BERLIN - SEPTEMBER 01: People sunbathe on a l...
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It used to be the center of Berlin. Then it became the center of communist East Berlin. This week, officials in the German capital began a public debate about the future of the Rathaus Forum, the bleak area located in front of city hall. A handful of prominent architects have submitted their own ideas.

With the former communist party headquarters, the Palast der Republik now demolished, and the debate over whether to rebuild the city’s former palace settled (it will be), officials in the German capital are now looking to redevelop neighboring parcels of land that were once the focal point of East Berlin.

After the war, East German officials tore down most of the buildings in the former Marienviertel that hadn’t already been completely destroyed in order to create a showplace for military marches and demonstrations sanctioned by the communist government.

“Up until now, the only thing that has been discussed is whether this area should stay completely the same or whether it should be rebuilt” said Regula Lüscher, Berlin’s Senator for Urban Development, who presented five different architectural models aimed at sparking a public debate on the site’s future. The city hasn’t made any decisions — indeed, some city politicians and historical groups would prefer to see the area restored with classical, pre-war architecture. But Lüscher has long favored using the area as a public space.

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