Friedrichshain
OBERBAUMBRÜCKE, WARSCHAUER STRAßE

Freidrichshain is a district on the North side of River Spree, East of the city center (Mitte). Friedrichshain is a bit similar to Kreuzberg in its character; partly bohemic, partly gentrified. You can find rundown buildings, graffiti and empty blocks as well as modern highrise buildings housing famous companies. It was one of the most damaged areas after WWII. In 2001 Friedrichshein and Kreuzberg was merged into one borough, but two districts. Despite the gentrification, the district still attract artists. The most famous symbol in the are is Oberbaumbrücke, an old bridge, that connected East (Friedrichshain) with West (Kreuzberg).

I only visited the part around River Spree and Warschauer Street, but the commie block style Karl-Marz-Allee is also famous.

 

Oberbaumbrücke:

The Oberbaum Bridge is a double decked old red brick bridge, connecting Friedrichshain with Kreuzberg, crossing River Spree. It was completed in 1896, but has lately become a symbol Berlin's unity. On the lower deck there is a roadway and on the upper deck a railway. The style is Gothic and it resembles a city wall. The bridge was designed by Otto Stahn. When the Berlin Wall was built in 1961 Oberbaumbrücke became part of the border between East and West.

Oberbaumbrücke, a symbol of the unification of Germany.

Spree and Kreuzberg seen from Friedrichshain.

Oberbaumbrücke was prominently featured in the German movie "Run Lola, run".

A yellow U-bahn train crossing the bridge. The bridge was modelled after the tower Mitteltorturm in the small city of Prenzlau. The steel middle section was designed by Santiago Calatrava when the bridge was reopened for traffic on both sides in 1994.

Graffiti in Kreuzberg on the other side of Spree.

Osthafen:

Osthafen (East Harbour) is the harbour on the Northeast riverbank of Spree, part of Friedrichshain, opposite Kreuzberg.

Parts of the former Berlin wall have been placed in Osthafen and artists have created graffiti artwork on the pieces of the wall.

A new cool building with a part in aluminium and glass, reflecting the ground.

The Treptow district with the Treptowers skyscraper can be seen in the distance.

Mr Obama, his name reminds a bit of Oberbaum. "A world that stands as one", was his words at his Berlin visit in 2008.

Some of the artwork at the former Berlin wall.

Osthafen Spencher, a residential building, formerly a warehouse probably.

View of Alt-Treptow district:

The district Alt-Treptow is situated on the other side of River Spree.

Hochhaus Treptower, built in 1998, is the name of the glass skyscraper in the center. It is part of the district Treptow. The skyscraper is the second tallest in Berlin, 130m to the spire and 125m to the roof. If you don't count the spire, the Treptower shares the title as Berlin's tallest building with Park Inn at Alexanerplatz (Fernsehturm is not counted as a building). It has 31 floors and was designed by Gerhard Spangenberg.

"The Molecule Man", a sculpture by the American artists Jonathan Borofsky of two humans with holes leaning towards each other. These kind of sculptures can be found all over the world. Treptower skyscraper can be seen to the right.

 

Warschauer Street Station:

East Berlin skyline seen from the elevated walkway of Warschauer Street's U-bahn station.

Friedrichshain railway track. Note the sign "suicide circus". The classic dome towers in the far distance are called Frankfurter Tor.

Skyline view from Warschauer straße station. Note the "Basf" glass cube that has been constructed on the top of an old building, converting it into a highrise.

Warschauer straße crossing the tracks.

Skyline of East Berlin dominated by Fernsehturm.

Warschauer straße.

O2 World Arena, a modern large arena for music and sports, opened in 2008. It is located in Friedrichshain, near Warschauer Str. Station. There are hotels, a casino bars and restaurants planned in the surrounding area. The first band to play in the arena was Metallica!

Trams stop at Warschauer Str with Oberbaumbrücke in the background.

Universal Music has a big office building at Stralauer Allee in Friedrichshain, right next to Oberbaumbrücke. Note the old painted Trabant to the right.

People walking towards Kreuzberg underneath Oberbaumbrücke.

 

 

Karl-Marx-Allee:

I never visited Karl-Marx-Allee in Friedrichshain but here is a visit of this commie block style alley with some imposing buildings, seen from Fernsehturm.