ABSTRACT
East Berlin’s dissidents, both intellectuals and artists, were almost unanimous in disapproving of the neo-historical prestige projects. The Nikolaiviertel was frequently censored as “Disneyland.” More moderate remodeling projects that aimed at the preservation of old tenement neighborhoods did not find much approval either. They were sometimes seen as ill-conceived cleanups, which were too small in their scope, improved the living comfort of East Berlin’s tenement dwellers only marginally, and all too oĞen removed the artistic flair in the old neighborhoods. Mostly, they ignored the new developments as just another futile move by which the ossified socialist regime aĴempted to reverse its blemished reputation vis-à-vis the West. For them, the truly livable city was equally historic, yet in a way that in their eyes was very different: old rather than simulated, bustling rather than staged, non-conformist rather than stylish, alternative rather than official, and self-organized rather than state-imposed. The image of this other historic city was connected inseparably with the name of one city district: Prenzlauer Berg.
