25th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall

Today is the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall that set the beginning of the German reunification. After German was divided, Berlin became the place where the Cold War was more evident, due to strong ideological and political differences.  In the West, the modernism of the Weimar Republic had resurrected as the architectonical model; in the East predominated the traditional monumental language.

On 13th August 1961, the German Democratic Republic (GDR) intensified the borders with the construction of the denominated “Anti-Fascist Protection Rampart” or “Wall of Shame” for the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). The wall ran all along 43 kilometres within Berlin. With an average height of 3 metres, it consisted of 2 concrete walls separated by the denominated “Death Strip” where were 186 watch towers, 31 check points and an illuminated road in the middle with anti-vehicle trenches and wire fences.

All ends with the fall of the Wall on 9th November 1989, beginning for Berlin a new age and becoming this way one of the biggest contemporary architectonic centre. After its fall, the wall remains that still remains standing, are a frame for artists that scream for unity, peace and freedom among people: the East Side Gallery: and a memorial for remember the horror of this border: Berlin Wall Memorial.

In memorial of the 270 people that died trying to find the freedom.

Text by.- Branly Ernesto Pérez & Merixtell Sierra Silvestre.