Snapshots of Potsdamer Strasse in September 2019
The Neue Nationalgalerie at the beginning of the renovation.
History of the "Potse"
Potsdamer Straße is one of Berlin's most important streets, known for its rich history and cultural diversity. Affectionately and somewhat flippantly called "Potse" by Berliners, it winds its way through the Schöneberg and Tiergarten districts towards Berlin-Mitte.
The following 11 stations show snapshots of some of the faces and stories of the many creative people of Potsdamer Strasse. They illustrate how this street is constantly changing while retaining its unique charm.
Station 1 - 19.09.2019 at 9:34
- Potsdamer Str. 50
New National Gallery
Mies van der Rohe's building, inaugurated in 1968, is an iconic and world-famous structure. It was built on a site in the centre of Berlin that had been bombed empty by the Second World War and stood alone on the border fence between East and West during the Cold War. It symbolises not only the reconstruction of Germany, but also the idea of democratic modernity, which was to be inscribed timelessly in this area. On 22 August 2021, the Neue Nationalgalerie reopened after extensive renovation work by star architect David Chipperfield. It presents works of art from the 20th and 21st centuries. The 20th century. Special exhibitions on contemporary art take place in the light-flooded upper glass hall, while extensive collections can be seen in the spacious basement.
Station 2 - Potsdamer Str. 75
Gaststätte Joseph-Roth-Diele
In 2002, Caroline Mentz, Ulrike Schuster and Dieter Funk founded this extraordinary place in the exact spot where Joseph Roth wrote the first lines of his novel "The Spider's Web". Joseph Roth lived next door, at Potsdamer Straße 73, and today there is a large newspaper display and Roth's novels for reading. Hearty German cuisine is served in an authentic interior from the 1920s - or so it seems. In reality, the furnishings made from plywood scraps are purely a construction of its founders. But it is actually much more: a genuine homage to the intellectual Joseph Roth.
Station 3 - Potsdamer Str. 81e
Esther Schipper
First the gallery was on Linienstrasse and then on Schöneberger Ufer, just round the corner from Potsdamer Strasse. The move to Mercator Höfe in 2017 was a good decision. The proximity to the other galleries and the first-class designer shops attract a good clientele. Take the lift up to the 3rd floor of the side building to Galerie Esther Schipper. The entrance via the small bridge directly from the lift into the gallery and the view over the courtyard is impressive. Esther Schipper looks after 41 international artists.
Station 4 - former Potsdamer Str. 86
Gebrüder Berger
Between all the new restaurants, trendy designer shops and high-calibre galleries, Potse 86 is a place where time has literally stood still. A place that tells of a time not yet dominated by digital tools. A shop where curtains still hang in front of the windows and a green sign above the till helps customers find their way around. "Oh yes, these are our time cards. The time clock is so old, they don't even make printer cartridges for it anymore. We still use it like this, it no longer prints but you can see the imprint from the punch."
In the meantime, the Berger brothers have had to relocate and are now close to their former location at Bismarckstraße 72.
Station 5 - Potsdamer Str. 91
OH, PANAMA
Oh how beautiful Panama is. The title of the classic Janosch children's book doesn't immediately spring to mind when you enter the elegant restaurant. The interior is so grown-up. It's a beautiful place. An impressive photorealistic picture of a barren desert landscape on the wall. Large cacti, emerald green velvet armchairs, bulbous vases. The furnishings have an exotic feel. Every object harmonises with each other without being too coordinated. The woven wooden chairs and the light-coloured wall panelling perfectly match the colour of the brick wall of the Wilhelminian-style building. This cannot be a coincidence, and yet it does not appear to have been artificially designed. The old factory buildings were once used as a printing works, but today it is a place to relax and linger. Panama is part of the Contemporary Food Lab alongside Katz Orange in Mitte. The lab develops food concepts for museums, for example, and suggests interior design ideas. A consultancy agency for catering businesses, so to speak. Panama's premises are part of the former Tagesspiegel building and were empty before the restaurant moved in. Ceilings were installed and floors laid so that the first upscale restaurant could open on Potsdamer Strasse. That was in 2016, and since then the clientele has been steadily increasing. The menu features regional products such as Hohenlohe beef and braised cucumbers, while the South American flair is complemented by jalapeños, ceviche and tacos. The Tiger Bar can now also be found on the premises.
Station 6 - Potsdamer Str. 91
mapmovingstory
The communications agency is located on the first floor of one of the oldest front buildings on Potsdamer Strasse, with a view of the famous Victoria Bar, where you can meet a few international artists.
Station 7 - Potsdamer Str. 93
Harb - Wines and delicatessen from Lebanon
"Our products are all of the highest quality. I wouldn't sell anything that I wouldn't eat myself," says Olli, Managing Director of the oriental import-export shop. The majority of the goods are sold directly to the catering and hotel trade, with customers including upmarket restaurants and hotels on Potsdamer Strasse. "We offer the fine Orient. You don't find that so often in Berlin." Olli's father used to be the head of the Lebanese consulate and then one of the first oriental food retailers in Germany. The family has good connections in Lebanon. It's great for the shop that the street is changing. Olli is vice-chairman of IG Potsdamerstrasse. The interest group campaigns on behalf of the residents and businesses in Potsdamer Strasse between Kleistpark and Landwehrkanal. For the entrepreneur, it is an advantage that more and more shoppers are travelling along Potsdamer Strasse. He and two friends have opened a lunchtime restaurant in the building next door. Maximum spices, minimalist furnishings. The concept works, every lunchtime the restaurant is packed with young people who work in one of the agencies or galleries around the corner.
Station 8 - Potsdamer Str. 97
Klosterfelde Edition
For more than a quarter of a century, Klosterfelde Edition has been one of the leading names in the production of limited editions and multiples. Through ongoing and close collaborations with some of the world's most renowned artists, including Matt Mullican, Lawrence Weiner and Jorinde Voigt, the gallery creates wittily playful artworks that are characteristic of each artist.
Klosterfelde Edition was founded in 1990 by Helga Maria Klosterfelde in Hamburg. Alfons Klosterfelde has been running Editions Galerie Klosterfelde here at Potsdamer Strasse 97 for 10 years, before which his brother Martin was here. The gallery used to be a stationery shop and the old cupboards date back to that time. The mirrored cupboard doors still conceal the shelves with old pens and their names.
Station 9 - Potsdamer Str. 98a
Galerie p98a
Erik Spiekermann (*1947) - typesetter, printer, art historian, type designer and specialist author - founded MetaDesign in 1979, which he developed into Germany's largest design studio until his departure in 2001. He runs the digital-analogue letterpress workshop galerie p98a on Potsdamer Strasse. Here there are many proof presses, a Simplex platen, countless typefaces made of wood and lead, a Ludlow type casting machine, a Risograph and a type gripper.
Station 10 - Potsdamer Str. 98
Andreas Murkudis
"ANDREAS MURKUDIS 98 represents a large selection of high-quality furniture brands and offers a fully furnished flat with a living room, bedroom, dining room and bathroom."
At 77 Potsdamer Strasse, the gallery-like space now houses either works of art, the finest fashion or a selection of handmade furniture and ceramics. At number 81, Murkudis offers high-quality designer fashion, accessories and beauty products in the former Tagesspiegel printing halls.
Station 11 - Potsdamer Str. 199
Unique Factory
"Eigen-Art is our claim. Faceless mass products from anonymous large series leave little room for objects with an independent character. Eigen-Art is our claim. Faceless mass-produced products from anonymous large-scale series leave little room for objects with an independent character. We want to set an example against this."
Fotograf
Dawin Meckel
The "Potse" story was captured by photographer Dawin Meckel. He is part of the independent Berlin agency OSTKREUZ, which is made up of 25 photographers and is the contact person for photo exhibitions, photo productions and the licensing of images.
In collaboration with interviewer Anna and creators Rosbeh and Matthias from mapmovingstory.