Amidst the dynamic cityscape of Berlin, rises the Ideal, a residential giant that whispers tales of a bygone era. The Ideal, a 31-story apartment building in Gropiusstadt, isn’t just a concrete monolith. It’s a silent witness to the vibrant cultural movement that once swept through Berlin. The Ideal shares its name with a pioneering band of the Neue Deutsche Welle (NDW), the New German Wave. This musical movement, born in the late 1970s and early 1980s, found its roots in the underground scene of Berlin, Düsseldorf, and Hamburg. The band Ideal, fronted by Annette Humpe, rose to prominence during this period. Their music, initially echoing punk influences, later evolved under the pressures of the recording industry. Ideal’s rise marked a turning point for the NDW. In 1980, they played a free concert in front of the Reichstag building, captivating over 150,000 people. Their self-titled debut album, released on their own independent label, soared to the top three on the German album charts. This unprecedented success for an independent production caught the attention of major record companies. It paved the way for other NDW bands to secure record deals and further propel the genre into the mainstream. While the band Ideal may have disbanded in 1983, their legacy remains intertwined with the cultural fabric of Berlin. Standing before the Ideal building today, one can almost hear the echoes of their music. Imagine the energy of their iconic performance in front of the Reichstag, a moment that solidified their place in German music history. The Ideal building, like the band it shares its name with, stands tall, a testament to the vibrant cultural history of Berlin.
Genossenschaft PA58
From 1981 the Genossenschaft PA58 stands tall. It’s a self-managed house project. This is its story. This impressive building in