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May 24, 2011

Before the river Spree turns right and enters Berlin’s central district, Mitte, just south of Alexanderplatz, it flows westward on a wide and direct course. For much of this straightaway, between Ostkreuz and Jannowitzbrücke, the river was used during German division as a natural addition to the already infamous border defenses of the Berlin Wall.

What had once been a bustling waterfront crowded with factories, storehouses and working class housing was silent and gutted for decades. The western district of Kreuzberg, and the eastern district of Friedrichshain both turned away from the river and oriented themselves inwards. In the 1990’s when Berlin began to heal itself stitching the two halves of the city back together, this area was of particular interest.

Whereas much of the actual city center had obvious paths towards future development, this area was relatively up for grabs and would be a very real chance for Berlin to do something creative and ‘big’. Unlike the government district and the shopping areas around Potsdamer Platz and Friedrichstrasse where the issue at hand was more stylistic over what would be constructed, everyone understood that large industrial complexes and warehouses that once stood here would not return. What then, in a city with a relatively stable population and only a moderate demand for housing, would be done on the banks of the Spree between Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain?

A team of developers in the 90’s came together and started consolidating land in the area with the vision of large scale projects to rival what was happening further west in Mitte. Eventually taking on the name “Media Spree” the conceptualization of the area included a new waterfront vision for East Berlin that would solidify the city’s new economy centered around telecommunications and media companies. Plans called for dozens of towers and large office complexes, many from dramatically unique architectural perspectives. Critics of the project forced many changes however, most to its benefit, including the addition of extensive waterfront parks, more personable shopping areas and height restrictions.

Tensions with the local community forced more changes in 2008 and caused serious doubt, on the eve of the Financial Crisis. As lending and the property market quickly solidified in Germany however, more phases of the Media Spree began to come to fruition, albeit in a more decentralized manner. Several high profile buildings opened, including the state of the art 02 Arena and the MTV Europe studios.

Joining the earlier Allianz complex and completed buildings around Ostbahnhof, the Media Spree ironically started really coming into its own shortly after its most frustrating set backs in 2008. In the coming years the waterfront will start to gain continuity and more of the parks near the 02 Arena will be completed. As Germany and its big cities emerged from the 2008 Financial Crisis stronger than ever, investment and interest in real estate flooded in, propelling Berlin, Munich and Hamburg into the top 10 cities to invest in in Europe. Pension funds from Ireland to Korea, corporations from Tokyo to Los Angeles, New York to Munich have all invested in this emerging Media Mecca on the banks of the Spree, and Berlin is rising as a clear leader in young, hip and influential industries of tomorrow.

2011 saw Berlin, no doubt helped by the Media Spree, ranked as the “best startup city in Europe” – a stunning indication that the coming decade holds bountiful promise for the German capital. Just as Potsdamer Platz and Friedrichstrasse settled into the city around them, so will the Media Spree.

There are many large and distinct developments either underway or planned in Berlin, but the Media Spree is by far the most interesting and has the most potential in 2011. The opportunities and vision are clear, for those investing or setting up shop. Healing the division of Berlin has never been easy, and it promises to be a complex and difficult path that will take decades to complete. Each year and each project however, clearly adds a stitch to the city and brings its two sides closer together, filling a void and improving the quality of life of Berliners.