 Architecture and Berlin's Identity Crisis
Am reading The Ghosts of Berlin in anticipation of a trip there this coming summer. Great book for those interested in how the architecture of Berlin is the manifestation of the city's identity crisis. How does a city, its inhabitants, its government and the architects who design for it hide or reveal or inform their turbulent history and future hopes? This book provides an insightful view into the urban landscape of Berlin circa 1997: "German architecture and urban design cannot escape the crisis of German national identity...A building or monument might be able to display the wounds of Berlin's past, but it can do little to heal or even hide them."
 very interesting read
I really enjoyed reading this book. as a fan of berlin, and having visited it first during the cold war, and several times since, it brings an interesting perspective to this city which is always changing, always reinventing itself. not only is the author asking valid questions relating to the history, demolition and reconstruction of numerous berlin monuments but also adds the viewpoint of the berliner mentality in regards to historic validity, often a balance of imperial/nazi/cold war times weighed against current relevance. surely many of the questions and issues raised are asked any time a society is dealing with historic architecture; the fact that berlin has had such a colorful past is what makes this book a compelling read.
A fabulous book
This bok shows how great and brilliant is the glorious Berlin. You can understand everything about this city and about the modern world.
An amazing book, no doubt!
Interested in Berlin, architecture/urban design, or German history??
'The Ghosts of Berlin' was a great overview of the urban history of Berlin. The main argument of the author is that German history is apparent in the urban landscape of Berlin. The book was easy to understand and had a lot of relevant photos and maps to show Berlin throughout the ages. A turnoff about this book for me was that Ladd was repetitive on some points and really drove home his opinions on the many roles the Berlin Wall served (a whole chapter doesnt seem like much on such an important subject, but most of the chapter seemed to repeat and restate the same information). However, in general the book provided a great start for researching the complex history of architecture, city planning, and urban spaces in Berlin. I chose to read this book as research for an architecture project I am designing in Berlin & it proved to be a very good decision. It is especially helpful if you have been to the city and have seen first hand some of the spaces he describes. I would recommend it to anyone with interest in Berlin, architecture, history, or urban design.
Makes Me Want To Visit Berlin!
I read The Ghosts of Berlin for a college course. When Americans say "this place has such a rich history," it brings a chuckle from me and is reinforced by books such as this.
The book focuses on the last 125 years or so of Berlin's extremely diverse and chaotic past. Ladd writes in a very detailed, yet concise manner. Berlin has had virtually every type of government known to man rule over it and an entire chapter is devoted to the most vital eras in the city's history; namely, the Imperial City from the late 19th century until the end of WWI, the Weimar republic in the '20s, Nazi Germany from 1933-1945, the divided city during the Cold War (with an entire separate chapter dedicated to the the Berlin Wall), and the capital of a reunified Germany. The focus is as much on the changing architectural styles as well as the social and political outlooks of the day. There is much symbolism in the buildings Ladd writes about and we get a great interpretation of what they mean. Ladd illustrates his work with some nice black and white photos, so we do not have to rely on his descriptions alone.
While this book isn't quite a tour book reagarding which restaurants to visit or tourist attractions to avoid, it is a great book to learn about one of the most prominent European cities. So why only four stars instead of five? Well, I did have a deadline to meet and had to rush through this book in about 2 days. Maybe I didn't appreciate as much as I should have.
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