Threats and hopes for abandoned buildings in Berlin: an urban exploration approach

Arboleda, P. (2017) Threats and hopes for abandoned buildings in Berlin: an urban exploration approach. URBS: Revista de Estudios Urbanos y Ciencias Sociales, 7(1), pp. 41-55.

[img]
Preview
Text
172233.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

687kB

Publisher's URL: http://www2.ual.es/urbs/index.php/urbs/article/view/arboleda_pablo

Abstract

Abandoned buildings have become a distinguishing mark for the recent history and alternative spirit of Berlin. The growth in popularity of urban exploration, which focuses in illegally trespassing these neglected places, has made Berlin a hotspot for such a subculture, whose practitioners express an extreme sensibility about the current and future state of the buildings they explore. Through this perspective, the present article identifies three main threats towards the buildings: a touristification phenomenon created by urban exploration; commodification as a result of this touristification; and the increasing gentrification in the city that ignores the tangible and intangible qualities of the buildings. By critically reviewing these aspects, the article concludes proposing ‘informal re-appropriation’ as an integrated solution that prioritizes public participation and slow urban development over neoliberal immediate revenues, where minimal interventions contribute to preserve Berlin’s unique aesthetics embedded in its abandoned buildings.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Arboleda, Dr Pablo
Authors: Arboleda, P.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
Journal Name:URBS: Revista de Estudios Urbanos y Ciencias Sociales
Publisher:Universidad de Almería
ISSN:2014-2714
ISSN (Online):2014-2714
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2017 The Author
First Published:First published in URBS: Revista de Estudios Urbanos y Ciencias Sociales 7(1):41-55
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record