"Actually, everything was against this location." Georg von Siemens
The year 2022 marked a double anniversary of industrial culture: 175 years of Siemens & 125 Siemens in Spandau. This is the extremely exciting adventure tour with Siemensstadt expert Christian Fessel through the history of the creation of an artificial city. Later called “Siemensstadt,” the cradle of the "Electropolis."
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Die Siemensstadt. Christian Fessel | Mann mit Hut Touren
Der Architekturvermittler Christian Fessel | Mann mit Hut Touren
Die Siemensstadt. Christian Fessel | Mann mit Hut Touren
November 1897: The first land register entry. Two years later, the heart of the new industrial complex began to beat. But, why here? A completely undeveloped area with forest, marshy sandy soil or swamp.
A difficult building site right from the start. And: the neighbouring city of Charlottenburg wanted to prevent the settlement by all means. Why?
Only two architects shaped the appearance over decades. One developed the master plan and yet is almost forgotten.
The other created the typical “Siemens style” of architecture. Or rather, two styles. One, ultra-modern, for the industrial buildings and the other, with lots of green, for the residential & leisure buildings. Entirely different.
This tour is part of the “Route der Industriekultur Berlin” and the only tour specifically about Siemensstadt.
Industrial culture meets housing. Building monument next to traffic monument next to garden monument next to industrial monument.
A model city for the interaction of work – living – leisure.
Guided by Christian Fessel, the long-time head of the Information Center for the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Settlements of Berlin Modernism – Large Settlement Siemensstadt / Ring Settlement Siemensstadt".
As always with these city tours, both historical and social aspects are addressed. Not dry, boring and crammed with numbers, but relaxed, entertaining and interesting for all.
(Program in German)
Additional information
Accessibility
Please ask for specific details.
Generally, participants walk on paved paths with minimal elevation changes. The few exceptions to this can be easily adjusted in the route if necessary.
