Neighborhood and Research

Since moving to Pariser Straße in Berlin-Wilmersdorf in 2023, colleagues at the ZfL have begun exploring the history of our new neighborhood. The building, designed by the architecture firm Eike Becker, is located at the center of the Carstenn figure named after its inventor. It connects four squares arranged symmetrically around a central axis. Around 1870, the figure was planned to occupy an area that was still completely unpopulated. Today, its streets and squares (including Prager Platz, Fasanenplatz, Schaperstraße and Pariser Straße as well as parts of Bundesallee) are part of the Wilmersdorf district. Despite all the changes, its net-like structure remains visible on today’s city maps.

This area, which was rapidly developed towards the end of the 19th century, is of great cultural historical importance. However, this has yet to be investigated. It was home to many creative individuals—renowned authors, artists, and scholars who became famous far beyond Berlin’s borders. In the coming years, the ZfL aims to explore their stories, and thus the story of its new neighborhood. Our research will focus on the interrelationship of art and culture with urban buildings and spaces, neighborhoods and networks.

The collective and transfer project connects to the project Neighborhood in Contemporary Berlin Literature (2019–2024) as well as to previous publications on the former locations of the ZfL (Von der Jägerstraße zum Gendarmenmarkt. Eine Kulturgeschichte aus der Berliner Friedrichstadt; Jerusalemer Straße, Berlin Mitte).

The ZfL wants to connect with everyone interested in the history of the neighborhood. A newsletter will be sent out periodically to inform about new developments and findings. If you are interested, please reach out to Dirk Naguschewski (naguschewski@zfl-berlin.org).

Fig. above: © Dirk Naguschewski