Hansaviertel

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Hansaviertel
Quarter of Berlin
Panoramic view
Hansaviertel
Coordinates: 52°31′00″N 13°20′20″E / 52.51667°N 13.33889°E / 52.51667; 13.33889Coordinates: 52°31′00″N 13°20′20″E / 52.51667°N 13.33889°E / 52.51667; 13.33889
Country Germany
State Berlin
City Berlin
Borough Mitte
Founded 1762
Area
 • Total 0.53 km2 (0.20 sq mi)
Population (2009-06-30)
 • Total 5,764
 • Density 11,000/km2 (28,000/sq mi)
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes (nr. 0103) 10555, 10557
Vehicle registration B

The Hansaviertel is a small locality (the smallest one among the 95 Berliner Ortsteile) between Großer Tiergarten park and the Spree river within the central Mitte borough of Berlin. It was almost completely destroyed during World War II, but was rebuilt from 1957 to 1961 as a housing estate project by international master architects like Alvar Aalto, Egon Eiermann, Walter Gropius, Oscar Niemeyer, Sep Ruf etc., called Interbau. The whole ensemble, including two churches (St. Ansgar and Kaiser-Friedrich-Gedächtniskirche), is now protected as a historic monument.

History

The quarter received its name for its streets named after Hansa cities, with the Hansaplatz in the centre. This square contains a small shopping arcade, a library and the Grips-Theater. The Hansaplatz subway station was built in 1957, though the U9 line did not open before 1961. Some Gründerzeit buildings remained north of the Stadtbahn railway. The Altonaer Straße, named after Altona, leads to the Victory Column. Schloss Bellevue, the residence of the German President is nearby.

Hansaplatz

At 6, Flotowstrasse, you can find the Buddy Bear designed by the German painter, graphic artist and sculptor Otmar Alt

Right beside the U-bahn train station is Hansaplatz square. Now a non-discernible traffic junction, this was an active plaza before the war. Led by Kolleg X students from the Bauhaus in Dessau, there is an active movement to reclaim this Plaza as a community space and share it with the cars and bicycles that currently dominate.

External links

Media related to Berlin-Hansaviertel at Wikimedia Commons

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