Post-conflict, twenty Berlin structures no longer stand
The Kudamm Karree, once a vibrant hub of shopping, cinema, and theatre in Berlin, has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past century.
The Kroll Opera House, a significant part of the complex, was severely damaged by attacks from the Royal Air Force in November 1943. Despite repairs, the opera house was finally dismantled in the fall of 1957. In its place, new buildings were erected in recent years, housing retail and office spaces, but no movie theater.
The old Kudamm Karree included the "Komödie" and the "Theater am Kurfürstendamm," as well as office spaces. However, after World War II, the building was heavily damaged and could only be repaired temporarily. The historic "Hotel Adlon" on Pariser Platz, another iconic structure, was destroyed in the war and later demolished in 1952.
Between 1995 and 1996, the building was demolished for urban planning reasons to make way for the reconstruction of the historic city grid and the possible rebuilding of the Bauakademie building. The decision to demolish the Kudamm Karree was made public for the first time in 2004, despite the building being under monument protection.
In the 2000s, the ensemble lost its attractiveness and appeal, undergoing several changes in ownership. In May 2009, demolition of the building began. The rest of the complex has since been completely demolished.
However, the story of the Kudamm Karree is not one of complete loss. Many decades later, after the Berlin Wall fell in November 1989 and Germany was reunified a year later, there was an opportunity to rebuild many parts of the young, new capital, including Pariser Platz, which was to be rebuilt in its historical structures - including the "Hotel Adlon".
Today, the high-rise complex "Upper West" stands on the site of the old Kudamm Karree, along with the neighboring high-rise "Zoofenster" (Waldorf Astoria), dominating the current skyline of Berlin's City West. The ambitious "FÜRST" project is currently being developed on the Kurfürstendamm by the architecture firm "Kleihues + Kleihues".
The history of the revue theater dates back to the 19th century, with performances taking place in a circus-like building. The current Friedrichstadtpalast, considered the largest revue theater in the world and one of the most visited theater stages in Europe, now stands where the Kroll Opera House once did.
While the Kudamm Karree may no longer be present, its legacy lives on in the vibrant and ever-evolving cityscape of Berlin.
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