Parks on Potsdamer Platz
Parks Teaching History
Can a patch of grass located on the former no man's land between East and West Berlin have something to say about the history of Berlin? Yes, of course! Amsterdam architecture firm DS Landschaptsarchitecten have designed two parks for Potsdamer Platz that are green oases in the middle of the city and history lessons rolled into one: the Tilla Durieux and Henriette-Herz Parks.
Tilla-Durieux-Park, not far from the Filmhaus am Potsdamer Platz, is named after a popular actress once active in Berlin. The park between Gabriele-Tergit-Promenade and Linkstraße consists of two upwardly sloping lawns that turn on their axes. The landscape architects designed the minimalist park to "roll" from east to west to hearken back to the city's eventful history; giant paddles help further visualise this effect. At the same time, the rolling tide reflects the ever-changing city.
Former Chasm between East and West
The Henriette-Herz-Park behind the massive Beisheim Center complex also addresses German division creatively, in a collaboration between DS Landschaptsarchitecten and artist Shlomo Koren. Four "clods" of grass and red granite are placed on a triangular area, symbolizing the chasm that once existed between East and West. The park offers interesting views – from Potsdamer Platz to Tiergarten. In summer blue, delicate scilla bloom across the grassy areas. The park honours one of the leading ladies of the early Romantic literary salons in Berlin.
