc ncw, thc innoccnt and thc rogrcssivc into uLIic racticcs andcvcryday haLits. Inordcr tocngravc thcsc idcaIs ontoa shattcrcd socicty, noraIIy and hysicaIIy ruincd, daiIy Iifc had to Lc rcorgan iscd so that socicty couId Lc infuscd with a ncwidcoIogy and as thc oIdonc noIongcr cxistcd a ncwidcntity. Thc idca of crnancnt rcvoIution, as it was Iatcr thcoriscd Ly Lcon Trotsky, was a fcaturc of thc BoIshcvik RcvoIution which thc Sovict Union sought to srcad across thc worId. Through it, thc rhythn of rcvoIutionary activity was dcsigncd to inIy a ronisc thc ronisc that thc ycarnings of a nythicaI coIIcctivc idcntity wouId Lc fuIIIcd. Whcn a fccIing of rcvoIution crvadcs cvcry cId of cuI turc, thc statc, andcvcrything whichit controIs, Lcconcs ina scnsc a rcaratory ncdiun for soncthing yct to conc. In thc casc of thc in BcrIin. Thc tunncI, which ran fron NcukoIIn in thc Ancrican Scctor to Trctow in thc Sovict Scctor, rcrcscntcd an cxcctionaI cnginccring chaIIcngc a qon assagc cxcavatcd 6n undcr thc worIds nost hcaviIy oIiccd Lordcr, intcrsccting with a tcIchonc caLIc Luricdq;cnLcIowstrcct IcvcI. WhiIc stiII inits Ianning stagcs, howcvcr, a noIc in British intcIIigcncc (thc douLIcagcnt Gcorgc BIakc) aIcrtcd thc Sovict authoritics, who dccidcd to Ict Ocration GoId continuc, sccing in it otcntiaI for disinfornation. Whcn this ran its coursc, ii nonths aftcr construction, Sovict and East Gcrnan soIdicrs Lrokc intothc castcrncndof thc tunncI, dccIaring it a Lrcach of thc norns of intcrnationaI Iaw anda gangstcr act. SatiaI gcsturcs Iikc thcsc wcrc not onIy rontcd Ly niIitary thinking or Ly aninvisiLIc andonnircscnt nccdfor rotcction, thcy aIsorcrcscntcda LattIc withthrccdincnsionaI forns anda sccic cId of rcfcrcnccs that is, in sonc scnsc, a LattIc fought Ly archi tccts. Susan BuckMorss, for cxanIc, has cxIorcd thcsc rcfcrcnccs fronan carIicr Sovict criod and suggcsts a conncction Lctwccn thc rcIcasc of thc rst King Kong novic in i and thc conctition for thc PaIacc of thc Sovicts a fcwnonths Iatcr, whcrc thc winning cntry fcaturcd a gigantic statuc of Lcnin on to of thc highcst LuiIding in thc worId. BuckMorsss oLviousIy IayfuI rcading has rcccivcd a norc dognatic, douLtfuI undcrtonc in ]canLouis Cohcns rcccnt study of thc dircct inucncc (not to say outright Iagiarisn) of Ancrican rcccdcnts on Sovict architccturc and dcsign. Othcrs havc anaIyscd how thc cjorativc dciction of thc Sovict BIoc hcIcd to sinIify thc conIcxitics of CoId War antagonisn and Itcr thcn into wcstcrn uLIic consciousncss. As a nunLcr of thcsc thcorists havc ointcd out, onc of thc nost fanous articiants in thc ccIIu Ioid roaganda war was AIfrcd Hitchcock. Frida Grafcs study Filmfarben, for cxanIc, dcscriLcs howthc dircctor had wantcd Torn Curtain, rcIcascd in i66, to Lc thc rst of his Ins to havc a rcaIistic sctting. This was to Lc achicvcd through a twofoId stratcgy: a Lcttcr quaIity of Instock and thc usc of rcaI, rathcr than sct, Iocations. In i66 thc CoId War was at its cak and thc sccond of thcsc oLjcctivcs rovcd inossiLIc to rcaIisc. Thc cL sinIy did not grant Ining rights to HoIIywoodroductions, so Hitchcock was forccdto rccrcatc it indoors. Undctcrrcd Ly this sctLack, hc rcnaincd dcscratc to nd thc right coIours with which to aint East Gcrnany. To gct thc dcsircdcffcct, his cincnatograhcr Iaccda scctrunof Lcigc Itcrs in front of thc cancra whiIc thc actors wcrc outttcd in a varicty of grcys. Extra rougc was cvcn sccicd for thc chccks of thc oIiccncn to givc thc vicwcr a fccIing of thc coId coning fron thc aIIid coIours. Hitchcock Iatcr wcnt so far as to doctor thc Gcrnan Agfa stock in an attcnt to achicvc thc watcrcoIour toncs hc wantcd, coIours that wcrc dcsigncd to sct thc nood of hostiIity and naIcvo Icncc that charactcriscdthc rcginc inwcstcrncycs. Morc than thcsc ouIar cuIturaI artcfacts and thc antoninc dciction of Sovict BIoc good and Lad in thc wcstcrn ncdia, what wiII Lc cxanincd hcrc is thc norc cxIicitIy architccturaI conict that took Iacc aIong thc Lordcr tcrritory Lctwccn thc FcdcraI RcuLIic of Gcrnany and thc Gcrnan Dcnocratic RcuLIic, whcrc CoIdWar antagonisnandLrutaIity was nost visiLIc. At thc ccntrc of this LattIc was thc dividcdcity of BcrIin. Hcrc, thc cuIturaI confronta tion was Iaycd out in rcnorscIcssIy conctitivc urLan Ianning an cast vcrsus wcst conict fought with avcnucs, housing cstatcs, uLIic LuiIdings and towcrs, cach standing as thc natcriaI cnLodi ncnt of thc ccononic night and idcoIogicaI strcngth of thcir rcscctivc sidc. This was city Ianning as roaganda. Through it, i May iq6 Looking wcst aIong Untcr dcn Lindcn Courtcsy Landcsarchiv BcrIin zz nn riirs Architectures Political Spectacles Revolutionary Reenactment and the Urban Arms Race in Cold War Berlin Ines Weizman zq nn riirs Gcrnan govcrnncnt to thc city. Thc conctition was artIy notivatcd Ly a dcsirc to cnLarrass thc cL, which for ycars had Lccn trying to roducc a nastcrIan for thc city ccntrc Lut had not cvcn nanagcd to scttIc on thc forn and styIc of its ccntraI towcr. AIrcady unhay, thc cL forLadc its architccts fron cntcring aftcr onc of its rooscd jurors was rcjcctcd Ly thc wcstcrn connittcc. But thc nain rovoca tion was stiII to conc: at a tinc whcn thc FcdcraI RcuLIic was using intcrnationaI diIonacy to chaIIcngc thc cxistcncc of a sccond Gcrnan statc, thc conctition Lricf sccicaIIy dircctcd cntrants not to cxcnt Iargc swaths of East BcrIin fron thcir Ians. WhiIc nany of thc rcsuIting suLnissions drcwon cxisting idcas and what thc dcsign crs kncwaLout BcrIins oIitics and urLan history, thc ction of BcrIin as thc ccntrc of a rcunicd Gcrnany, a worId nctrooIis, cncouragcd othcrs to roducc sonc of thcir nost radicaI urLan statcncnts. Anong thcsc, ccrtainEurocanarchitccts, roLaLIy Icss awarc of thcir rojccts oIiticaI ranications dcsigncd skyscracr fantasics aLIc to acconnodatc aInost haIf thc citys rcquircncnts for housing and ofcc stock. Thcsc gargan tuan structurcs which rangcd in sizc fron a singIc ;zontowcr (CastigIioni) to a grid of vc zzzn Cartcsian towcrs (Lc CorLusicr) wcrc not onIy grotcsqucIy taII Lut aIso dcnonstratcd a con Ictc disrcgardof cvcry ascct of urLanisninEast BcrIin. In rcsonsc, on ; OctoLcr i8, four nonths aftcr thc cnd of thc CaitaI BcrIin conctition, thc East BcrIin govcrnncnt Iaunchcd its own cxcIusivc idcas concti tion for thc rcorganisation of thc ccntrc of thc city. OnIy architccts fron sociaIist countrics wcrc invitcd. ]ust Iikc its wcstcrncountcrart, howcvcr, this conctition had IittIc hysicaI inact, IargcIy Lccausc of its organis crs sIowncss inaLsorLing Krushchcvs caIIs to rcfocus thc discussion to addrcss thc inncdiacy of thc housing crisis rathcr than any notion of anidcaI city siIhoucttc or anaroriatc nationaI styIc. BIindtothis Sovict incrativc, thc articiants trcadcd rccariousIy Lctwccn two nodcIs of architccturc that thcy Iatcr discovcrcd wcrc no Iongcr accctaLIc: thc StaIinist hcavy nationaI styIc and thc wcstcrn ocn city attcrn. Thc onIy radicaIIy ncwdcsignwas suLnittcdLy architcct Hcrnann HcnscInann, who rooscd a oon nccdIcIikc Towcr of SignaIs rathcr than thc ccntraI housc rcquircd Ly thc Lricf, and tocd this towcr with a satcIIitcIikc structurc whosc static orLit wouId hovcr crnancntIy ovcr thc urLan cnscnLIc. PrcdictaLIy, HcnscInanns dcsign was rcjcctcd Ly conctition ofciaIs and dcsitc uLIic cnthusiasna nodcI of his towcr was rcnovcd fronan acconanying cxhiLitionfcaturing aII of thc suLnissions. Things took a norc hostiIc turn on z May i8, onIy two days Lcforc thc cndof Khrushchcvs BcrIinUItinatun, whcnAxcI Sringcr Iaid thc corncrstonc for his ncwuLIishing housc. At thc tinc, oIiti cians (incIuding WiIIy Brandt, thcn Mayor of Wcst BcrIin and a good fricnd of Sringcr) suortcd thc rovocativc gcsturc of siting a quashcd Ly Sovict tanks and troos and thc dcath of at Icast iz ro tcstcrs, as constructionturncdtodcnoIitionwithina nattcr of hours. Thc workcrs thcnscIvcs, stiII houscd in tcnorary housing in thc IargcIy dcstroycd city, had cIcarIy fcIt thc disconncctionLctwccnthcir daiIy Iifc andthc rojcct thcy wcrc hcIing toLuiId. Contrary tocIains Ly statc roaganda, thc i,8oonIong StaIinaIIcc was not a workcrs aIacc. In rcaIity, thc workcrs had vcry IittIc chancc of inhaLiting it, as thc aartncnts wcrc IargcIy rcscrvcd for arty ofciaIs or othcr statc functionarics. Thcy aIso had to LuiId using traditionaI tcchniqucs Lorrowcd fron snaIIcr scaIc, Iuxurious doncstic con nissions using hcavy Lricks, ccranic tiIcs, handchiscIIcdornancn taI dctaiIs and cxcnsivc intcrior xturcs and ttings. Such contradic tions inthc vcry roccss of LuiIding whicharchitccts and oIiticians aIikc hcIcdtoacccntuatc togcthcr withthc ovcraII scnsc of oIiticaI discontcnt (with growing dcnands for frcc cIcctions) cvcntuaIIy fanncd thc StaIinaIIcc unrcst across BcrIin and othcr citics in East Gcrnany. Thus, a rojcct dcsigncdfor thc rccnactncnt of a rcvoIution ironicaIIy Lccanc thc vcry sitc of a countcrrcvoIution. WhiIc East BcrIin Iaunchcd niIitary attacks against its own rcLcIIing workcrs, in thc city wcst of thc BrandcnLurg Gatc thc annuaI May Day ccIcLrations that sanc ycar wcrc strangcIy nutcd. An archivaI inagc fron i shows a nass of coIc congrcgating in a wastcIand within thc Ticrgartcn, Iistcning intcntIy to sccchcs Ly IocaI oIiti cians and tradc unionists. Thc aarcnt assivity of thc crowd, ccric givcn its sizc, can Lc cxIaincd in art Ly a ruIing inoscd Ly occuying Ancrican forccs in thc inncdiatc ostwar criod. StiII not trusting thc Gcrnan sychc, irrcscctivc of a wcstcrn or castcrn aIIcgiancc, thcy rohiLitcd thc carrying of Lan ncrs or sIogans during uLIic gathcrings. Thc rcsuIt was an inani natc crowd, sct against a hugc vciIcd Lackdro that shicIdcd it fron associations rcsonating fronthc Sovict war ncnoriaI. Six ycars Iatcr, in i, Wcst BcrIins May Day ccIcLrations wcrc stiII Lcing hcIdoncxactIy thc sanc sot, dircctIy oositc thc Sovict ncnoriaI. Howcvcr, Ly this tinc, thc cvcnt was francd Icss Ly thc aLscncc of any Iandnark or signagc thanLy thc striking rcscncc of a ncw stccI structurc, dcsigncd Ly a rofcssor of architccturc fron thc Acadcny of Arts (rcortcdIy Hans Scharoun) which forncd Loth a Iatforn for thc scakcrs and a gigantic LiIILoard. Thc rca son for thc cxccssivc hcight and shac of this structurc onIy rcaIIy Lccanc aarcnt thc foIIowingnorning, whcnWcst BcrIinncwsa crs victoriousIy dcictcd its sIogan, BcrIin LIciLt frci, francd Ly thc guardcdorticos of thc adjaccnt Sovict nonuncnt. A nuch strongcr urLan Ianning initiativc against thc cast occurrcd in i; whcn thc FcdcraI RcuLIic and thc Wcst BcrIin Scnatc, suortcd Ly Icading BcrIinLusincss ncn, announccd thc CaitaI BcrIin architcc turaI conctitiontoronotc thc rcturnof thc Overleaf: Oskar Kokoschka, i66 Photograhcd on thc roof of thc Sringcr LuiIding Photo Svcn Sinon stood, howcvcr, had acquircd such oIiticaI signicancc that thc dccision was cvcntuaIIy takcn to rcLuiId it in stonc. With this rccon struction thc forncr StadtschIoss aIacc and its history wcrc syn LoIicaIIy Luricd, Lut a sirit of rcvoIutionary ccrcnoniaI zcaI wouId now Lc rcscnt thc whoIc ycar round. In hotograhs of thc tinc, thc triLuncs shar angIcs and stark whitcncss contrast strikingIy with thc surrounding grcyncss of thc dcstroycd city. Indccd, thc frcsh dcsign and coIour of thc triLunc wcrc sccicaIIy Ianncd to stand for thc futurc rosccts of thc ncw socicty. Howcvcr, othcr vicws of thc sanc sccnc aIso show how thc shac of thc aradc, which stiII Iackcd a LuiIt faLric to franc its cdgcs, had to Lc inro viscd with rows of oIiccncn standing in Iincs. Thc triLunc, and thc PaIacc of thc RcuLIic which rcIaccd it in i;6 to its cxact dincn sions and Iocation, show how oIiticaI scctacIc was actuaIIy inscriLcdintoLuiIt forninthc cL. Thcsc ains and rinciIcs couId not Lc rcaIiscd without thc fuII connitncnt of urLan Ianncrs to thc oIiticaI causc. At thc ccntrc of thcsc transfornations stood thc guidcIinc for urLan rcconstruction titIcd The Sixteen Principles of Urban Planning. PuLIishcd in io, it was strongIy dic tatcd Ly Sovict Ianning idcaIs. To nakc thcir oIiti caI invoIvcncnt cIcar, Ian ncrs wcrc caIIcd on to fuII thcir oIiticaI dutics, to nakc thcnscIvcs and thcir work rcrcscntativc of thc oIiticaI goaIs of thc coIc. In thc roccss, statcd thc Principles, thc Ianncr wouId Lcconc a statcsnan in thc highcst scnsc of thc word. In its rst scction, thc guidc idcnticd thrcc cononcnts of urLan Ianning: squarc, aradc strcct and towcr. Thcsc cIcncnts (which aIso diagran thrcc dincnsions insacc oint, horizontaI Iinc andvcrticaI Iinc) wcrc to san an authoritarian forcccId that wouId function as a oIiticaI sinc, vitaIising and conccntrating civic oIiticaI Iifc. For thc cL, cach of thc thrcc Ianning tyoIogics was to answcr a articuIar ncccssity of thc sociaIist city. Thc squarc was to rovidc a static gath cring Iacc, thc aradc strcct offcrcd thc sacc of ow, thc towcr a sacc of rcrcscntation. This kind of urLan chorcograhy nds its nost cffcctivc and vio Icnt nanifcstation in thc grand rojcct of BcrIins StaIinaIIcc, a nonu ncntaI sociaIist LouIcvardLuiIt Lctwccnizandi6otohousc work crs aartncnts, shos, rcstaurants, a hotcI and a cincna. Thc con struction of thc sitc, cnIoying thousands of workcrs, unwittingIy Iaycd a najor art inthc articuIationof inncr oIiticaI, ccononic and sociaI contradictions in East Gcrnany, whcn it Lccanc, on i; ]unc i, thc sctting for a fuIIycdgcd rcLcIIion against a conuIsory incrcasc in working hours and changcs to accctcd industriaI condi tions. Enragcd, LuiIdcrs on thc sitc thcn thc onIy cncrging architcc turaI rcrcscntation of thc ncw rcginc dcnonstratcd against thc connunist gov crnncnt, an urising that was vioIcntIy cL, thc nccd to ovcrconc history Lccanc an incrativc which thrcatcncd thc rcscnt. Sincc connunist idcoIogy had Lccn inoscd Ly thc Sovicts without thc rccursory rcvoIution, gcncrat ing an atnoshcrc of rcvoIutionary achicvcncnt Lccanc a kcy chaIIcngc in thc oIiticaI foundation of thc statc. Thc rcvoIution, in its various rcrcscntations and rituaIs, had to Lc incororatcd and rcrcscntcdas a civic cvcnt inthc uLIic saccs of various citics, as a way of cstaLIishing thc sanc dcgrcc of Icgitinacy as a rcginc that had dcvcIocd organicaIIy. Thc Ian was for thc BoIshcvik RcvoIution, which had itscIf Lccn shacd Ly thc oIiticaI Icgacy of thc Frcnch RcvoIution, to Lc rccnactcd as a kind of ninctic rcvoIu tion. Thc chorcograhy of nationaI ccrcnonics, with thcir novc ncnt of Lodics in sacc, functioncd as a sinuIation of this non cxistcnt rcvoIution. In BcrIin in iq6 thc rst May Day dcnonstrations nirrorcd thc oIiticaI scaration of Gcrnany, or norc rcciscIy thc scaration of thc sociaIist sL arty (which unitcd with thc connunist xL and sociaIist unity srL ar tics in thc Sovict Scctor, Lut rcnaincd aIonc in thc Wcst crn Scctor, having faiIcd to ncrgc with connunist grous). Thc rcsuIt was that, inthc wcst, thc sL caIIcdfor dcnonstrations to Lc hcId in front of thc Rcichstag, whiIc in thc cast, thc May Con nittcc of thc Sovict Scctor organiscd its rivaI dcnon stration in thc Lustgartcn, Lctwccn thc AItcs Muscun andthc StadtschIoss. Accon anying thc Sovict raIIy, ags and Lanncrs wcrc disIaycd aII ovcr thc city on aartncnt LuiIdings, uLIic institu tions and factorics, as nuch as thcy wcrc carricd, wavcd and worn Ly coIc on thc strcct. This rst ostwar ccrcnony, which was anIy fundcd Ly thc statc, and LroadIy suortcd Ly thc uLIic, was dcsigncd to rcrcscnt thc succcss of thc cdgIing Sovict cconony and to win thc hcarts and ninds of thc ouIation in thc wcst. Howcvcr, just onc ycar Iatcr, and thc Sovicts antiwcstcrn roa ganda had intcnsicd to such an cxtcnt that cnthusiasts fron thc wcst who canc to takc art in thc casts May Day ccIcLrations fcIt ostraciscd and rcjcctcd. Thc originaI dcnonstration in thc Lustgartcn, which had Lccn stationary, was Iatcr rccongurcd as a aradc inwhich thc uLIic (coning fronthc BrandcnLurg Gatc, as if joincd Ly wcstcrn synathiscrs) wouId narch Lcforc a tcnorary, Lut considcraLIy Iargcr Iatfornof Party ofciaIs. As strccts and LuiIdings grcw u aIong thc routc of thcsc carIy narchcs (ncticuIousIy dctaiIcd Ly dcnonstration Ians), thc Connunist Party and its urLan Ianncrs can Lc sccn to havc drawn thc LIucrint of thc ncw city fron thc footrints of its citizcns. And whcrc thcy found that thc cffcctivcncss and ncaning of thc roccs sion was disturLcd Ly cxisting LuiIdings, thcsc wcrc rcnovcd as was thc casc withthc StadtschIoss, sIatcdfor dcnoIition in io. Thc ocn sacc on which thc StadtschIoss triLunc Iatforn Above: i May i, PIatz dcr RcuLIik Opposite: i May i6i, MarxEngcIsPIatz Courtcsy Landcsarchiv BcrIin nn riirs z arovcd. Wcst BcrIinhadLccnIanninga ncwcL towcr of its own sincc i, Lut a conLination of IcgaI, nanciaI and oIiticaI oLsta cIcs had continuaIIy dcIaycd its construction. Whcn thc cL con Ictcdits iv towcr rst, ini6, it fcIt it hadwona grcat victory inthc LattIc of thc skyIinc, a scnsc of satisfaction nadc cvcn norc cnjoy aLIc Ly thc discovcry that HcnscInanns towcr aIso intcrfcrcd with connunications systcns at Wcst BcrIins TcncIhof airort. OfciaIs inthc cast of thc city dcarIy nccdcd this schadcnfrcudc, if onIy so as to rcsond to AxcI Sringcr. In i66 thc Gcrnan/ItaIian architccturaI aIIiancc of Bcga and Franzi (MiIan) and SoLotka and MuIIcr (BcrIin) had conIctcd thc istorcy highrisc for Sringcr on Kochstrassc. Instcadof its originaI squarc Ian, this ncwLuiIding was conccivcd as a taII rcctiIincar sIaL, a for naI shift that cncouragcd runours that Sringcr Ianncd to rojcct ncws sto rics onto thc cxtcrior waIIs of his uL Iishing housc soas tonakc thcnvisiLIc to East BcrIincrs onthc othcr sidc of thc WaII. AIthough Ians for what wouId havc Lccnthc worIds rst digitaI scrccn a thcn novcI concct, which wouId havc anticiatcd thc fashionaLIc scrccn facadc of ostnodcrnisn was ncvcr rcaIiscd, thc roaganda war ro cccdcd aacc. Thc LuiIding was cvcntu aIIy cIad with Lronzc rccctivc gIass, a novc dcsigncd to rojcct a scnsc of wcstcrnouIcncc intothc cast. Thc onIy disscntcrs wcrc Sringcrs cnIoyccs, whosc vicw ovcr thc WaII to East BcrIin wouId Lc forcvcr soiIcd Ly a goIdcn tint. For thc cast, howcvcr, thc rcscncc of hundrcds of writcrs and journaIists andthc uLiquitous aIIsccing cycs of thc worId hiddcn Lchind Sringcrs nir rorcd gIass acarcd to rcincarnatc thc ccnsorious gazc of thc Panoticon. By constantIy nonitoring thc WaII and rcccting its dystoian anorana Lack into East Gcrnan socicty, thc goIdcn Sringcr LuiIding succccdcd in cxcrcising a suLvcrsivc fornof rcssurc onthc cL. To cnhancc andccIcLratc thc Easts disconfort, whcnthc LuiIding was inauguratcd, Sringcr invitcd thc fanous Vicnncsc aintcr Oskar Kokoschka to takc u tcnorary rcsidcncc on thc roof of his LuiIding and aint thc vicw ovcr East BcrIin. For Sringcr, it was not cnough to caturc thc hunan crinc of thc ncighLouring rcginc as his journaI ists did, rathcr, hc wantcd to indict thc cast with thc sIowncss, intcn sity and assion of an artwork. Kokoschkas styIc of ainting, rcnowncdfor its cxrcssionistic vioIcncc, was wcII suitcdtothc task. In rough, angry, LIurry Iincs in a ainting titIcd Berlin August , hc dcictcd a narchof civiIianarncd forccs ccIcLrating thc construction androtcctionof thc WaII, against a IooningLackdroof watchtowcrs ina fragncntcd, dcscrtcdcity. Of coursc thc tcnsions of thc CoId War dcnandcd that thc cast rctaIiatc in kind. Fron thcn on LuiIdings ncar thc WaII wcrc dcsig natcdto Lc no Icss thanSringcrs i storcys, and siniIarIy had to fcaturc nirror gIass on aII facadcs. Thc statc aIso chosc to Iocatc its highrisc uLIishing housc ncxt to thc dividing Iinc Lctwccn East and Wcst, aIthough CoId War roagandists in thc cL , with a nandatc that sokc to thc coIIcctivc futurc of BcrIin, had voiccd thcir disIcas urc at thc schcnc, arguing that such a taII LuiIding wouId disturL air trafc. It was not untiI May i6o that thc East, in thc gurc of WaItcr UILricht, gcncraI sccrctary of thc SociaIist Unity Party, addrcsscd architccts crsonaIIy, dccIaring that thc cL was ncaring a criod of victorious sociaIisn that Icft no roon for any fccIings of scIfdouLt. Thc Ianning of highriscs aII ovcr thc wcstcrn haIf of thc city, hc insistcd, nust Lc inncdiatcIy nirrorcd with visuaI narkcrs of cvcn highcr quaIity, rcrcscnting thc workcrs and casants statc. Thc dcIay in cstaLIishing this rcsonsc nay wcII havc Lccn thc consc qucncc of tcchnoIogicaI and nanciaI shortconings, Lut was norc IikcIy a synton of thc oIiticaI insccuritics of cL ofciaIs and Ianncrs in dcaIing with thcir sucriors in Moscow. Khrushchcvs rcforns had aIrcady rcvcrscd Ianning doctrincs oncc and cL dccisionnakcrs now rcfcrrcd to wait for a norc staLIc oIiticaI cIinatc Lcforc connitting thcnscIvcs or thc ccntrc of thc caitaI tonajor idcoIogicaI nanifcstations inLricks andnortar. Thcsc rivaI architccturaI nanocu vrings wcrc inncdiatcIy ovcrshad owcd(and, at thc sanc tinc, cncrgiscd) in i6i with thc construction of thc BcrIin WaII. Thc WaII, in aII its nakcd aggrcssionandowcr, was unqucstion aLIy thc Liggcst gun in this arns racc, unaraIIcIcd in its cnLIcnatic rcaIisa tion of thc oIiticaI usc of architccturc. Its construction ronotcd yct anothcr hasc in thc idcoIogicaI LattIcground, inwhicharchitccturc scrvcdnot onIy as thc hysicaI fortication of two rivaI statcs Lut aIso as a synLoIic instru ncnt in an idcoIogicaI war. ArticuIatcd through it, thc vcrnacuIar of LuiIt fornoffcrcd a scanIcss continua tion of thc rhctoric roagatcd Ly thc Icadcrs of thc two sidcs, ro jccting thcir ncssagcs ovcr and across thc WaII via thc onIy ncdiun that couIdcxtcndaLovc its .6nhcight. As thc Sringcr LuiIdingwas stiII toLc conIctcd, inDcccnLcr i6 thc BcrIinscnatc fundcdthc construction of a Iargc scrccn, instaIIcd on thc roof of thc csw Housing Association LuiIding on Kochstrassc. SIogans Iikc Ein BcrIin and Wir sind aIIc cinc FaniIic countcrcd Sovict aninosity towards thc Wcst and cstaLIishcd a dircct Iinc of connunication withcitizcns inthc East. Yct thc nccd to rojcct uwards (ironicaIIy, rcinforcing thc unrcnitting horizontaIity of thc WaII) was aIso ronotcd on thc citys castcrn sidc. In i6q, aftcr Khrushchcv had ordcrcd thc razing of thc unnishcd construction sitc for thc PaIacc of thc Sovicts in Moscow (idcoIogicaI nonuncntaIity was now noraIIy rcdundant), thc cL govcrnncnt suddcnIy changcd its nind aLout HcnscInanns Towcr of SignaIs. PIanning crnission was grantcd and thc cIaLoratc cnginccring rcquircd for a iv towcr was structurc which had scrvcd as a gathcringoint for ccrcnoniaI narchcs sincc thc ios. In this crsatz grandstand, howcvcr, thc Iong LaIcony on thc wcstcrn sidc of thc aIacc was uscd as ticrcd scating onIy oncc, Lccausc thc rst niIitary aradc which asscd in front of it roduccd so nuch cxhaust snokc fron tanks and othcr hcavy niIi tary vchicIcs Party rcrcscntativcs found it inossiLIc to grcct thcir uLIic throughthc cnsuingfog. It was as if thc LuiIdingLccanc victin of its owntortuous and rotractcd concction. This was no Lad thing, though as a PaIacc of thc RcuLIic, what thc LuiIdingnccdcdwas not rcrcscntativc aradcs Lut a gcnuinc, Iivc uLIic. And untiI its cIo surc, it was indccd considcrcd to Lc such a uLIic forun, conLining cntcrtainncnt faciIitics and a ccrtain affordaLIc Iuxury. In thc autunn of i8, howcvcr, on thc cvc of thc qoth annivcrsary of thc cL, dcnonstrators sontancousIy gath crcd in front of thc aIacc, IoudIy dcnanding changc. Anticiating fur thcr dcnonstrations that wouId soon rcciitatc rcginc changc, thc LuiId ings synLoIic owcr as a aIacc of thc coIc and a oIiticaI forun canc to thc forc and crascd its forncr roIc as a oIiticiscd stagc. Thc i8 dcnonstra tions uItinatcIy norc signicant than thc urisings of i; ]unc i turncd thc whccI fuII circIc. Thc LIock in thc city whcrc hordcs of coIc annuaIIy rccnactcd a rcvoIutionary nythLccanc thc sitc of a countcrrcvo Iution. SinuIation ovcrtook rcaIity and hcIcd to ronotc a dynanic that rosc u fron thc ground to thrcatcn thc statc itscIf, as thc cLs conIcx oIiticisation of cvcryday Iifc ut into roduction thc vcry nightnarc scc nario it had aIways drcadcd. By of ciaIIy ronoting rcvoIutionary fcrvour in a oIiticaI and tcrritoriaI cnviron ncnt, Ly turning thc rcvoIutionary, rogrcssstriving ouIation into virtuaI risoncrs, thc cL hcIcd tocrcatc anunsustainaLIc aradox whichwouIdcvcntuaIIy dcstroy it. With thc rcginc that it synLoIiscd now gonc, thc coda to thc PaIacc of thc RcuLIic andthis CoIdWar arns racc is aIso onc of cra surc. FoIIowing thc dcnonstrations in i8, just rior to Gcrnan unicationinOctoLcr io, it was discovcrcd that thc intcrior of thc LuiIding was contaninatcd with asLcstos oIIutcd fron outsidc and within, thc cxtcrnaI fog of dicscIcnginc carLon nonoxidc nir rorcd an cvcn norc IcthaI intcrnaI carcinogcn. Thc conscqucncc of this contanination was a costIy roccss of disnantIing that wouId Iast for nuch of thc ncxt two dccadcs. To offsct this cxcnsc, how cvcr (and as a naI irony in thc continuing Icgacy of nyth and rccn actncnt), thc ,ooo tonncs of stccI that oncc hcId thc aIacc togcthcr havc Lccn soId and shicd to thc Unitcd AraL Eniratcs to Lc uscd in thc construction of soms i6ostorcy Burj DuLai towcr, thc totaIitarianisn of statc sociaIisn having found its naturaI host and acconanying nctonynic architcc turaI synLoI in thc totaIitarianisn of niddIccastcrnSharia caitaIisn. taIIcr tcncncnt LIocks, such as thosc on Lcizigcr Strassc, to cffcc tivcIy function as a sccond waII inhaLitcd Ly confornist arty ncn Lcrs and Lurcaucrats which wouId LIock thc inagcs coning fron thc wcst, or at Icast hidc thcir contcnt fron thc ncw statcs norc dis contcntcd rcsidcnts. In contrast to thc souIIcss ofcc LuiIdings of thc caitaIist city ccntrc, Lcizigcr Strassc was to Lc a uLIic huL whcrc housing and cuIturc cocxistcd for thc Lcnct of thc citizcn. Thc origi naI (i6) roosaIs for thc strcct had cnvisagcd a varicd scrics of highriscs, of which thc taIIcst wouId Lc Lctwccn zz and z storcys high. In i;o, thcsc roosaIs fcII victin to rcviscd Ianning guidc Iincs and an ccononic Ian which sccicd ncw construction ncth ods, using ancIs fron thc ws ;o scrics (WohnLauscric i;o). Thc conIctcd rojcct incIudcd a nunLcr of 8iq storcy LuiIdings and four zz storcy LIocks. AII incororatcd cuIturaI anduLIic functions onthc Iowcr oors and offcrcd attractivc Iiving conditions initiaIIy avaiIaLIc onIy to thc riviIcgcd. In sitc of thc rcIativc Iuxury cnjoycd Ly rcsidcnts aIong thc striof Iandthat ran adjaccnt to thc WaII, sonc of thcntook advantagc of thcir Iocation to cc thc country on scIfnadc hanggIidcrs. Escac storics notwithstanding, thc construction of Lcizigcr Strassc in thc carIy ;os rcrcscntcd an inncnsc urLan undcrtaking, thc sizc and inor tancc of which couId Lc conarcd onIy to thc construction of thc StaIinaIIcc in thc ios. Frccd fron thc dcLatc sur rounding Russian ncocIassicisn and a nationaI styIc, Lcizigcr Strassc aIso rcturncd architccturc to a forn of aLstractcd cIassicaI nodcrnisn, and with it cstaLIishcd thc siIhoucttc that has rcnaincd so charactcristic of Eastcrn BIoc Ianning as to Lcconc a kindof nodcI for a sociaIist vcrnacuIar. As thc ccntraI city within thc cLs ccntraIIyIanncd cconony, BcrIin continucd to cnjoy a riviIcgcd osition in tcrns of East Gcrnanys Ianning rojccts. What is intcr csting aLout thc Iast hasc of its architccturaI arnancnt, though, is that dcsitc thc fact that thc castcrn haIf of thc city couId Loast an inrcssivc skyIinc, fuII of highrisc LIocks, tcIcconnunication tow crs and othcr visuaI Iandnarks, thc ccntraI towcr, Iong ncant as its star attraction, was ncvcr actuaIIy rcaIiscd a dcath that was rcgis tcrcd, aroriatcIy cnough, in i; with thc construction of a Iong horizontaI Lox. CaIIcd thc PaIacc of thc RcuLIic, and ocncd in i;6 on MarxEngcIsPIatz, on thc cxact sanc sitc that oncc hcId thc BcrIin StadtschIoss, this scat of thc East Gcrnan arIiancnt was LuiIt, Iikc thc towcr LIocks it was dcsigncd to conctc with, Lcncath a fashion aLIc facadc of Lronzc nirror gIass. Instcad of conccntrating aII thc inortant statc and arty institutions in onc LuiIding, in Iinc with rcvious nodcIs, thc ncw aIacc was conccivcd as a nuItiurosc uLIic LuiIding that wouId aIso housc thc coIcs chanLcr and its nain nccting roon. Thc horizontaI oricntation of thc aIacc was dcsigncd to ccho Loth thc forn and thc function of thc tcnorary grandstand Overleaf: Vicwovcr thc forncr East BcrIin, zoo Takcn fronthc AxcISringcr VcrIag BuiIding Arnin Linkc i May i Above and opposite: TriLunc PIatz dcr RcuLIik Courtcsy Landcsarchiv BcrIin nn riirs z z8 nn riirs